If you are considering moving to Las Vegas you really need to ask yourself, what are my reasons for moving
and what are my expectations.
I packed up my Jeep with everything I could fit and drove out from the Midwest in 2006. I had a crash pad lined up
by a few good friends that told me I could free load until I got a job and could start paying rent.
When I moved here this town was in a resurgence after reeling from 911 which had a pretty big impact on the local
economy. Less than 2 years after landing here the financial meltdown and housing collapse devastated the area again and my timing was impeccable! The thing about Vegas is it always bounces back and there are so many jobs to be had for the
relentless go getter who will put in the work. Are you resilient? not a quiter? adaptable!, Independent. Vegas could be for
you but it will take some getting used to. The population in transient, you will make friends and they will move away, they will probably move back! many people feel isolated as they don't have family or childhood friends surrounding them for support. You will most likely become close with your coworkers which can be good and bad. Holidays are tough and can be lonely, everyone seems to be on a different schedule and the most common phrase is "this is my Friday" as not many have the luxury
of working 9-5 Monday thru Friday. Jobs in the Casino typically start on Swing Shift so you will be getting used to a new sleep schedule, you will be super lucky to get anything full-time right off the bat, you really have to pay your dues and have a plan
for quick advancement or hopping to the next job opening you can find. If you find yourself being easily influenced by others
as far as going out partying, Gambling using prescription drugs, etc... you will probably go down the path that many make and the town swallows them up and spits them out, luckily this town is willing to give second and third chances unless you lose
your gaming card or have a felony. Get used to 24 hour excitement, grocery stores, gas stations and pharmacy's that have slot machines waiting around the clock to test your temptation! We do not pay Income Tax in Nevada but most of us pay by donating
parts of our check to the gaming machines that are everywhere.
Vegas is relatively small still at just over 2 Million people. The town is easy to navigate and the cost of living really is decent
if you don't develop a gambling habit. The convenience of a 24 hour town is something you really start to appreciate and if you are creative you can do a lot of things with your time that have nothing to do with the Las Vegas Strip or gambling culture.
Vegas is a great travel Hub!
A bit over 2 hours and your at the Grand Canyon.
Less than an hour and your at the Hoover Damn
A nice leisurely drive into Utah and you've got a ton of cool options. Bryce Canyon, Zion, Brian Head, etc...
Arizona is super close as well and has many great outdoor spots for hiking, camping and water sports.
You can make it to L.A. in less than 4 hours if traffic permits.
San Diego and the Pacific ocean await, Disney too!
The Weather! too some this is the biggest challenge. Personally I love the weather, granted June, July and August kind
of suck and being stuck in traffic when its 115 is the worst. With a little planning you really can avoid the heat for the
most part. All the Casino's are super comfortable to beat the heat. Winters in Vegas are mild and you can get thru most
of it with a hoody, leave your down jackets at home. My favorite month is March, this is when the pools start to open and the weather hovers around 85 for a few weeks, its awesome! the fall is also great as you survived the summer heat and will be rewarded with more awesomeness!
Things I like to do.
Hiking and Camping - very cheap to do and a great escape from the Chaos of Vegas!
where to go? Mt. Charleston is great and has a nice lodge and cabin rentals as well as skiing in the winter
and great hiking in the spring and fall, this a must do at least twice a year for locals and is about 40 minutes out of town
with a 7000 ft. elevation and snow caps from winter until early spring.
Valley of Fire is a throwback to prehistoric days with crazy rock formations, cool earth tones, a quiet serenity
and camping, hiking or just a picnic 45 minutes or so away, it's a must see!
We are super lucky to have Red Rock mountains in our back yard and just minutes from Vegas central. Red Rock is
great just to drive through and site see or get out and take pictures or park near a trail head and go for a small hike.
There are many other local nature spots in any driving distance, if you live in Henderson you may like Lake Mead!
exploring the beauty of the west coast has been my goal since I moved to Las Vegas, i have had my struggles but landed
on my feet. I will post more about some of the locations for day trips or camping as we'll as post some pictures that I enjoy
taking of my travels. If you can avoid the pitfalls of Vegas, the loneliness, drinking, gambling and debauchery, or at least keep it
to a minimum then you can focus on the great opportunities that living in Las Vegas will provide you! you will always have
friends and family wanting to visit you and you will always have plenty of entertainment at your disposal, you can even take a
staycation or slum it down on Freemont Street as I like to do. I hope this helps give you an idea what to expect from
Las Vegas, you can really make it your own experience! 