March 18, 2012

What About a Home Base?

During our sailing years and now while RV’ing, we’d occasionally lounge in the cockpit, or look at each other across the cat snoozing on the truck seat and ask...do we want some sort of home base? Were would it be? What would it be like?
And now, WE’VE DONE IT!  
On March 8, just three and a half weeks after driving our 5th wheel home into Tucson, we turned a key and entered the door to a house – OUR house! Guided by a friend who is a mighty fine realtor, we acquired an acre of land with an older double-wide manufactured home.
Our property is in the northern region of the Sonoran desert, which covers large parts of Arizona and California, Northwest Sonora Mexico and the length of Baja California. We’re happy that the home place has native vegetation, including a few saguaros, the cactus most commonly associated with the Sonora desert and Tucson. Two of them are really big. Healthy? We're not sure, but they are big. And they have residents!

The house needs work; including new siding that will be impervious to woodpeckers (there are existing holes!), double pane windows, and gradual remodeling of what is already a nice layout for us. The center is a large kitchen/dining/living room open space, and there's a bedroom at each end. One will be a radio shack/hobby area. The front porch will one day be enclosed as an “Arizona Room.” Chuck will build a shop building. I will help the cactus and native plants along, and plan a cactus walk.  







The work will be interspersed with our travels, which will continue. Just think of those hot desert summers!
    
We had three days to measure, patch walls, change locks and water cactus…then we drove away to visit Chuck’s brother and family in Los Angeles. It's raining in LA now, and we hope that the storm delivers some moisture to Arizona, which needs it!

The future cactus path, where young ones grow sheltered under bushes:






A large barrel cactus, tiny saguaro, and dove eggs.

We’re 16 miles west of northern Tucson, not far from the Arizona Sonora-Desert Museum. To see the neighborhood, Google West Orange Grove Road, Picture Rocks, AZ.



11 comments:

Robbie said...

Oh! How wonderful! I am so glad you got there safely and that the closing occurred on the new home base!! Looks wonderful! Do you really have to water cactus?

- Mexican Trailrunner said...

Congratulations, you 2! Looks like you'll be busy and happy there.
I'll PM you.

C and G Taylor said...

Yes, Robbie, but sparingly, only during certian months. Sometimes the rain does not appear, especially lately, I think!

Paula and Jerry said...

Gigi and Chuck, congratulations to you! This must be so exciting for you; a home that is not on water or wheels. Have a happy time remodeling and making it your own. Your happiness shines through your words. The place looks great!

C and G Taylor said...

Aw, thanks Paula, thanks Jerry!

Jim Cook said...

Dear Gigi and Chuch, Congratulations on your new home! I expect it will get a tad warm there in the summer, but maybe that will be the time when you travel to cooler climes. Thank you for your many nice comments on my blog "Jim and Carole's Mexico Adventure". We just returned from Mexico City where we explored the Zocalo, Chapultepec Park, Alameda Park and some outlying areas like Cuicuilco and Xochimilco. When I get done with my Merida series, I will do one on Mexico City. Wonderful place!

Best regards, Jim Cook

C and G Taylor said...

Jim, by reading your blog I recognize that EVERY place in Mexico is wonderful for you!

Robbie said...

Hi Gigi!

How are things going down there? Any progress made?

Haven't seen you on TWM lately either...Hope you are finding time to hook while you are doing all new projects on this wonderful land/home.
Looking forward to new pictures in both locations!

Robbie

C and G Taylor said...

Ah, yes, Robbie, we returned from a family trip to CA and have been on the property for almost two weeks. We each have our own project tracks that overlap. I'm on the yard work and house. We had RAIN last night!

Wanda said...

Gigi!
I just now had a chance to look at your new house! Wonderful!
I hope you are loving it, I cannot believe how bright it is!
Happy Homesteading!

C and G Taylor said...

Wanda, I think the brightness and wonderful light inside the building is what most attracted me to it! Thanks for visiting!