How Green is your Valley?

Well, among the places we are looking at in Arizona are Green Valley, Sahuarita, and Tucson have been topping the list. Now, of course our VERY good friends live in Pearce...that's VERY secluded! Not sure if we could really live there...although they LOVE it!

Pearce-Sunsites is a small retirement based community with an 18-hole golf course, new and old housing. The surrounding area is rural, perfect for those who wish to move to the country. Recreation is minutes away from your door with Cochise Stronghold in the Dragoon Mountains, National Forests, hiking, camping and the best birding in the U.S. Less than an hour and a half drive away is Tucson.

Now, the Green Valley "thing"....The concerns with that are that maybe we are not THAT old yet....will it really be like we're living in a GRAND Assisted Living community? I used to work at one and although I did love the work, I don't think I'm at the point yet where BINGO could be the highlight of my day! AND...these HOA fees...what is THAT about? And do we REALLY Have to keep our door the SAME color as everyone else's?? We are NOT what you would call conformists...in fact, most of our friends call us a bit eclectic...I sometimes think that's the nice way of saying weird!

As I said, I have been doing some research on all these places. Turns out GV has a lot to offer....even a non-profit Rec organization!

Green Valley Recreation, Inc. is a non-profit organization serving the leisure and social needs of the adult retirement community of Green Valley, Arizona which is located 25 miles south of Tucson on I-19. Green Valley Recreation owns and operates one Member Services Center and thirteen Recreation Centers with a total property value of over $18 million. Green Valley Recreation provides many services and activities to a private membership base of over 12,500 households (an estimated 24,000 individuals).

Leaving the ocean for desert???, funny because this is what I seem most concerned about. Not about moving to a new place where I don’t really know anyone. Not about finding a job or a place to live.... or a LIFE PURPOSE. No, just “What about the ocean?” We LOVE Rehoboth/Dewey beaches in Delaware....we try to get there as much as we can. Well, it’s not going anywhere. Oh,and I hear San Diego and the Mexico beaches are quite nice!

Trying something

OK...so I have been writing this for a bit now...and I really am trying to put links in my blog. So I thought I'd add some cool sites I like...and just see if I can link them!
wyomingbeautiful.com

cowgirlsmarts.com

www.thewildwest.org

Living in Tuscon

Well, I have been looking for ways to make a living if I move to Tuscon. I have pretty many skills, so I have been looking at Sales postions and even Server positions that could possible hold me over!

The way this thing is going to work most likely, is that my husband will retire when we move there! SO...of course, my best possibilities are jobs where I can get some sort of health care!

Since I am presently working in Healthcare sales, I am thinking that with ALL the retired people out there, there should be positions needed that are tied into healthcare. I have worked in Assisted Living Admissions and that might be a good thing to get into out there. After a kind of QUICK search, I did find some positions for Healthcare Liaisons. THAT is basically what I have been doing for 10 years or so.....I get referrals from hospitals, Doctors, etc. to "use" the services of the company I work for....whether it be Assisted Living or Medical Equipment. I think that is an area I would be best suited for...

BUT as I said, I can even waitress....I REALLY don't care! I JUST need a way to make a living when I get out there! My sister-in-law is in HR with the Tucson Botanical Gardens, which if you have never been to, you should REALLY check out tucsonbotanical.org It is SUCH a cool place, BUT as far as getting a job there, I think the only positions available are for retail sales and only part time....so I don't think that would be enough to help me make a living! It's a shame, because it is SO cool to be there!

Well, I will continue looking and if you know of anyone who is looking for a GREAT sales rep in Tucson, let me know

La Chiquita driven out of Arizona!

Well, since I am on this "kick" right now about the WILD West...I KNOW I am not going to really live "that" kind of lifestyle if I move to Arizona....but it is captivating to think about!!...Anyway, I have been doing some research on the days when the West TRULY was wild! I found this article about a cowgirl desperado who was driven out of Arizona! Gosh, I hope that doesn't happen to me!

GIRL HOLDS TOWN IN TERROR

Davenport (Iowa) Weekly Leader / March 14, 1902

Cora Chiquita, Female Desperado, Runs Amok

Santa Rosa, N.M., March 12.— The peace officers of this county are looking for Cora Chiquita, known as “Cora the Cowgirl,” who made a sensation here on Friday night by riding up and down the main street, a revolver in each hand, yelling and shooting at everyone whose appearance did not suit her fancy.

Not until the girl, who is known far and wide as “the beautiful devil,” had loped out of town did the sheriff and his posse show their heads.

La Chiquita is one of the best shots in New Mexico, and is said to be in close touch with a bad gang of outlaws in the southwest. She is 23 years old, pretty as a picture, about a quarter-blood Cherokee, wears man’s attire, always carries two revolvers and is a fearless rider. Not long ago she was driven out of Arizona for general reckless shooting. She has killed several men.



