Retire to Tucson and Southern Arizona

I wrote yesterday describing why my family and I moved to Tucson. I would like to expand on that today as to why I think people, and especially baby boomers, should consider retiring to Tucson and Southern Arizona.

As Americans live longer and are generally in better health, people have different ways of living in their retirement years. Some people prefer being outdoors (doing activities like golfing, biking, or swimming), some enjoy the arts and theater, some like social activities (meeting new people, performing social service and volunteer activities, dancing or joining a choir, and going to restaurants with friends).

The following are some factors each of us should consider before choosing a place for retirement.
1).Will I be able to afford living in that region?
2).Will I have access to good and sufficient medical care?
3).Will it be convenient for my friends and relatives to come for a visit to that area?
4).Will I be able to meet people of my peer group and to make friends?
5).Are there things for me to do? Can my current interests be met? Will I be able to develop new interests?

By all accounts and for all these factors, the Tucson area is one of the nation's best places to be. Because of the climate, the housing and living costs, and all the varied activities available, this should be no surprise.

Tucson is a college town. So live theater and dance, concerts of all sorts, sports of all types are all available throughout the year and at reasonable prices. Seniors frequently receive discounts at many events in the Tucson area. Additionally there are cultural events, classes, and many activities to stimulate the brain. Retirees can enjoy a very active lifestyle, and many of them work part-time, do volunteer work, or enroll in classes at the University of Arizona. Pima County Community College also offers many free or low cost classes and workshops.

Tucson's altitude and relatively low humidity make the summer's high daytime temperatures tolerable. The weather in the fall, winter, and spring is fantastic. Those who appreciate the dry air and mountains of the Southwest should enjoy the Tucson area. The high Sonoran Desert, which surrounds the town, is home to a fascinating diversity of plants and wildlife, many not seen elsewhere in the world. The sun shines almost 350 days per year. That certainly is something people coming from the East Coast, the Northern Plains, and the Pacific Northwest appreciate.

I believe there are things for everyone and every age group to do, and you will enjoy something special and “particularly Tucson” in every season of the year. Feel free to contact me if you need more information or would like to visit some retirement communities, cultural centers, or attend some local events, or are wondering what might be the best time of year to visit. I think you will love it here.

Tucson – Retirement & Relocation Destination

Around this time 10 years ago, my family was debating whether to relocate to Tucson because of my husband's probable job transfer. The kids made a list of Pros and Cons, and of course, there were more Cons than Pros. They didn't want to leave their friends and the life they knew. We parents also made a list of our Pros and Cons, with our eventual retirement in mind. Long story short, we did relocate to Tucson and we've been enjoying all the amenities that Tucson and Southern Arizona have to offer ever since.

Besides the obvious pluses Tucson would provide us: continued employment for my husband, good schools for the kids, general way of life for all of us, and the attractive weather, we debated whether the Tucson area would be a good place for the kids to grow and ultimately for us to retire. We added several factors to our investigation lists.

We wanted to know:
1).Whether our retirement savings would go a long way in Tucson (reasonable cost of living).
2).Whether there is good medical care conveniently available.
3).Whether Tucson is an attractive destination for our friends and relatives to visit.

Well, we have been here for almost 10 years now, and we have decided that it was a very good move for us when we relocated to Tucson. We met many friendly, nice people, both transplants and native Arizonans, who share our interests and hobbies. We spend a lot of time outdoors, both in our own backyard and in nearby hiking areas. My husband has retired now and has more time to explore the surprising variety of activities & cultural events offered by Southern Arizona.

Of course, it is human nature to think WHAT IF we did not move from Maryland to Arizona... would our kids be in different colleges, would we have a different lifestyle? But in the end, we both think we made the right move.

