Living in Las Vegas (Blog)

[Steve Pavlina]

Use this thread to discuss the following entry from Steve Pavlina's blog:

Living in Las Vegas

[ZHereford]

Loved the article! Thanks for all the interesting facts and telling us why you chose to live there.

Last year my husband and I came to Vegas for the first time for a friend's wedding. I was not enthused at the prospect because I'm not a gambler and visualized only the 'Sin City' aspects.

Wouldn't you know we both loved it and were there again just 3 weeks ago with our son and daughter. We saw the Blue Man Group (again), Madame Tussaud's, the dead bodies display, the Shark Reef and many more fun things. There's so much to do for everyone. We can't wait to go again.

[Saidin]

Steve, thanks for this 'right on time' article. My girlfriend an I, actually we'll be husband and wife by then, will be visiting Las Vegas for two days in September. We'll be cruising the south-west of the USA for our honeymoon.

I thought about trying to see if I can find you, but my wife is not into personal development at all and doesn't "know" you, you don't know me at all and I don't want to be the annoying fanboy.

[Shamou]

Great blog Steve...

I have been to Vegas, for seminars, three times... and since Dr. Jim Parker, who organized the seminars was I personal friend, I had free access to his suite... (the largest one in what was then the "MGM Grand.")

That is when I truly found out how the "other half" lived...

That suite was about the size of a skating ring... deep wall to wall white carpeting, Baby Grand Piano and the whole enchilada... it also had an open bar... but, that's another story...

I just loved you City... you have reasons to be proud of it...
.

[Andrew Brunelle]

I've never actually been to Vegas before, but the way you describe it makes me want to check it out at least once in my lifetime. There is so much going on up there that it is a "must see" before I die.

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by Andrew Brunelle

I've never actually been to Vegas before, but the way you describe it makes me want to check it out at least once in my lifetime. There is so much going on up there that it is a "must see" before I die.

One of the things that will "blow your mind" is to see people "blow" $50k in twenty minutes... shake their heads and move on as if nothing had happened...

It's another world...
.

[theknightwhosaysni-NI]

I liked the growth lesson at the end. I am just about to move in an other city in another country, as a result of conscious choice. Hopefully it will be a growth lesson. I am really excited and looking forward to it.


About Vegas :
I heard that the growth of this city is becoming a problem for the water. Because of the huge consumption of water by the city, some important lakes are getting empty in another state. Has anyone heard of that? Is that true?

[JohnK]

The first I thought I had when entertaining moving to Las Vegas was "what about water?". So I did a little research and found that, at present, existing (mainly imported) water is projected to last until about 2025 at the region's current growth rate.

Most of the water controversy appears to be a situation in which water is being reallocated to the Las Vegas area at the expense of farmers. That is a valid concern, but as always, the market will dictate how things actually unfold.

There is also evidently some talk about Nevada funding desalination plants on the California Coast in exchange for more water credits for importing water from the Colorado River. That's logical and a potential win-win situation, if the economics can be worked out. (Desal is much more expensive than Colorado River water.)

On balance, it appears that, if the powers-that-be show the kind of foresight and can-do attitude they have shown in the past and present, the region will continue to grow and thrive for many decades.

[openeyes]

The cost of desalination should go down as more areas make use of it. Water is becoming a serious issue in most of the populated areas around Australia and throughout the world. It will be interesting to see what technological advances necessity gives rise to in the next couple decades.

Vegas is on my short list of cities in the US to visit, along with Seattle (and Vancouver just across the border), Chicago, and New York . San Francisco is already taken care of.

[hymalaia]

This article is nice timing for me. I just recently (less than a week ago) made the decision to move to a new city. Synchonicity or coincidence, hmm...

[Steve Pavlina]

Vegas definitely has water issues. Most houses here have desert landscaping instead of grass lawns, since watering lawns consumes a lot of water. By using local plants you can create a nice looking xeriscape that doesn't take much water to maintain. This is how my house is landscaped on all sides.

The kids and I went to the new Springs Preserve today, which had modern exhibits on water conservation, recycling, and sustainable living. It said if the city's growth rate continues, it will overrun the available water supply, which creates pressure to limit new residential development or to press for more conservation measures. Supposedly the hotels/casinos use only 10% of the water, but I think that's misleading, since the casino industry fuels much of the residential growth. Many people come here looking for casino/hotel jobs.

