I love Arizona; Love, love, love it. It’s why I’ve never moved in my 32 years of living here (i.e., my entire life) and why I write about the state every day. Having spent that much time here, there are little things that start to become annoying. Here’s a short list of just some of those annoyances.
- Traffic on the 17 northbound on Friday afternoons.
Doug Kerr/Flickr It sounds really specific, but you don’t want to be there between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Summer in August.
Conservation Law Foundation/Flickr Usually the heat can feel pretty nice in May and June. Then, especially for those in desert regions, that novelty begins to wear off in July (but that is also when the monsoons tend to hit, so it’s not so bad.) By August, you just want the heat and sun to stop for a day. Just one day.
- Snowbirds
Suzanne/Flickr The snowbird is a species of human that annually migrate to Arizona’s warmer climates from their Midwestern tundra habitats. They are often characterized by the havoc they wreak on their temporary homes until the summer heat emerges.
- Actually, the correct answer is probably any transplant who moves to Arizona for however long.
Håkan Dahlström/Flickr You know what’s funny? When someone who is clearly not from Arizona moves here, claims native residents are from California or some other state and then complains about them.
- The lack of 24-hour restaurants. Or 24-hour anything.
matt northam/Flickr There are so few options for my fellow night owls. I mean, a couple of chain diners and Circle K are open 24-7, but your options get even slimmer if you live in a town where neither of those exist.
- The politics
Gage Skidmore/Flickr I think something we can all agree on is that no one on either side of the political spectrum is truly happy.
- Phoenix, according to people who live outside of Phoenix.
Ms. Phoenix/Flickr Phoenix is like that sibling who gets all the attention leaving everyone else in the dust. It’s okay; have a hug.
- The tap water.
.sanden./Flickr Okay, I’ll be honest. I hear this complaint all the time, but as someone who grew up drinking hard tap water straight from the faucet, I never thought it tasted bad. Maybe my palate isn’t sensitive enough.
- People who obviously waste water.
George Armstrong/Flickr Those folks down the street who are drenching their green lawns every day? People who own swimming pools? Golf course owners? All horrible.
- High energy bills in the summer.
Eileen Kane/Flickr Or, that is, at least for those who don’t get the pleasure of living where summer reaches 85 degrees. I might also have a personal grudge against a particular energy company, thanks to some experiences this past summer.
- Or, alternatively, the cost for heating your home this time of year in traditionally cold areas.
Gord McKenna/Flickr Electricity, wood burning, pellet stoves, whatever you use; they all add up pretty quick.
- The stereotypes of Arizonans
Abby/Flickr You know them, so I won’t bother repeating them. I’ll just say they can get downright nasty. Instead, here’s a picture of a kokopelli decoration because we all have them in our homes, right?
- Moving away from Arizona.
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr I’m fortunate that I’ve never had to move out of state for any reason, but I know plenty of long-time residents who have. They often regret it almost as soon as they begin to settle into their new life in a different state.
Alright, Arizona. I know you love to rant about anything so here’s your chance! What other things annoy you about Arizona, Arizonans, or people who seem to think they know the state? 🙂
Doug Kerr/Flickr
It sounds really specific, but you don’t want to be there between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Conservation Law Foundation/Flickr
Usually the heat can feel pretty nice in May and June. Then, especially for those in desert regions, that novelty begins to wear off in July (but that is also when the monsoons tend to hit, so it’s not so bad.) By August, you just want the heat and sun to stop for a day. Just one day.
Suzanne/Flickr
The snowbird is a species of human that annually migrate to Arizona’s warmer climates from their Midwestern tundra habitats. They are often characterized by the havoc they wreak on their temporary homes until the summer heat emerges.
Håkan Dahlström/Flickr
You know what’s funny? When someone who is clearly not from Arizona moves here, claims native residents are from California or some other state and then complains about them.
matt northam/Flickr
There are so few options for my fellow night owls. I mean, a couple of chain diners and Circle K are open 24-7, but your options get even slimmer if you live in a town where neither of those exist.
Gage Skidmore/Flickr
I think something we can all agree on is that no one on either side of the political spectrum is truly happy.
Ms. Phoenix/Flickr
Phoenix is like that sibling who gets all the attention leaving everyone else in the dust. It’s okay; have a hug.
.sanden./Flickr
Okay, I’ll be honest. I hear this complaint all the time, but as someone who grew up drinking hard tap water straight from the faucet, I never thought it tasted bad. Maybe my palate isn’t sensitive enough.
George Armstrong/Flickr
Those folks down the street who are drenching their green lawns every day? People who own swimming pools? Golf course owners? All horrible.
Eileen Kane/Flickr
Or, that is, at least for those who don’t get the pleasure of living where summer reaches 85 degrees. I might also have a personal grudge against a particular energy company, thanks to some experiences this past summer.
Gord McKenna/Flickr
Electricity, wood burning, pellet stoves, whatever you use; they all add up pretty quick.
Abby/Flickr
You know them, so I won’t bother repeating them. I’ll just say they can get downright nasty. Instead, here’s a picture of a kokopelli decoration because we all have them in our homes, right?
J. Stephen Conn/Flickr
I’m fortunate that I’ve never had to move out of state for any reason, but I know plenty of long-time residents who have. They often regret it almost as soon as they begin to settle into their new life in a different state.
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