Fishhead said:
Sure you feel that way, you have never spent any long extended period of time there.
As they say, great great place to visit, terrible place to live..........nothing could be more true to this observer.
I lived in Las Vegas for two years. I loved it. I thought the people were friendly and my wife and I made a lot of friends there. We lived in a very average neighborhood but had some of the best neighbors in any city I've lived in.
I also loved the fact that I could eat at a buffet every night for about the same as it would cost me in groceries. We ate out often. And not for the all you can eat, gorge yourself, reasons. I loved being able to eat healthy with lots of fruit and vegetables every meal - something that I lack when I fix my own meals. And having a baby, it is incredibly easier to eat out with lots of variety (for the picky eater) and let them clean up the mess.
I loved the station properties and had almost a free standing comped movie pass at Sunset whenever I wanted. (I paid for that through the years however).
I loved going out to the clubs. We had a lot of fun. Everyone there had a vacation attitude (obviously) and wanted to enjoy themselves, as opposed to seeing the same people every night out elsewhere.
The weather was fantastic for the most part. Sure a couple months are unbearable, but they make for the most perfect nights - and it beats living in the snow and cold.
I admit we stayed mostly off the strip, but it was great when you wanted a night out to have so many options. I've seen almost every show on the strip. Barley's was a great local place to hang out - some good pizza, nice people, and great beer. Lots of good microbreweries.
I loved the football contests, the nice 24 hour gym by my house, grocery shopping at 2am when I wasn't squeezing down aisles and bumping into people like 5pm in other cities. The airport was close by, family and friends always wanted to visit, there are some great parks, a good jogging trail by the house, a nice dogpark, and plenty more.
We were a hop and jump from Red Rock Canyon and it's great hiking and scenery. We spent many days at Lake Mead renting a boat and exploring the miles of shoreline. And when we tired of all that, we headed to Mt. Charleston and went skiing or just hiking and more beatiful scenery. We were 5 hours from Phoenix, LA, and the Grand Canyon.
A job too good to pass up brought me reluctantly to Phoenix, but I still get up there on the occasional weekend. I will eventually retire there as long as I can afford a good condo.
Oh, and I didn't even mention the great golf. I wish I had made more opportunity of the courses there.
To each his own I guess. I have only fond memories.
