Living in Las Vegas
Day to day living in Las Vegas is much like anywhere else. Eat, work, play, shop, gamble and sleep. Ok, so most places don't include the gamble part. Actually, for most of the people we know here, including us, gambling is no big deal. It’s just one more form of available entertainment. Visiting Las Vegas, there is often a compulsion to make the most of your limited time by cramming in all those things that would get you arrested back home. Living in Las Vegas, however, there is simply no need. You can go to any casino (including some nice ones most visitors never see) 24 hours a day. Once you’re off the Strip, or away from downtown, life goes on as normal. I was surprised to see that many people living in Las Vegas are very early risers. I normally get up about 5:00 – 5:30, but many of our neighbors are already out and about. They’re walking dogs (or just walking), jogging, riding bikes, either alone or with a friend, and enjoying the nice weather.
My office ... sometimes
My wife and I have found the people who live in Las Vegas to be some of the friendliest, most helpful people we have ever met. Most people live where they do by default. They grew up there, went to school there, or got a job there. Most of the people living in Las Vegas, from young couples just starting out, to the very active seniors are here by choice. They are excited to be here, and it shows. There is an energy to this town unlike anything I’ve seen elsewhere (and I’ve lived in quite a few elsewheres). Maybe it’s something in the desert air, because much like the visitors in the casinos, those who live in Las Vegas have an anything-is-possible attitude, and often, it is. Of course, people who move to Las Vegas are a bit more adventurous than most. Of 12 people on our block I know fairly well, fully 10 of them run their own business; in some cases, more than one business. In their personal lives, they are willing to try just about anything from fishing in Alaska to jumping out of an airplane. The kids living in Las Vegas may play video games, but with all the nice weather we have, they are often outside when they’re not in school. I don’t hear much about the latest electronic craze when I talk to them (We know most of the kids on our street, and have grandkids from 5 to 19). I do hear about outdoor activities like soccer, bicycling and skateboarding.
Soccer fields are everywhere
A brief word of warning is in order, however. Las Vegas attracts every kind of scam artist known to man (and a few new ones, as well), all looking for easy money. They often end up in the casinos (and later in jail), but enough go into business to cause some problems. I seriously recommend you do not hire anyone, for anything, without a recommendation from someone you know. The couple of times we did, we got burned. Now we ask first, hire later.
The weather encourages outdoor activities. People walk, ride bikes, ride horses (they occasionally ride past our house), Those who landscape correctly, do not have to mow a lawn (no grass) or spend time watering their plants (The fully automatic drip irrigation system takes care of it). Shoveling snow is a thing of the past. I can’t speak for everyone in town, but in our area, people take advantage of the weather increase the size of their house. A patio costs a lot less than an addition. We, along with just about everybody we know, uses the patio (and in some cases the pool), as an extension of the house. In fact, some folks get a little carried away with how well they furnish it. If we have friends over, except in the worst weather, we end up on the patio. When we visit friends, we’re out in the yard or by the pool.
In more than four years of living in Las Vegas, I don’t think we’ve ever gone to dinner at someone’s house where the food (the meat, at least) was cooked in the kitchen. People often have both a grill and a smoker (and perhaps a deep fryer for the Thanksgiving turkey). I use one of our grills at least once or twice a week, and often the holiday meals are cooked there or in the smoker.
If you don’t want to cook, there are around 2500 restaurants to choose from. Besides the usual fast food, and pizza (every chain I can think of is represented), there are neighborhood restaurants and bars galore. These are often gathering places where the locals meet on a regular basis. Of course, if you want to splurge, living in Las Vegas puts you close to more celebrity chef restaurants than anyplace in the world. We have also found a few places where nobody knows the chef’s name, but the food and service is every bit as good (often better) than the more well known places. They’re cheaper, too. When you get tired of eating, there you are a short distance from world class entertainment, attractions, shows, and the most fantastic casinos in the world. All that cool stuff you used to cram in during a visit can now be done anytime you want.
All that cool stuff, also means you will have guests. Usually, when someone leaves a place, he or she will gradually lose contact with former friends. Eventually, communication is down to a Christmas card, if that. Living in Las Vegas, that will not happen. In fact, you may find mere acquaintances who want to come for a visit. Two couples we know from New York visit on a regular basis. One even got married out here with my wife and I standing up for them. A friend from Wyoming has come with his whole family: His Mother Father, wife, and himself. Last week, we had lunch with a New Yorker who was here with his wife for other reasons, but made it a point to call us. Another old friend who was here on a business trip called us after a day of work, so we could meet him for dinner. What do you do when guests come? First, see if there is any way to persuade them to stay in a hotel. That allows them to explore at their leisure, and keeps you from having to play host 24 hours a day. It’s sometimes hard for them to remember that while they’re on vacation, you’re not. Then, unless they are only interested in gambling, do those touristy things you never do normally. Take them to a show. Visit one of the attractions you’ve been meaning to see. Try one of the museums. It gives them a break from the tables, and allows you to try something different.
Make sure your eastern friends understand that local time in Las Vegas is the same as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle (Pacific Time Zone). It is a three hour difference. If they decide to call you at 7:00AM their time, it is 4:00AM here. It happens more than you might imagine.
Living in Las Vegas, you will see things you just don't see anywhere else. It has to be the only city on the planet where you can see Elvis twice in an hour without getting out of your car. Enjoy!
|
swim, play golf, and enjoy a variety of outdoor activities. 
If it’s cool out, we just light the fire pit (it still seems odd setting fire to part of the patio, but it does warm things up nicely). For those extra warm evenings, many people have a patio fan under an awning or overhang.
