A view of the morning sun creeping down the Catalina Mountains from my bedroom balcony. — Photo by Pat Bean
“I love to think that animals and humans and plants and fishes and trees and stars and the moon are all connected.” – Gloria Vanderbilt
And the Plant that Returned to Me
For three years, I looked for a place to settle when I left the life in my 21-foot RV. Nothing called my name, and so I continued living and traveling across this beautiful country for a total of nine years. And glad I am that I did.
The rubber tree plant on my bedroom balcony. It found its way back to me after a 10-year stay with my friend, Kim. — Photo by Pat Bean
But finally, I knew I wanted a hot bath every night, counter tops, access to a local library and a bit more space. What I ended up with was a 625-square-foot apartment in Tucson, Arizona that had my name etched on its front door. While I would now love a second bedroom for guests, the apartment seemed like a castle when I first moved my sparse belongings into it.
It met my requirements of a nice outside space to walk Pepper. It had a view of Mount Lemmon that was similar to the view I had in Ogden, Utah, of my beloved Mount Ogden. And best of all it had both a living room and a bedroom balcony that provided almost the same feeling of living in the outdoors that I so loved so much about my RV life.
My doors to these third-floor patios remain open the majority of the time, being closed only when the outside heat requires that I turn on my air conditioner. Nine months out of the year, I sleep with them open. My balconies are my favorite place to sit with morning coffee, and happy hours with friends in the early evening. From the front balcony, which overlooks the night lights of downtown Tucson, I watch hummingbirds flittering about my nectar feeder.
On the back balcony, which provides the view of the Catalina Mountains, sits a large rubber tree plant, one that I raised from its youth. I gave the plant to my friend Kim when I retired and went off gallivanting in my RV. Once I was rooted again, she asked if I wanted it back. I did. It provides a link to a life that I loved in Ogden, to the life I now love here in Tucson.
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Life is good – even without a second bedroom, since my living room couch is pretty comfortable.
Bean Pat: White-faced ibis http://tinyurl.com/y8qus5ty One of my favorite bloggers. If you like birds, you’ll like this one.
Pat Bean's blog 
Beautiful views, hummingbirds and a special plant that connects you with past memories while recording new ones! Great place to call home, with balconies for coffee, stunning views, comfortable sofa and all!
Thanks Playamart
What a great setting!
Thanks Bob. Hope Florida has great views for you, too
Hi Pat! Such a beautiful view from your balcony. You are so blessed you wake up to that every morning 🙂
I agree. I feel blessed every day of my life.
what a beautiful photo how lucky you are mountains and desert oh yeah now for a kangaroo
That would be nice, re a kangaroo. I took the photo a while back, and the tree in the foreground fell down. But the mountains are still there. Hugs
What fantastic views you have from your balcony, Pat! I don’t believe you’d like to trade places? 😉
I wouldn’t Pit, but I still love seeing new sights at every opportunity. Beauty is all around us if we take the time to see it.
Well, an in fact we wouldn;t trade places either. We love out place. Well, actually some what better views of the hills of Texas Hill Country wouldn’t come amiss, but you can’t have everything.
Contentment is most important thing in life… I am glad to see you have it… you are amongst the few lucky ones…
I am. While life has brought me the ups and downs everyone has, I had a job I loved, and now a retirement I love. I believe in the words of Garth Brooks. Happiness is not getting the things you want, but wanting the things you have. Thanks for commenting lifeintrips.