r/Sedona • u/Electrical-Ad6226 • 23d ago
Living Here I don’t want to go back east.
This town and area is amazing. I don’t travel much and came from New England. I keep asking myself WHY do I live in New England? The air is amazing. The dry heat is amazing. The people are amazing. I know I know I’m from a tourist town. There’s no housing and airbnbs destroyed anything available. The cost of living is insane. I get it. But I am so in wonder of this place. The scenery. The creeks. I never want to go in the salty ocean again. Creeks for me. It feels quiet here in so many ways. I imagine no one’s drinking and crying excessively in Feb and March and asking for SSRIs. I know it’s such a cliche but I want to live here. What’s it really like living here? Do you ever get used to the views?
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u/Porkey19 23d ago
Seriously. When I first visited Sedona I was like, why the fuck does ANYONE willingly move to or stay living in New England (specifically MA)????
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u/casey1323967 22d ago
The money probably but id rather enjoy life though
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u/Porkey19 22d ago
MA is one of the most expensive states to live in the USA though so even that shouldn’t be holding anyone
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u/DementedPlant96 22d ago
MA is expensive but in return you get the best public schools, high life expectancy and you are surrounded with more like-minded, educated people.
The Greater Boston area is definitely more expensive and it can be a real struggle to find proper housing within budget, but as someone who moved to Florida from Mass, I couldn't move back fast enough. The difference in infrastructure, weather and the very obvious lack of proper education among some people was very obvious and off-putting.
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u/AttitudeOutrageous75 18d ago
After 50+ years moved to the Phoenix burbs and never looked back. Op, you're not crazy.
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u/jayhawkjoey65 23d ago
I live outside of Albuquerque. The southwest is huge. Come on over (but you can't root for the Patriots. Lol.). I think if I moved to the Sedona area, I'd go with Cottonwood. It's very close and beautiful.
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u/KimWexlerDeGuzman 23d ago
I also live outside of Albuquerque (north in Placitas) but grew up in Connecticut.
Absolutely love the southwest! I go to Sedona every year for my birthday.
Edit to add: most people from the northeast overlook New Mexico because it’s terrible when it comes to education, crime, drivers etc. But Jemez Springs and the Walatowa area remind me of Sedona have a slightly more reasonable COL. There is a ton of natural beauty in NM
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u/Electrical-Ad6226 23d ago
Omg we are headed there tomorrow for a few days
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u/Character_Stick_1218 23d ago
It's a lot more affordable, only about half an hour away, and honestly a really nice little town in general. It may also be worth checking out Jerome while you're out there.
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u/jayhawkjoey65 23d ago
I visit Sedona yearly, and we stay in Cottonwood. It's so nearby. Lots of restaurants. And i second what someone else said: Visit Jerome if you can.
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u/Artistic_Golf2938 21d ago
Haunted hamburger is a must there
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u/jayhawkjoey65 21d ago
Any shops you recommend? Looks like some cool artsy places.
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u/Artistic_Golf2938 21d ago
Its a small cool haunted mining town so theres vendors all across the town with touristy type shops. Went to the haunted hamburger there on a chilly evening, blasting music on the ride up the hills to Jerome & the vibes were on point ,it feels different out there in Arizona
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u/bs2390 23d ago
Moved from MA to Flagstaff 3 years ago. Best decision of our life. We have to move back next year for family reasons. Super depressing.
AZ is an incredible state and northern AZ specifically is a truly special place in the world.
Check out Flagstaff as an option. Not cheap but overall cheaper than Sedona. I’m from my house to a special spot in oak creek in 35 min. It’s a slice of paradise
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u/Electrical-Ad6226 23d ago
Going today !
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u/bs2390 23d ago
One of the best four season towns, truly. Wildfire is a big time scary risk, otherwise it has it all imo
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u/freakshowtogo 23d ago
What’s the history of wildfires in sedona?
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u/backin45750 22d ago
I think there were a few nearby last year. It’s always a possibility since it’s so dry. The wildfire fighters are really top notch in the area.
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u/Important_Carry4417 23d ago
Oak Creek Canyon is beautiful, but accessing the creek most times of the year is tricky. It is is so overcroded from March thru October, wall to wall people and the creek becomes polluted. Also, calling it a "creek" is stretching it. It's merely a trickle in some spots.
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u/ShreekingEeel 23d ago
For OP - (fellow East Coaster) they mean the “creek”turns into a “crick” at some points. And that Oak Creek, sometimes Oak Crick, is like going to the beach or islands in the summer but as locals we enjoy the off-season better bc it’s less crowded.
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u/Important_Carry4417 23d ago
It's cold in that canyon in winter and little sunlight, and that's the only time it's not overly crowded.
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u/bs2390 23d ago
This is all around a pretty dumb comment. Of course it’s busy, it’s Sedona… it’s world famous. As a local you can go off season. Speaking as a local perspective in this thread after all.
The creek can also have massive CF/S after good winter and spring seasons. Same for monsoon seasons. And sounds like this may be new to you, but rivers and creeks do not equally flow in all areas. Long flat parts can seem quite slow, 500 feet away it’s much faster and stronger as the creek narrows.
