Las Vegas is still a town that does not quite make sense to me. That someone would see this spot of land and think it is a good idea to build up a city in the middle of the desert – mind blowing. And it’s growing every year we come visit, too. We went on a pre-turkey hike today and had to walk through a construction site before hitting the actual trail.
Our kids are still very impressed with the fact that our friends have a mansion (at least compared to the house we have in the Bay Area) and paid less than we did. After initial ideas to move here, too, they were pretty much cured of that after spending a 4th of July weekend in town. It’s just way to hot during the day to be outside. We can always be outside in the Bay Area. I think that is one of the things I appreciate most – the weather is outside weather all year long.
I did learn to appreciate the desert though. It has something very meditative about it. I like the calm and the big open space. The colors feel very calming to me.
I could live here for a while but probably not to settle – until I get enough of the heat. I have been thinking about this more and more. I do not mean moving to the desert but just where I would like to live. Maybe it’s because my dad was selling his house? Where would I go if kids and work were not part of the equation? If you would ask me if I would rather live near the ocean or near the mountains, I would pick ocean every time. I like seasons even though my migraines tend to be worse in changing weather. Small town or city? Somewhere in the middle would be my preference. Close enough to the city that you have all the amenities in driving distance but far enough away that you don’t have all the bustle. Maybe at some point I will figure it out.
How do you feel about the place where you live? Would you want to move somewhere else or are you happy where you are?
Home here and there 
I dislike Las Vegas, though I have heard the areas outside of the city are beautiful. There are so many beautiful places in the world, in our country even, that I never want to waste my time going somewhere so artificial and weird. HOWEVER, of course I would go if I had friends there. My company headquarters are there so I’ve gone for work.
I too love the Bay Area, but it is so expensive, and so crowded. I’d like somewhere a little quieter than here, but still near the ocean and with good weather, and where I can afford to buy a house and so can my daughter. Clearly that is NOT here.
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Oh, I completely get that! I think Las Vegas is the perfect example of a city you need to get to know a little before finding your places. We used it as a starting point and stop over for two of our National Park road trips and compared to that it always seemed lacking. It would not be my first choice either.
I hate the traffic in the Bay Area with a passion and am glad I don’t have a long commute. Where we live it does not feel too crowded and I like that you are out in nature so quickly. I get it though. It is expensive. This comes up again and again. You would hope with all the building that is going on that it would adjust over time but we will see.
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I can say for sure that I do not feel like moving anytime soon.
However, I know the place we are at will not be a forever place. So who knows. I still want to live near water. Preferable directly at the water front. But. I also want to have the city within my reach.
I didn’t get Vegas when I was there 2001. It was so overwhelming and busy. And you are driving there forever. However, coming down the hill and seeing the lights was so amazing.
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I mentioned already that we used it as stopping point during multiple road trips. I don’t get the casinos and the streets are wild. I think even San Francisco does not have many streets as wide as the ones in Vegas (well, it also does not have all this extra space). The outskirts are very different from the city center though.
Moving in general is no fun. I am not planning it anytime soon but I also think this is probably not our last home.
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I’ve been to Vegas a few times now and I don’t like to stay more than a couple of nights. The Strip is just too busy and the weather is just so HOT (in the summer).
Somebody I know recently moved there specifically for the HOT weather and I cannot imagine… I mean, our summers here in Sacramento are hot enough. I would never choose it on purpose.
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P.S. I guess it would be nice to afford a bigger house. California prices are just insane…. but… we can say we live in California 😉
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Agreed. We pay for the nice climate 😉
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My friends too, love the hot weather – or at least the year round sunshine. During winter it can get quite cold and it was colder than the Bay Area when we were there this time. We don’t try to go in the summer anymore for obvious reasons.
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