livegolf We bought a house for snowbirding in a 55+ community in Casa Grande. CG is a small city between Phoenix and Tucson. It's in an agricultural area. We had spent a lot of time in RV spots on the various corners of Phoenix and Tucson, and got a feel for the areas. We both agreed that Phoenix was too crowded and fast paced for us. Of course this is personal preference! Tucson is less crowded and it's different in some ways good, some ways not. We really liked Oro Valley, north suburb of Tucson. I mention all this to give you a feel for what's out here besides Phoenix. Especially if you want to stretch your money, which brings me to Casa Grande.
When we first checked out CG, we didn't think much of it at all. There are mountains in the near distance to look at, but it's basically flat and sometimes dusty. Sometimes crazy dusty in the summer. It has all of the big box and eating amenities you'd expect in a town of say 50K summer, 100K winter. Tempe/Gilbert/Chandler are about 30-40 minutes up the interstate, for when you want big malls, IKEA, or anything else you can think of.
Home prices are lower than Phoenix. Taxes are low to us. We have a golf course in our community. There is a new owner as of a couple of years ago. He's putting money into the course and raising prices. I think it is going to be a nice everyday course. It's not Talking Stick or Whisper Rock, of course. The cost for a single year round membership which includes carts or use of your own cart is, off the top of my head, $3100. A couples membership is in the high 4's IIRC. There are seasonal packages too, although they are not much less than the year round. Winter daily fee prices on Golfnow were in the upper 30's last year. The rack price is now $57. I know that compared to the midwest, $3100 for an annual membership at a semi private course seems quite high. But you know, water and all that. Also, this particular course is walkable, and people do walk. That is fairly rare in AZ.
There is a handful of other courses nearby and within a half hour. Some are not very good, and at those you can get Golfnow rounds in the upper 20's. Some are a bit better than my new home course.
I don't know about Phx or Tucson but here in CG, getting work done on your house or yard is CHEAP.
Allergies. I have em at home, I have em here. It's just different. Dust can be a biggie for some people. Right now there is zero pollen, so it's pretty good.
You might try renting a park model RV in an RV park for a month, or a season. Some people do that year after year after year. You meet a lot of people that way. They typically will have a traveling golf league, plus a million other things too. That's assuming you are 55+ to get in.