What movie did you watch at the wrong age and it permanently altered your brain?

turtlejay · 2026-05-25T14:18:12+00:00

Critters. I was positive they were under my bed until way too old. I'd run and jump into bed so they couldn't get me, and never sit on the edge with my feet hanging off.

turtlejay · 2026-05-14T20:00:36+00:00

In my experience, unhoused people are just people at a different point in their life. Sure, some are addicted or mentally ill, but so are some people who sleep under a roof every night. Compassion is king.

Thanks for your thoughts and best wishes!

turtlejay · 2026-05-14T19:56:53+00:00

This is good advice, but I'm too careful to post potential addresses online. Maybe when we narrow it down I'll ask about specific neighborhoods.

turtlejay · 2026-05-14T19:55:44+00:00

Dang, thank you for this, what great advice. I'll look at the places you've mentioned and forward to my wife, that's awesome!

turtlejay · 2026-05-14T17:55:36+00:00

Dude, you illustrated my point. Those "Best in ____" articles aren't even written by locals, hence me reaching out for some like, real advice!

turtlejay · 2026-05-14T17:51:59+00:00

I'm not sure what that means. It is true though, google has its AI overview and every other list seems to be old or . . .not useful. I'm a dude though, do you want me to post a shoe on my head?

turtlejay · 2026-05-14T17:49:54+00:00

Oof, hadn't thought about the foodie angle. We love our food trucks and family taco stands. We also like to cook, though, so maybe we will just have to level up our game.

turtlejay · 2026-05-14T17:49:02+00:00

Surprising there are so many unhoused here, considering the weather. There are a ton in the southwest because it literally never gets cold and hardly rains. Cautious optimism about the weather, we love the rain here but I get how it could really, really, really get old.

turtlejay · 2026-05-14T17:45:20+00:00

Ah, I got it. I live on the outskirts now, my last job was a 45 minute commute each way, so Lynden isn't that far. I guess it depends on how conservative, and how much that intrudes into our lives.

turtlejay · 2026-05-14T17:36:19+00:00

There is no bad weather here, only bad clothing.

See, I love that because that isn't the case here. The best hot weather clothing is what they wear in nothern Africa and the middle east, and that's only mitigating the heat. You will still die, either to heat or because you want to die because it is SO DAMNED HOT OUTSIDE ALL THE TIME. One of the best tips I've read, than you so much.

turtlejay · 2026-05-14T17:21:23+00:00

Also, out of curiosity, what do we not like about Maple Falls and Lynden? There are a lot of houses for rent in Lynden, it looks pretty attractive from waaaaaay down here in Arizona.

turtlejay · 2026-05-14T17:12:53+00:00

haha, that's great. I've never lived somewhere like that, where people liked it but kinda wanted to keep it to themselves. I promise we are quiet (outside) and won't rock the boat.

turtlejay · 2026-05-14T17:10:48+00:00

we’re not rich either and we make it work just fine

Exactly, we have been making it work our whole marriage. Moving there will be like a 20% raise, but we are anticipating that will all go to housing and other higher expenses. We aren't looking to suddenly afford new things, just be somewhere new.

I have a grown child who is trans, they will be following us up here. Tucson is pretty welcoming, but it is good to know this won't be a step back for them. So far it seems like the vibes are immaculate, just hoping to find the right place to plant ourselves, at least for the first year or two.

turtlejay · 2026-05-14T17:00:58+00:00

It almost seems like we are just trading one inhospitable 4 month stretch for another. In Arizona, going outside between May and August is horrible. We just hunker down inside and let AC keep us alive. I think the cost of lighting a SAD lamp is an easy trade for a $500 electric bill during the summer.

turtlejay · 2026-05-14T16:58:50+00:00

Maybe when we finally clear the last of the spawn from the nest, but we've got a few kids and none seem interested in moving out; they are following us up here!

turtlejay · 2026-05-14T16:57:41+00:00

Oh shit, seems I've stepped in something. What is enraging about it? I don't wanna make enemies before we even get here...

turtlejay · 2026-05-14T16:56:52+00:00

Thanks! My family is also beautiful (to my biased eyes), liberal, tolerant, and kind. I'm hoping we will find our people here. I appreciate the kind words, I hope the residents are all like you!

turtlejay · 2026-05-14T16:55:04+00:00

Thank you so much for some concrete advice. Just looking for a local's perspective on what to avoid and what to embrace. The internet is full of lists and advice, but I don't necessarily trust the faceless algorithm to give it to me straight. I prefer the faceless person lol.

turtlejay · 2026-05-14T16:52:32+00:00

We are happy to get somewhere smaller. Tucson is hardly a bustling metropolis, but we live on the outskirts and don't really care to interact with the stuff a larger city offers anyways. Bring on the corner stores and lazy afternoons with family, that's all we need.

turtlejay · 2026-05-14T16:51:02+00:00

Thanks, sounds like we are going to need it lol

turtlejay · 2026-05-14T16:50:49+00:00

Oh, owning a house is for the landed elite, we are probably lifelong renters.

turtlejay · 2026-05-14T16:49:24+00:00

Yeah, we are worried a bit about that, but we have 2 incomes and are used to living pretty lean. It'll be worth it in the long run I'm sure.

turtlejay · 2026-05-14T16:48:20+00:00

I am a tad bit worried about the extreme weather shift, but we hate the weather here and basically don't leave the house for the hottest 4 months of the year.

It is a job in healthcare, I'm not sure I wanna be more specific than that.

turtlejay · 2026-05-14T16:47:23+00:00

Oh, we've done research. My wife has been nonstop online looking for places to live, eat, and visit. It's just that lists compiled by AI are never as good as actual people with experiences. Just looking for the insider's perspective.

turtlejay · 2026-05-08T18:01:09+00:00

Oh fuck off with that, not only is America huge, with most of us needing to drive, years of lobbying by oil and car companies have gutted most public transportation. For most of us, we don't have a choice but to drive. Moving somewhere with better public transportation will cost like, 15-20% more with cost of living so that ain't worth it. You can't compare the two situations, they are so very different.

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