Raw facts, honest opinions, and real experiences - HELP!
My family and I will be moving to southern Utah. I know...I can almost hear the "we're full" comments lol. I TOTALLY get it, I would feel the same way! I have done extensive research about the area (St. George, Hurricane, Ivins, Cedar City, etc) and the state of Utah as a whole. I have also visited numerous times... BUT there are answers that I can not seem to find and honestly...I just want to hear from native Utahns, transplants, and even people who moved out of the state.
Brief context: My husband has an injury from serving in the military and it is getting worse a lot sooner than we expected/hoped for. He wants to enjoy all the things we love doing together (hiking, swimming, wave runners, star gazing, four wheelers, snowboarding) before it gets difficult for him to do so. Utah may not be our permanent home, but I am hoping it will be our "happiest memories" place. We visited Utah numerous times and did extensive research, but I want to hear from you guys!
- What do you find to be the most surprising hidden costs of living here (e.g., property taxes, utilities, or HOA fees)? Groceries, gas, vehicle maintenance, rent....what hits your wallet the hardest?
- Jobs - this is the scary part....but, neither one of us have jobs lined up. How hard is it for an "outsider" to find employment?
- What surprised you most after the 'vacation phase' wore off?
- What are the biggest misconceptions outsiders have about Southern Utah?
Also - I know it is hot, I know housing is expensive, I know traffic has gotten worse, I know there are LDS and "cliques," etc. I want to know about the less obvious stuff people only realize AFTER moving there...things you wouldn't think to research beforehand.
Not looking for Utah-bashing or blind positivity - I genuinely just want realistic perspectives. I'd rather know the honest stuff now than get blindsided later.