10 Surprising Things You May Not Expect When Moving To Arizona

Thinking of moving to Arizona in the future? While we aren't particularly well-known for welcoming newcomers with open arms—we do, after all, have an unofficial motto of "welcome to Arizona, now go home"—we do owe a huge part of our state's growth to people moving here from other states and countries. In fact, I know from reading the comments that half of Only In Arizona's readers are originally from other states!

So, if you're thinking of moving to Arizona, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

1. The summers here aren't quite like a walk on the sun.

The summers don't hit the triple digits everywhere in the state. Flagstaff, for example, has an average high of 81-degrees in July.

2. But don't underestimate that heat.

Keep water with you at all times and stay in the shade when possible. You don't want your first summer to end with you in the hospital.

3. It is dry here. Like, if you're from anywhere else, you will dehydrate significantly.

Until you adjust to the lack of humidity, you'll probably feel a little like this guy.

4. Rain is kind of a big deal around here.

You might wonder why the local news bothers reporting that Tempe got 0.01 inches of rain but we take what we can get!

5. You might complain about the taste of the tap water.

I grew up drinking the tap water, so it's never been an issue to me but I hear plenty of people talk about how the tap water tastes "gross."

6. The landscape is far more diverse than you think.

7. Be prepared to drive everywhere.

Will you learn to love our grid system, freeways, and highways? Yes. However, if you want to get anywhere in the state, enjoying a walk there is almost always out of the question.

8. Be prepared to encounter lots of great (and not-so-great) Mexican food.

You will find Mexican food everywhere but that doesn't mean it's all incredible food. A lot of it can be bland food that spent a little too much time in the fryer and has a glop of hardened cheese on top that just isn't good at all.

9. Your friends and family back home might ask you some strange questions about Arizona.

Refer to this list for an idea of what people will ask you.

10. They will also probably secretly envy you.

All that sun, fresh air, open spaces, and low cost of living can lead to a pretty nice life.

Is there anything you would add to this list? What surprised you when you first moved to Arizona? Let us know your thoughts in comments section below!