The best thing anyone can do to conserve water, however, is simply to forgo animal products. Cut just one pound of beef from your diet, and you save 2,500 gallons of water. That's as much water as you'd save by skipping your next 250 showers (assuming you shower for 5 minutes, 2 gals/min), and you'll surely smell a lot better. If you go vegan or vegetarian, even for just a few days, you will literally save tons and tons of water.

[seeker5]

Wow, nice article. For years, I've wanted to move to Las Vegas, and this article has just made me want to live there even more.

[Ahugle]

Thanks for the great post!

I've been in Vegas for about twelve years now and I love it. Everyday at least one tourist asks me, "What on earth made you move to Las Vegas?" I usually respond with "Opportunity and the lack of snow." This really is a great place to make a fresh start, whether you're looking for a secure position in one of the hotels or thinking of striking out on your own.

And the locals really are a friendly bunch. I think part of it has to do with the fact that most of us are transplants. We have to embrace one another because we no longer have the family and friendship networks that we left behind. Because of that, there is none of the cliqueiness that you find in many other areas.

[BlueCrane]

Thanks for this very interesting article, Steve - for Europeans like myself it's an eye-opener to the American way of life as much as an insider's spotlight on a place everybody thinks they know.

Having lived in Hamburg and London, and then in Johannesburg and Cape Town for almost 23 years, I can say that your final comments about locations all having their different energies is very true - you don't always pick them up as a visitor, but as soon as you get involved in local issues you can't miss it.

We have just moved back from South Africa to Europe and I have documented the 5 main stages of this process in my HORIZONS JOURNAL - have a look if you are interested. We have consciously used the tool of relocating for personal growth several times because we know that some places just do not mirror who we are anymore after a while.

We pick up German TV here in Austria : they have several programs dealing with the trials and tribulations of families relocating within Europe, but also to different continents - the main problems most of them have is with 1. language and 2. culture. Moving within the USA/Canada this hardly applies much but believe me, in Europe this is radical because you never have to drive far to be in another country.

On all my travels, I play that little game of looking at the real estate market, asking myself "Would I want to live here?" There is so much beauty and other attraction almost everywhere if you look at places from that perspective, but in Asia for example the answer was always "No".

Why? Culture and language are too alien for me. Here in Austria they speak my German mother tongue and the culture is similar, but still different - we are very close to Italy, Slowenia and even Hungary here. All this resonates with me at the moment.

I wasn't planning to go to Las Vegas next year when I visit my sister in San Francisco - but now I will.

[Akashic_Librarian]

Right I m visiting Las Vegas ASAP...as in, when I can afford lol...I might visit when I do a years study in the US of A, which will probably be in about 5 years

[Steve Pavlina]

Originally Posted by Ahugle

And the locals really are a friendly bunch. I think part of it has to do with the fact that most of us are transplants. We have to embrace one another because we no longer have the family and friendship networks that we left behind. Because of that, there is none of the cliqueiness that you find in many other areas.

Very true. I was especially surprised at how easy it was to make new friends here. In my hometown it was too easy to become socially lazy.

[phoenixmama]

Thanks for a great article!

Wow, this article is really making me think of moving to LV. I have really felt we need a fresh start somewhere, I am definitely going to look into it.

[BILLYBOB]

I think you're right concerning the collective vibrancy and excitement of Vegas...and you're correct in attributing this to the fact that most people living there CHOOSE to live there. (i.e. they excersised their free-will by moving from somewhere else) Also, the personal freedoms give one a sense of greater personal control and contentment.

By contrast, I spent 5 years in a mid-sized city in Alabama...I met the most miserable people there. I was one of few "foreigners" Most of the population was literally 5th or 6th generation Alabamian. Most people felt trapped and the conservative social norms (imagine a Christian Taliban) were suffocating.

Vegas does have its' down side...I had a friend who moved there and fell into the cocaine, strip club, heavy drinking, and tobacco lifestyle. His life fell apart and he's never recovered. He had too much freedom, I guess.

[elainevdw]

Vegas? Pshaw! Move to Reno!

Seriously, though, Nevada is becoming a smarter and smarter move for individuals and businesses alike. It's nice to hear nice things about my home state.

[Jaybird]

If you're into it, one of the other pluses of Vegas is the opportunity for outdoor recreation. Lake Mead is minutes away if you like boating. Red Rock Canyon National Rec. Area is a rock climbing mecca just about 10 miles from Summerlin. There you can rope up and do a technical climb or if you are reasonably fit, you can find non-technical routes to the top where you get spectacular views of the Vegas. Valley of Fire is a longer drive, about 50 miles NE of Vegas, but is worth the drive for amazing formations that have been featured in movies. Nearby Mt. Charleston offers hiking in the summer and alpine or Nordic skiing in the winter. Zion National Park is about two and a half hours away. Need to surf? Well, no surfing in Vegas, but head for LA and you can be on the beach in four hours.