Tubac Center of the Arts

My husband and I attended a lecture at the Tubac Center of the Arts last evening. Kaye and Francis YourStarShining (both self-taught artists) of YourStarShining Studio presented their work. Kaye began the talk to our group and explained all the steps in making a bronze sculpture, using the lost-wax process. In addition to being a sculptor, Kaye is a painter. Francis, born and raised in the Sioux Nation of South Dakota, brings a fresh and natural look to his stone sculpture. He told us how he first started sculpture work and how he tries to capture the essence and spirit of real-life animals in motion. Francis made jewelry in silver with inlays of semi-precious stones and shells before becoming a stone sculptor. Kaye and Francis maintain a winter studio near Tucson, and in the summers, they return to Francis' grandfather's home at Buffalo Lake, South Dakota. They say they find inspiration in the land and the nature for their creations at both their summer and winter residences.

My husband and I learned a great deal from this lecture. It was fun and interesting. We modeled in clay while the artists spoke. You can reach the YourStarShinings at 520-908-2341. Their website is www.yourstarshining.com.

You might be surprised at the active and vital art scene in Southern Arizona. The Tubac Center of the Arts has informal lectures by local artists nearly every week and frequent formal shows. To find out what is happening in the arts in Tubac, please check out the website: www.tubacartcenter.org

Hidden Treasures of Santa Cruz Valley – Active Artist Studio Tour of 2009

If you missed the Hidden Treasures of Santa Cruz Valley OPEN STUDIO TOUR 2009 this weekend, it is not too late, you still have another chance next weekend (4/25 & 4/26).

This event offers you an opportunity to see and experience the creative process at work in the studios of participating artists throughout the Santa Cruz River Valley. You can enjoy the back roads of Santa Cruz County with its magnificent landscape and enjoy the hospitality of the artists who open their doors to you.

My husband and I attended the Opening Reception on 3/27 at the the Tubac Center of the Arts. We saw some of the works of the artists active in the Santa Cruz Valley. We also heard a fascinating talk by the sculptor David Voisard, who has a studio just north of Tubac in Amado. It was an amazing and very enjoyable evening. We immediately became members of the Tubac Center of the Arts.

Let's talk about the Open Studio Tour again. My husband and I went to several working studios (painting, jewelry, and metal sculpture) this past Saturday and thoroughly enjoyed the exhibits and the demos. We learned a lot about the artists and the creative process, and discovered that Santa Cruz County is home to many artists, creating fantastic, inspiring, and thought-provoking pieces of art.

This coming Saturday, 4/25, from 2:00- 4:00PM at the Michael Arthur Jayme Studio & Gallery, R. Carlos Nakai will be performing live on the flute, free admission. Michael's Studio & Gallery is at the Amado Territory Ranch. Nakai is of Navajo-Ute heritage, and he is the world's premier performer of Native American flute music. It will be an honor and a treat to hear him.

Go to www.tubacartcenter.org to get additional information and the detail map for the Tour. You will discover a vibrant world that you might not have known existed in Southern Arizona. Call me if you need more information or have questions. I will be at Michael's Studio in Amado again this Saturday, this time to listen to Nakai's performance. SEE YOU THERE !!!

Tubac - where art meets history

The historic village of Tubac is located in the Santa Cruz River Valley of Southern Arizona, about a 40 minutes' drive south of Tucson and 20 minutes north of Nogales, Mexico, in the Sonoran high desert. The town and the river valley are lush with many varieties of agave and cactus, cottonwood trees, and mesquite bosque. The beautifully preserved Mission de Tumacacori is only a few minutes away from the Tubac village center. Tubac was established in 1752 as a Spanish presidio (fort). It is now an active artist community and several working artists' studios surround the grounds which once served as the home for a Spanish military garrison.

Scenic high desert vistas surround Tubac, and the village enjoys a year-around economy that benefits from summer temperatures notably cooler than Tucson or Phoenix, because of it higher altitude. More than ninety businesses now line Tubac's meandering streets. Come spend the day wandering through the art galleries, working studios, jewelry and craft stores, and quirky gift shops. The Tubac Center of the Arts provides a full range of arts programming, and its seasonal exhibitions should not be missed. A variety of locally-owned restaurants are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Tubac is also the gateway to the great birding, hiking, off-roading, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Tubac is a gentle breath of fresh air in an otherwise hurried world.

