Arizona Life?

[drPheta]

I've been missing in (dental) action for quite some time, but I've returned to get some feedback regarding Arizona. It's nearing that time to really think about where I want to go and practice... maybe even settle down. What's Arizona like? I'm talking Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff. I can live in a sub-suburban area, but nothing rural. If the roads are dirt, I most likely won't enjoy it. I can enjoy desert life. I can enjoy mountain life. I can live with lakes and streams being my only source of water (I've lived in a coastal state my entire life).

-- What's the expected dentist/population ratio?
-- What's the population demographic?
-- Will my small dogs be eaten by the wildlife? I have a Westie and a Pomeranian.
-- What areas will be pretty darned great to live in for a fresh graduate by 2007/2008?
-- I will have over 300K in total debt from undergrad and dental school... so money for a practice/house/food/utilities/fun will be a factore.
-- What's the cost of living? Boston is $$$$$$$$, and Kansas is practically free where they're giving away land. Where's AZ fit into that spectrum.

 

[QCkid]

I've been missing in (dental) action for quite some time, but I've returned to get some feedback regarding Arizona. It's nearing that time to really think about where I want to go and practice... maybe even settle down. What's Arizona like? I'm talking Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff. I can live in a sub-suburban area, but nothing rural. If the roads are dirt, I most likely won't enjoy it. I can enjoy desert life. I can enjoy mountain life. I can live with lakes and streams being my only source of water (I've lived in a coastal state my entire life).

-- What's the expected dentist/population ratio?
-- What's the population demographic?
-- Will my small dogs be eaten by the wildlife? I have a Westie and a Pomeranian.
-- What areas will be pretty darned great to live in for a fresh graduate by 2007/2008?
-- I will have over 300K in total debt from undergrad and dental school... so money for a practice/house/food/utilities/fun will be a factore.
-- What's the cost of living? Boston is $$$$$$$$, and Kansas is practically free where they're giving away land. Where's AZ fit into that spectrum.

Arizona is nice in the winter, hell in the summer. Getting real big and just like where I'm going to school (CA) their seem to be a couple dentists on every corner. The prices of land used to be cheap but in the last five to ten years have been shooting straight up. I love it becuase its where I'm from and all my family and my wifes family are their but if it wasn't for that I'd go somewhere else. 115 degrees just gets old after a few years.

 

[kew]

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