Geez, why did I ever leave?

[AmyM]

Hi, I've been reading your blog for a while, and I just joined these forums today. Something has been nagging me to move to a new city for a while now. I've been in Atlanta for 10 years, and I grew up in the state of Georgia as well.

I don't know why but something is telling me to move to a desert area. I've been looking at Arizona and New Mexico but I'm not sure they have the economy to support my profession (Webmastery, Email Marketing Management). This summer I tried to arrange working remotely at my current job from New Mexico, but it all fell apart.

After reading your blog post, I will be sure to check out Las Vegas. I've never been there before...but your post just seemed so timely and personally relevant to what I am now experiencing. Thanks.

[MariaG]

Thanks for making the point about not judging people, Steve. I have been to Vegas a few times and really enjoy the city, but the whole sex-trade thing really bothers me. For instance, it's pretty easy to spot older men walking toward the hotel elevators with a young woman (or two!) who is obviously not his niece
Generally I find that sort of behavior repulsive!

My challenge is exploring ways of not judging people while not becoming numb or indifferent to all of the ways that people are suffering in the world. I do like the suggestion that perhaps all vices have a place in someone's path to growth.

[Amadeus]

Steve, I'm assuming since you have an extra bedroom for family and friends, you'll extend this bedroom to all your stevepavlina.com members. Afterall we are your family right? How does October sound for you?

[Steve Pavlina]

Originally Posted by Amadeus

Steve, I'm assuming since you have an extra bedroom for family and friends, you'll extend this bedroom to all your stevepavlina.com members. Afterall we are your family right? How does October sound for you?

Hehehe. Erin and I actually discussed doing something along those lines. The room even has a partial view of the Strip, so at night you can see the city lights. The downside is that you'd share a bathroom with a 4-year old.

[Stray]

I just visited Vegas last weekend, and in a month, give or take, I'll be pulling up stakes and moving to the Twin Cities, which I've visited exactly once. Whee, adventure!

The Vegas Strip appeared to be pretty much a monument to things I despise--greed, overconsumption, wastefulness, and people who are bad at math. But, on a friend's recommendation, I ventured a few miles south and found the Double Down Saloon, which is the awesomest dive bar ever and I absolutely loved it and I miss it already. Alas, my little Indiana town could never support anything half that cool.

Steve, when you say to eliminate a pound of beef from your diet, what time period does that cover? A pound per week, per month, or what? I sure don't eat anything like a pound of red meat per week...ugh. Maybe I'd eat that much in a month, some months anyway.

[Steve Pavlina]

Originally Posted by Stray

Steve, when you say to eliminate a pound of beef from your diet, what time period does that cover? A pound per week, per month, or what? I sure don't eat anything like a pound of red meat per week...ugh. Maybe I'd eat that much in a month, some months anyway.

Try just one pound total.

[Erin Pavlina]

LOL, Steve and I jokingly discussed opening up our guest room to visitors at a rate of $500 per night, but that included dinner with Erin and Steve, private access to the pool and jacuzzi, a 2 hour private discussion with us on any topic you want, and breakfast in the morning. Oh, plus a vegan mint on the pillow.

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

The downside is that you'd share a bathroom with a 4-year old.

I'll bet your four year old isn't as messy as the guy I share my bathroom with right now!

Great article. As usual.

[dennisgorelik]

Steve,

How not eating 1 pound of beef can help to save any water in Las Vegas?

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

Vegas definitely has water issues.

The best thing anyone can do to conserve water, however, is simply to forgo animal products. Cut just one pound of beef from your diet, and you save 2,500 gallons of water. That's as much water as you'd save by skipping your next 250 showers (assuming you shower for 5 minutes, 2 gals/min), and you'll surely smell a lot better. If you go vegan or vegetarian, even for just a few days, you will literally save tons and tons of water.

Dennis Gorelik
http://www.dennisgorelik.com

[gberardi]

I work for a company that makes slot machines, and I'll be going to Vegas with a few coworkers in a couple of weeks. I have never been in a casino nor have I visited before, so it was nice to be able to read about what is available besides tourist traps. I'm not sure how much time I'll have to myself, but I'll definitely have to look into a few of those vegan-friendly meals. I believe I read in a magazine that vegan-friendly options are becoming quite popular (if expensive) in Vegas.