Ridin' Around in my Automobile...

...has a different meaning in Saddlebrooke. We now use the golf cart to get back and forth to the fitness center and clubhouse, as well as to our friends' houses if it's not supposed to be too cold in the evening, as the temperature can and does drop dramatically in the desert. Yesterday it was 38 degrees when we got up and by noon it was 73 and sunny.

We finished looking around our villa to see what was provided, and when I opened one of the cabinets in the laundry room, I screamed! Bob ran over to see what had happened. It was neither a broken bone nor a mouse, but rather a penguin-embossed, stainless-steel ice bucket with bakelite handles. Why the startled reaction? Not only do I have the identical model at home, but so do Pat Pluskal and Sally Heaney! It's a regular source of amusement and discussion when we get together.

Tucson is a sprawling city. Once you get to the north side of the city proper, it seems almost linear in nature, with stores and businesses lined up along main roads. Saddlebrooke  is close to 30 miles from the center of Tucson, and takes about 40-45 minutes to drive in - not unlike the distance between Acton and Boston. One difference, though, is the lack of an east-coast style rush hour.

The villa in which we are staying is everything we could have hoped for in a rental and more. Barbara and Gale and Maren did a great job vetting it for us.We have two bedrooms, living room, dining area, eat-in kitchen, laundry room, and patio with a view of the mountains. Here are a few pictures.

Yesterday we played bridge with another couple, then attended a Superbowl party.

Today was pretty laid back. Our house cleaner (recommended by my friend) arrived at 7:30 a.m., so we decided to have breakfast at the clubhouse. Breakfast for two, including tip, just $14. We ran a few errands, then came back for a light lunch. After lunch, Bob hit some balls at the driving range while I sat on the patio and finished a book. Then we both went to the gym. After changing, at dusk we rode around the golf course in the cart we've rented, looking for wildlife. There were lots of mule deer, and a road runner, but not much else. I'm really hoping to see a javelina in the wild before our stay is over. 

Tomorrow we're playing bridge with a larger group.

On Wednesday, Bob's sister Aline arrives and we'll be site-seeing with her.

It's a tough life, and we're enjoying every sunny minute!