Recently I asked longtime residents of The Greater Palm Springs Area for any advice they would give to someone who had just moved to The Desert. Tips covered everything from dealing with the heat to driving to the old people. Some were serious, some were not. Some were smart, some were absurd. Some were sincere and some were just dickish.
And now, in no particular order, are #20 – #1:
20) Learn defensive driving and realize no one knows how to drive here. (Alexis S.)
19) Bottled water in summer,snowbirds cant drive,street fairs are cool and always check out the night sky we have the best view around (Lionel S.)
18) Whenever you go anywhere, you learn not to park closest to the entrance but rather wherever there is shade! (Dana W.)
17) Don’t leave make up or any melt-ables in your car! (Marcia C.)
16) The desert isn’t the total shit hole we all say it is. There is beauty to it and plenty to do, you just have to be optimistic. (Ali C.)
15) Work traffic is seasonal although population has picked up businesses always suffer in the summer months. Many restaurants have closed this summer already. If you are a seasonal worker you should definitely research job market before picking the desert as your home. (Miriam J.)
14) Do not under any circumstances, for any reason whatsoever, move to Desert Hot Springs. (Leticia M.)
13) Buy lots of light colored clothing. Enjoy it so when you’re living in a cooler place and folks are complaining of 90 degree temps you can laugh at them. (Arron Healy)
12) Never go get your mail barefoot and always check your shoes for creepy crawlers (Widd B.)
11) Never get stuck behind a Cadillac, or any car with Oregon plates. Especially if you are in a hurry! (Anishia R.)
10) Don’t move to Indian wells… you’ll be just as welcomed as plastic bags these days. (Celeste E.)
9) If the neighborhood doesn’t have sidewalks, you better be a big guy or a woman with a gun. (Sarah L.)
8) Don’t do it. Once you’re caught in the sand trap you never get out (Desirée M.)
7) Buy water bottles and bring water wherever you go. Don’t worry when hiking on the Palm desert trails. Pretty much everywhere you go you’re only twenty minutes from civilization. (Jerry S.)
6) Gotta mention traffic, one day there’s none – the next day in October it is packed, and old people drink and drive early. (Patrick C.)
5) Buy a good window shade to avoid cracked windows (Karla Q.)
4) Sell most of your pants, and all but one pair of boots, and one jacket for those 2 weeks first of December.(Lorraine H.)
3) Parking further away is worth it if it means parking in the shade. learned that from my momma (Katie P.)
2) The reason houses are cheaper by the freeway is because the wind blows 100 miles per hour there…do not be fooled by shady real estate agents (Paul P.)
1) Public transit in the desert is the worst of anywhere in America…if you do not have a car. Do not move here (Scott K.)