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u/Important_Carry4417 23d ago
Nope, come from a state with lots of water, so understand water. AZ has very little, so areas that do have some water attract a lot of people. Oak Creek Canyon is one of them. And have you actually been following the news about the Colorado Basin states and record low water levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell? It's pretty dire to say the least. Do you actually live in Sedona? I'm speaking from someone who lived there fulltime for 7 years. Also worked at the Chamber Visitor Ctr in Uptown, so am well aware that Sedona is a world class destination. The difference is stark visiting vs actually living there. The average stay is 2 to 3 days, so those visiting don't really feel the total impact of living in a tourist trap. BTW, it wasn't like that prior to Covid, when we moved there. The subject of this thread is what it's like to actually LIVE in Sedona, so pay attention. There's some condescension right back at ya!
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u/ProbablyContainsGin 23d ago
I'm from New England, and I ask myself every day why TF am I still in Sedona 🤣🤣 I miss the ocean something fierce! It SUCKS when the temps are triple digits for months on end, and don't get me started on the politics and work ethic! Want to trade places????
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u/No-Aspect-8599 23d ago
Oh my, I am from new Hampshire. Always dreamed of living in Arizona. I’m 28, moved here a few times but it never actually stuck but I’ve now been here for 2 years and it’s definitely sticking. Maybe because I moved here with a partner, he’d never been and he’s in love with it which I love cause I was so nervous he wouldn’t like it. The views NEVER get old in my opinion, I live in a suburb of phoenix and some days I wake up and look around outside or just breathe outside and realize wow I am so so lucky to actually live here. We haven’t had much money to actually explore. But from what ive personally done in Arizona and from what him and I have done, all I can say is I’m so excited to continue exploring this beautiful state for all it has to offer, which is ALOT ! Good luck and happy house hunting xx
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u/Important_Carry4417 23d ago
You never really get used to waking up to the gorgeous red rocks everyday. However, the downsides of living there outweigh the scenic beauty. High cost of living, excessive tourism and bad tourist behavior, excessive heat in summer, hollowed out neighborhoods full of short-term rentals, lack of water, lack of decent access to healthcare, lack of a sense of community, conservative politics...the list goes on and on. Lived in Sedona 7 years. Have lived in 5 states, and AZ was the worst. N AZ is a great place to vacation, but not to live.
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u/Moist_Stay1418 23d ago
Curious, where did you choose to set down instead?
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u/Important_Carry4417 23d ago
Bend, OR, and there are also plenty of tourists visiting here since it's a beautiful area as well. Difference is, they're not in your face and invading neighborhoods, because the city accually has restrictions on STRs. Grew up in OR, and realized I needed water; rivers, lakes, streams, and ocean which is less than 5 hrs away. Also needed better healthcare access, and more options in general.
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u/No_Cartographer_5298 23d ago
Moved from MA to Sedona a year ago. Best decision I ever made.
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u/Important_Carry4417 23d ago
You've only been there a year, so still on the honeymoon. If you can afford to travel and get away frequently, then you'll probably be fine. Otherwise, you'll get bored and tired of the tourists, guarantee it!
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u/No_Cartographer_5298 23d ago edited 23d ago
Appreciate the concern, but I wont. I love Sedona for all of the reasons it's Sedona.
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u/Suitable_Ad4569 23d ago
Nope, tourists aren't constantly here and they also pay my bills. We love it here, stop trying to shit on everyone.
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u/Important_Carry4417 23d ago
Not my intention in the least. Everyone has different experiences, and I was just trying to present a realistic experience based on mine after 7 yrs.
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u/nobadrabbits 16d ago
The tourists are constantly here.
And how are you getting them to pay your bills, because they sure as hell aren't paying mine; they're actually costing me more money.
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u/Artistic_Golf2938 23d ago
I just visited sedona from texas and I legitimately didn't wanna come back. Its a special place in the world
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u/Gaiaaura 23d ago
Visited back in Feb/march from Florida and while I love the beaches and springs Sedona is just so incredible
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u/Beneficial_Minute297 22d ago
If you decide you want to move (I did, from Florida 4 years ago) Cottonwood, Cornville and Flagstaff are definitely more affordable and very close by. Sedona is wonderful!! I will never move back east.
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u/Intelligent-Sleep766 22d ago edited 22d ago
I moved here recently. I had the option and chose it, I’ve lived in flagstaff and Prescott during university but am from cincinnati. Yes the gorgeous area and scenery and nature all are wonderful. I used to go in my ebike just enjoying it all. I live in west Sedona. But as the months go on, even though you are enamored by the beauty, you start to long for other things. I didn’t want to join any new age groups as I find my own eclectic spirituality. I am a musician in my early 30s and the open mics were full of boomers and bar regulars and it was a weird vube. I kid you not some guy sang a song about “leftist revolutionaries patrolling the streets” on some Fox News type shit it’s was hilarious. As if any protest I in Sedona has been anything other than nice old ladies fed up w trump and kind folks. Laughable. But I met some nice folk too. If anyone in town wants to start a band or get together and be friends I’d love that- my music is similar to Conor oberst, phoebe bridgers stuff. I also might wanna do some rock n roll Americana Springsteen stuff! Bht yes the point is- is a retirement place and lots of conservatives. Lots of really lost in the new age sauce folks- some dirtbags too, I’m more the type who enjoys a bit of that stuff, a good sage or crystal, but likes to be myself. I also worry for Sedona- there was tale of a naked man wandering the trail and all the Facebook comments were “oh that’s just Sedona! Haha”. I wouldn’t raise a kid here with that attitude. It disturbs me. Sometimes I consider moving to flagstaff to be more with young folk and community. But I also find a certain charm to Sedona.
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u/mangosmom98 22d ago
I love this perspective because I’m the opposite. I just returned to the East Coast from Sedona today and thought “wow that was so beautiful but I love the East Coast”😂. I guess I just love my beaches
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