Poll : 03 April - 16 April 2013

Analysis

This is a repeat of a survey we first ran almost exactly three years ago, and in light of various economic factors and other developments in the interim, we were curious to see if our readers' thoughts had changed significantly in the interim. You can find the original answers in the Poll Archives (3/22/11),

Here's some of your specific and thoughtful feedback:

• "I lived in Vegas for 1 year and absolutely loved it ! But I could never get used to the weather (too dry) and I was forced to leave."
  
  
• "I would like to move there, but build my house in the higher mountain area, with a view of the Strip at night."[Ed: wouldn't we all, LOL.]
  
  
• "Your question has been raised by my family more than once. I come to Las Vegas four or five times a year, including for the marathon, and have been for ten years as of this June 3rd. My first trip was with my two sons and I was hooked. What a place! But to live there might take the charm away; we live near Niagara Falls and very seldom visit unless with guests, as strange as that may sound. What I have thought of would be a two-week sojourn to play poker and stay in one of the studio apartments available, which may well be the answer. Thanks for the question and making me think."
  
  
• "I would love to live in Vegas during the summer when it is hot. It is much too cold in the winter." [Ed: Whoa! That's a novel response. May come as a surprise to some people, too, who only visit in the warm months, or who assume Vegas is hot all-year-round. This past winter was miserably cold -- still was Thursday night, in fact!]
  
  
• "My wife and I came real close to moving to Vegas when the economy started to tank. I have saved well and earned a pension, which I could start collecting on next year when I turn 55. The problem is, I still feel that I would need to find employment to supplement my income and aid with insurance. Doesn't seem like the best time for a 55-yr-old to find employment in Vegas."
  
  
• "I did move to LV in May 2004, but moved to Bullhead City, AZ 6 months later. My wife and I had vacationed in LV annually for 10 years prior to our move. During those years, home prices, employment opportunities, and cost of living were relatively stable. In the spring of 2004 the housing bubble was expanding rapidly, and homes were selling for thousands of dollars more than their asking prices. We rented a condo in Summerlin and continued our search for a reasonably priced home. HAHA!!!! We expanded our search area and ended up in Bullhead City, less than 2 hours from the Strip. The house we bought in BC in 2004 was 3 years old and cost about half of what a comparable home in LV was selling for at that time! Since March 23rd, we have spent 6 nights in 4 different casino hotels entertaining family and friends. We really enjoy visiting LV, but no longer want to live there."
  
  
• "I love Vegas. But I love Boston even more! I have a great house, good friends, and live in the medical mecca of the United States - which has saved my life in the past. I had throat cancer five years ago, and having easy access to Dana Farber really did make a stunning difference in the result, I think. So I'll continue to visit often (three or four times a year, currently), and might someday get a place to stay rather than rack up hotel bills, since poker players don't get comped all that well, but I'm for staying where I am comfortably set up already."
  
  
• "It would kill me."
  
  
• "My fantasy is to move to Las Vegas and get a job as a poker dealer, but that would mean leaving my friends and family. Plus, my wife is happy where we are now. She doesn't care so much for Las Vegas."
  
  
• "Why didn't your poll just have a "yes". My vote is "yes". I don't know where I would go for a getaway if I lived in Las Vegas, but that wouldn't be the reason not to live there. I now live near Reno so my bad habits are firmly in place. I guess if I lived in Las Vegas, I could get away by going to Reno!"
  
  
• "You didnt have an option for I'm moving to Las vegas. We plan on moving to LV this year, shooting for an August arrival. we visit about 2 times a year and decided now that kids grown we just want to live there. Don't think its a great place to raise a family but for 2 adults, seems like a great place. Moving from RI, to escape cold and failing economy. Plan to buy a house while market still down and take advantage of NV low cost of living (19 in nation compared to 44 for RI) and enjoy ourselves." [Ed: Hurry, hurry, those house prices are on the up and up!]
  
  
• "Mt. Charleston is where I want to retire to. 4 seasons, wildlife, close enough to the "city", but far enough away to be suburbia."
  
  
• "One of your choices was close for me, but not quite right.I would live in Vegas from November to mid-to-late March. Then I would pack up and move to the South Jersey shore. It's not that I couldn't live in Vegas year-round (I usually spend 2-3 weeks there in late July to early August). I really don't mind the heat. It's just that I love the ocean and prefer to spend my summers on the beach as much as possible." [Ed: Fair enough. So do we!]
  
  
• "We own a townhouse in Vegas so we can visit as often and for as long as we wish. It's great!"
  
  
• "If we lived in Vegas, where would we go on vacation???"