Bedouins and Gods

I have always felt sorry for people who grew up in Tucson. So many of them have an attitude that I find inexplicable. They think Tucson is boring and uncool. They can't wait to get out of this cow town.

Having lived in several cities and small towns, and traveled extensively, I know with certainty that I am happiest when in Tucson. I can't think of any place I'd rather live.

One discontent Tucson native named Cord Jefferson wrote the feature article in last week's Tucson Weekly.  He has moved from one coast to the other in his young life, and while he has a new perspective on his hometown, he still sees it through the eyes of someone who once felt disdain for the city I love the most.

 He did say something I liked though: Though I've always been frightened of snakes and spiders and the like, it nonetheless made me feel special and flinty to grow up in the midst of creatures that bit, scratched and pinched. The sun beat down on us relentlessly in Tucson. The flora was thorny and the fauna was unsociable. And yet there we lived and thrived, going about our days in the hard-baked rocky desert, laughing about the triple-digit heat. In a scene in Lawrence of Arabia, Mr. Dryden tells Lawrence, "Only two kinds of creature get fun in the desert: Bedouins and gods." We were not Bedouins in Tucson, and so we must have been the latter.

Linda Ronstadt's Home is For Sale

Tucson native Linda Ronstadt has listed her Colonia Solana home for sale with Long Realty. Colonia Solana is the fabulous neighborhood southeast of Broadway and Country Club. List price is $1.65 million. The address is not being disclosed. Check out the photos in the link. Lucky is the person who will buy this quintessential Tucson home.

Strictly Tabu

I'm so proud that I helped both the author of this article, Jim Lipson, and the subject, Gary Mackender, buy their houses. Now buy Gary's CD!

March Residential Sales Statistics

The Tucson Association of Realtors has released the residential sales statistics for March. After two months of falling prices, average sale price is up, number of listings has decreased, and number of  buyers has increased. This is all welcome news, but I still think the market is slowing and may be reaching a peak.

Low Cost Shade Trees

Tucson Electric Power offers shade trees for the amazing low price of $8 each. Check this out. Homeowners can get two trees per year, and if your home was built before 1980, you can get four trees per year.

Green Acres Meets Old Pueblo

Live your dream of urban farming. The owners of this sweet Garden District home have been working the soil and creating a wonderful home for several years. In the far corner of the back yard, you see a spacious chicken coop that awaits your flock of hens.

Composting bins produce rich gardening soil. The blue tank is for the washing machine grey water. Between the house and the chicken coop you'll find that rich soil with irrigation lines ready for you.  After doing the garden and digging the weeds, relax in your sauna.

Stay cozy on cold winter nights by the wood burning stove in your tin-roofed straw bale ramada. This unique home has character to spare.

Tasteful colors inspire energy and harmony.Dual cooling for energy efficiency and comfort.

The low-care brick floors throughout will delight you.The floor plan is here.

Great location on a quiet street just three miles from U of A. Tucson Botanical Gardens, Trader Joe's,  and Crossroads Festival are just blocks away. Tucson Medical Center, The Loft Cinema and the lovely Rillito River Bike Path are just a little further.

Be the envy of your friends. Enjoy home-grown food plus all the benefits of city life. Have it all.

This sweet home sold for $110,000 on Cinco de Mayo.

Price Reduced on Lovely North Campbell Estates Home

First time on the market in 48 years! Don't miss this lovely mid-century home in desirable North Campbell Estates. Just two blocks to all the shopping, restaurants, coffee shops and services on Campbell Avenue, and a mile and a half north of University of Arizona. You snooze, you lose.

As you step up to the gaily-painted covered front porch, the entrance encircles and welcomes you. This beautiful home takes you back to a simpler time. You'll be delighted by the soaring beamed ceilings, Saltillo tile floor, massive fireplace and huge windows in the living room.

Stone floor in the dining room and adjacent family room.

The sweet kitchen has tons of character with its Talavera tile counter and window overlooking the private patio.

Large corner lot in a highly desirable neighborhood. Mature eucalyptus trees. Block wall encloses east and south yards. Versatile floor plan with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The family room and den create office and guest room possibilities. Storage room or workshop, shed, and large laundry room.    

The interactive floor plan is here.  This lovely home sold on May 30, 2014 for $245,000.