Looking across the valley from the undeveloped ridge near my apartment complex where I often take my morning walks, — Photo by Pat Bean
“… an ordinary desert supports a much greater variety of plants than does either a forest or a prairie.” — Ellsworth Hunting
Just a Happy Accident
A gila woodpecker on a saguaro cactus, one of many I see on my walks in the desert. — Photo by Pat Bean
Six years ago, after spending nine years traveling this country full-time in a small RV with my canine companion Maggie, I made a small third-floor apartment in Tucson my home. It was an unplanned move, but the time had come when I wanted a nightly hot bath instead of a skimpy shower; and I wanted the pleasure of a local library. This southeastern Arizona apartment complex had a nice bathtub, was dog friendly with shady places to walk my pet, a library was close by and, just as important, it was affordable.
It also helped that my youngest daughter lived in town, the area was a great place to watch birds, and my new apartment stood in the shadow of the Catalina Mountains, which are comparable in their 10,000-foot elevation to Utah’s Wasatch Mountains, whose shadows I lived in for 25 years before I retired, sold my home and bought my RV — I’m not sure I could ever again live away from mountains. That I found
A Tucson sunset. — Photo by Pat Bean
myself living in the middle of the Sonoran Desert was just a happy accident.
The surprise has been how much I have learned to love the desert, particularly this morning during my early walk with my current canine companion Pepper – after I read about all the snow storms taking place elsewhere in the country.
Life is good – and this old broad is happy and grateful for her many blessings.
Bean Pat: Good signs https://simpletravelourway.wordpress.com/2018/11/26/consider-this/?wref=pil This goes along with my goal of encouraging people to be kind to one another.
Pat Bean is a Lonely Planet Community Pathfinder. Her book, Travels with Maggie, is available on Amazon. She is now working on a book tentatively titled Bird Droppings, which is about her late-bloomer birding adventures. You can contact her at patbean@msn.com
Pat Bean's blog 
Your post warmed me today as I have just finished digging out from under a reported 9.2 inches of white desert. Having lived in New Mexico, I appreciate both. Thanks for sharing.
Hello Pat Bean, I have enjoyed following some of your adventures traveling, trailering, and birding. Glad to hear you have found a great place to roost in Tucson. I’ve never had any inclination to visit there…until your latest post.
My wife, Suzanne Hogan, and I have been casting about for somewhere WARM to stay for a couple weeks, but we’re not really up for international travel. We just want to live simply & stress-free.
SUDDENLY Tucson presents itself as the perfect location. Just 808 miles directly SOUTH of Ogden. What could be simpler? If we run into the border with Mexico we’ve gone too far. That’s as close to Mexico as we feel comfortable with for an extended stay. 🙂
Perhaps because of its location near the Catalina Mountains. Also because of the U. of Arizona–that’s got to make for a lively student/academic culture.
Not sure how you feel about your blog attracting followers, but I guess you can appreciate the irony in broadcasting your favorite places. So, thanks again for sharing. Who knows, maybe in January we will be there, too.
sincerely,
Bob & Suzanne
p.s. Not sure how you feel about medical marijuana…but it’s coming to Utah! https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/commentary/2018/11/22/commentary-kind-world/
On Mon, Nov 26, 2018 at 11:33 AM Pat Bean’s blog wrote:
> Pat Bean posted: ” “… an ordinary desert supports a much greater variety > of plants than does either a forest or a prairie.” — Ellsworth Hunting > Just a Happy Accident Six years ago, after spending nine years traveling > this country full-time in a small RV wi” >
HI Bob, Be sure to let me know if you come. Perhaps you and your wife and I can meet for a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. It was 47 degrees here last night and 77 degrees midday today. There is a great Sonoran Living Desert to visit and lots of small community plays. I think it’s great that I’m attracting followers, some of whom hopefully will buy my book. As for medical marijuana, well it’s like everything else in life. It’s both a good thing and a bad thing. I know it will offer relief to those who need it and be used badly by others. Thanks for your kind comments.