The Tubac Golf Resort is a few minutes from the original village. Barrio de Tubac, an upscale master-planned community, is adjacent to the historic Presidio. Come and experience Tubac. Be sure to email me or call me if you would like me to show you around the area. Let me know if you'd want to spend a month or two in Tubac to explore the area. I will be glad to show you some vacation rentals.

Southern Arizona Vineyards

Retire to the Tucson area, and you could be busy every day, even though you're no longer working. You might start wondering how you ever had time to work before your retirement. You will start telling your friends back home that you are too busy to email them. The Tucson area has so much to do that you'll need to develop special time management skills. There are many cultural events, music performances, interesting classes, volunteer work, day trips, and believe it or not, snow skiing on Mount Lemmon in the winter, the southernmost skiing in the Continental US. And, of course, you have to tour the Arizona wine country and sample the local product.

When considering the world's great wine grape growing regions, Arizona probably doesn't make your top ten list. But you might be surprised to know that there are several varieties of wine grapes that do very well here in Arizona. These include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Sangiovese, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Vineyards were first planted in Arizona in the 17th century by Franciscan missionaries. Today there are thirteen active wineries in the state, with over 650 acres of grapes being grown for the purpose of wine production. Situated in the mile-high rolling grasslands of Southeastern Arizona, surrounded by the Huachuca, Whetstone, and Santa Rita Mountains, is an active and developing wine-growing region with soil so rich, its proponents claim it rivals that of Burgundy, France. The rows of vineyards that produce award-winning red, white, and blush wines interrupt the oak glades and yucca patches native to the area, creating breathtaking views that will make this a one-of-a kind wine tasting experience for you and your friends.

And all this is a comfortable day trip just South East of Tucson. BE SURE YOU HAVE A DESIGNATED DRIVER for your trip home!

Wine Tasting Anyone!!

Today, April 5th from 2pm to 4pm, a Wine Tasting featuring 15 different wines (available to taste and purchase by the case) is at McMahon's Prime Steakhouse. There is complimentary Hors D'oeuvres, Chef Demonstration at 3pm and Wine education at 3:30pm. McMahon's Prime Steakhouse is at 2959 N. Swan Road (at Ft. Lowell). Call (5220) 327-7463 for more information and for reservation. I will see you there.

Tomorrow, I will be telling you about the wine region of Southern Arizona. Stay tune.

As always, please email me or call me if you have any questions about real estates market in Southern Arizona or if you need any information about relocation, things to do in Southern Arizona, or future events.

Dove Mountain

Dove Mountain is about 40 minutes from the Tucson International Airport, and one hour and 20 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Dove Mountain is a master planned community with retail centers and has an emphasis on low-density. Almost a third of Dove Mountain's nearly 9 square miles is dedicated to open space. The elevations range from 2,700 to 4,300 feet. Dove Mountain has over 10 miles of boundary with Arizona State Trust-owned mountains and formal preserves. There are spectacular open views in nearly every direction.

The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club opened in January and was the site of the World Golf Championship's Accenture Match Play in February. The golf course was designed by Jack Nicklaus, and is available for use by the residents in The Residences at the Ritz-Carlton and also for the general public for a short time (until the resort has completed construction). The Ritz-Carlton luxury resort is targeted to open by the end of this year.

Three new restaurants opened this winter in Dove Mountain, providing residents with a few more interesting dining options. Cayton's, with its American comfort cuisine with a Southwestern flair, is at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club. The Dove Mountain Grill, a step up from bistro style, opened in January at the Dove Mountain Center. Vero Amore, a Neapolitan pizza venue, is also located at the Dove Mountain Center.

The Ritz-Carlton will begin hiring for its hotel and spa in July and August. For information, check out the company's web site at http://corporate.ritzcarlton.com/en/careers/default.htm.
The houses of the subdivisions in Dove Mountain have a range of prices. There is also an active adult community in Dove Mountain. Please email me if you plan to come to visit this area and would like to preview some housing possibilities or to see some very attractive lots for your custom home.