Since the ONLY time I was on a horse in AZ was when I was at a very cool dude ranch for our friend's wedding, and I was terrified of even being on a very friendly horse, AND I did not even have a gun in sight....chances are slim this will be my life out West! Oh and I DO have to say that for anyone who really wants a COOL place to stay in Arizona, I HIGHLY recommend the Triangle T Ranch....this is where our friends got married and it was SO cool to stay there for a few days!




The welcome mat is always out at the...
TRIANGLE T RANCH


Located 60 miles east of Tucson in the foothills of the Dragoon Mountains. One of the oldest ranches in Arizona, it's unique setting in the beautiful Texas Canyon, amidst gigantic boulders piled high in startling formations, offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the southwest. At an elevation of 4500 feet, temperatures at the Triangle T Ranch are moderate year round..



Established in 1922, the Triangle T boasts a colorful and exciting past. In 1929, it came into the hands of Catherine Tuff, the result of a breach of contract-to-marry suit. Since then, Triangle T has been the site of many historical events. It was the center of intrigue during World War II. The subsequent rumors that high-ranking Japanese officials were detained at the ranch were recently confirmed by award-winning author Jane Eppinga, after years of exhaustive research and the lifting of the 50-year moratorium on classified information. Details of the incarceration of the world's "most wanted" war criminals are now available in the library at the Triangle T.

The bicentennial salute to the American Cowboy, "The Last Cattle Drive," originated at the ranch in October 1975 and ended 30 days and 350 miles later in Tucson with all proceeds going to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Inc.

Many diplomats and dignitaries including President John F. Kennedy, General John J. Pershing, and Dr. Leon T. Silver, a director of NASA (who had his Cal Tech geology students complete their thesis at the ranch each summer) were among the ranch's distinguished guests. A fairly well preserved brochure (c. 1930) found in one of the cabin walls in 1996 lists as references the home addresses of the Rockefellers, the Vanderbilt's, and other contemporary socialites.

Really the WILD WILD West???

NOTHING beats a dose of the Wild, Wild West to ease the anxiety that accompanies change. For most Americans, cowboys, covered-wagon caravans and Wild Bill Hickok are icons of rugged individualism that simultaneously stimulate and soothe.

The last time the bloom was on the Wild West rose, for instance, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty, and the boys of the Ponderosa galloped into the American living room. Their mission was simple: to triumph over a variety of bad guys on a weekly basis.

Men such as Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson and Luke Short and women like Lottie Deno and Big Nose Kate. These were truly the folks of the Wild Wild West!

Ok so I'm starting to sound like I will be moving out there back in the "day"! But, I know that I will actually be moving to a place that most likely will even have a pool! Some hard frontier life for me, huh?? Ahh well...

I drink to your health when I'm with you,
I drink to your health when I'm alone,
I drink to your health so darn often,
I'm starting to worry about my own!

Check that Baggage

Can I move forward in life?

“Many of us crucify ourselves between two thieves – regret for the past and fear of the future.”
Fulton Oursler


There is no standing still. You are either moving forward in your life or your are falling behind. Time respects no person. It marches on despite our objections.

We cannot ignore our spiritual needs and truly live a full and rewarding life. We must recognize that there is a higher power and pursue our faith regularly.

I just wrote about all this baggage I have to take to the Wild West and I was really talking about all the stuff...you know material stuff...it is a material world... in my life...all the clutter...Many of us have excess baggage that we carry around, heavy burdens picked up in our youth and never really put down.

There are a lot of people who will tell you to get rid of your baggage. To concentrate on either pretending it isn't there, or dropping it for good. That is really good advice except for one small problem. It's impossible.

Maybe I should try not to lose ALL of my baggage, but to hold it close to me, and take it with me. That's right!! My reasoning is this: I have places to go. I can either stay at home and wish for no baggage, or I can pick it up and move on with life.

No more Baggage

I have too much clutter in my life!

Ya know, one of the reasons I think I might never move is because I HATE to think about cleaning out my house and moving. A lot of my girlfriends even say they know I will never move, because I could never do it. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't have SO much money (not even CLOSE) that I have every luxury known to man. No, I am the thrift shop/yard sale QUEEN! If it's a bargain, I have to have it! Last year, my husband tried to make a rule (isn't he cute??) that if I bought something at a yard sale, I had to get rid of something else! Yeah, like THAT worked!

When pioneers in covered wagons crossed the prairies and mountains to go West, there was NO room for extra baggage. They had to sit loose and travel light. Since I started this blog on Ash Wednesday, I thought that I might try to learn the discipline of traveling light. Can I give up hitting that thrift shop finding a brand NEW dress for ONLY $1.25?? Man, it's going to be hard...but how many dresses do I need out West anyway? Hell, for that matter how many do I need here in the East?

A good deal of this weight is is just baggage--the outworn good we carry long after its utility has disappeared. I need to be a Nomad on the March! I can't afford a clutter of possessions, so I need to let go and to be ready for action. This will be my goal for now.....can I do it?? We shall see...