Tucson Oct 30, 2016

I have been here a few days now, enjoying the sun, the desert, and the cacti.  It was 98 degrees the day after I arrived!.  It took a little getting used to after the northern climes.  I think I'm OK now though, as it's cooled down to 88 today and supposed to go to79 tomorrow.  I never thought I'd ever be looking forward to cooler weather!  I remember this now from when we were in Mexico and Cuba, where the first 2 days are great, and by the third, you're starting to walk on the shady side of the street.  Still love it though.  It's like our very best one day in August at home. 

I found it harder to find a place to live than I thought it would be, as I needed something furnished and apparently there are a lot of other Snowbirds down here after the same thing.  Anyway, finally found a nice casita 20 min. South of town in a new upscale community called Green Valley.  Beautiful highway there.  The housing complex I'm in has a pool, tennis courts etc., and there's a big Rec. Centre across the street with memberships for $35/mo.  They have an Olympic-sized pool.  There's a good shopping centre next store, so I can walk to get groceries.  The area boasts 8 golf courses, and I tried out the driving range at one yesterday ($3), where green fees for 18 holes on a full size course are $25.  Right up my alley!  Stopped for a beer at the clubhouse, and it was $2.50.  Almost as good as Mexico!

Speaking of prices, gas is $2.00/gal (Amer), so I filled my truck up yesterday for $35.00;  it was $75.00 to fill the day I left home!  Something wrong with this picture?  I've never had a dinner out yet over $10.00, that would have been $20.00 at home.  I bought some groceries yesterday for$75, that would have been at least $125 at home.  I looked at a new Adobe style 2 - bed + den, home with dbl garage, huge deck and yard, with a view of the mountains for $240 K (Can), and you know what that would be in B.C.!  In that regard, I'm starting to wonder why I'm not calling it "Home" down here for 6 mos. of the year. 

I almost went to see Donald Trump in Phoenix yesterday, which is 1 1/2 hr. away....don't get me wrong, I don't adhere to his type of politics at all, but thought it might be interesting to see his circus act/gong show up close.  Why, there might even have been a riot!  Might have been entertaining.  I went online for tckts., but "The Donald" never got back to me, so don't know if it was sold out, or what.  Don't see any interesting comments online about it.  As it turned out, I had a better time at the driving range anyway.

Speaking of which, the links await, so must be going for now!

Cheers!