I’ve spent my last winter in Alaska; especially living alone in a one room log cabin on an isolated island. I bought the Alaskan place from the widow of the owner who they never found–just his boat drifted up on the beach a couple miles distant. I don’t want to repeat this. Four winters ago, I presented a talk to the Tucson Historical Society about the WPA poster art of our national parks and my hosts gave me a nice tour around Green Valley. I returned three years ago for a photoshoot of my 1948 Airstream–taken at an unusual double-adobe beehive constructed B&B. I really liked this architecture and Tucson and decided to spend some time looking around.
Here is the photoshoot and the beehives–my Airstream is left. This property is on the eastern flanks of the western addition of Saguaro National Park with marvelous views eastward across the Tucson basin.
When I returned last winter to get acquainted, I rented a small casita which is run online by Kristin and Gary–and it, too, was quite traditional. If you visit Tucson, stay in their casita and tell them Ranger Doug sent you.
I began working with a great real estate agent recommended by a friend–and he asked me to list what I wanted to consider–which of course, was a park ranger station feel with a stone fireplace and, all genuine adobe….. After submitting this, he sent me the lead photo here–to which I replied; “I’ll take it!” However, this was a listing he had sold several years back. Recalling the mariner’s “Golden Proverb” that everything is for sale, I had him contact the owner; and indeed, he was contemplating moving back to California. A deal began smoldering……
Turns out the owner was the former superintendent of Yosemite National Park! And the builder, Odin Construction, had just completed a $21M restoration of the Old Santa Fe Trail Building for the National Park Service. This was a match made in heaven! And it’s made with Old Pueblo Adobe. This Afghan rug will go under the Steinway–a 1960 Model M (5′ 7″). I cannot move my 7′ 4″ Kawai out of Alaska–it’s simply too heavy and it would dry out and crack the soundboard…,and I’ve always loved the Steinway sound. An acquaintance in Edmonds, WA, Ed McMurrow of Lighthammer Piano, rebuilt this with his patented action. It has a very sweet tone and lively action; especially in the treble where most pianos get muddied. It’s back to piano practice and perhaps some chamber music.
Imagine having to put up with 70F winters and these views. Frankly, I should have moved here 20 years ago and I finally am realizing that becoming a “snowbird” is not such a bad thing after all. (No Class A motorhome, though–I’ll stick with the ’48 Airstream). Another problem living off-grid for 20 years is that I feel like Rip Van Winkle when I walk into a grocery store or last week, into Best Buys.
Of course, there are critters here and I think I prefer the wolves and bears in Alaska to these. First photo is a 2″ spider I found desiccated in the oven range vent. Yuk! Then today I’m backing up trying to frame a cactus for a photograph and nearly stepped on this rattlesnake–a Western Diamondback–note the banded rattle. It didn’t coil nor rattle but it scared the bejesus out of me. It lives in this hole beneath a rock. Now I’ve been wondering what critters crawl down these holes (all over the place) and now I know. Rule #1 is to watch your step. Rule #2 is to watch your next step. I shake out my clothes before putting them on in the morning. I can’t wait to meet scorpions….
Coincidentally, over coffee this morning I was reading my new book just republished by the Sonoran Desert Museum about rattlesnake bites. Quoting this fine book: “In spite of the snake’s lethal potential, far fewer than 1 percent of the people bitten in the United States by venomous snakes actually die. Studies show that about two-thirds of rattlesnake bites to adult humans are the result of deliberate provocation. Most such bites–termed illegitimate bites–occur to young men, and in more than half of these cases ingestion of alcohol is involved……” Sound familiar?
Rattlesnakes are quite unique, I’m learning, and should be left alone. They provide pest control and are actually quite shy. They have two visual systems: their eyes capturing what we do and an infrared facial structure called a loreal pit which can sense variations of 1/1000th degree Celsius. This infrared image is overlain on their visual field similar to today’s modern radars which overlay GPS maps.
OK–back to the house–here is the floor plan. Small and efficient and very well built. I looked at many houses built out to 5000′ and more. While these are fine for those that fill them up, I’ve solved the problem by owning two houses and a 2000′ warehouse in Seattle so can scatter my “stuff” all over the place. Seriously, this is a perfect size home with two beds, two baths and a wonderful patio that surrounds three sides of the house. Add to this a two car garage, two private courtyards and one rattlesnake. It’s just about right.
I’m the fourth owner of this house. It was built with every detail to preserve the desert landscape by the Schneider’s in 1992. They sold it to MacVittie, and then on to the former Superintendent of Yosemite and now me. Right down the street is a high-end shopping mall (you know what a shop-a-holic I am) with “AJ’s”–a high-end deli to keep old bachelors alive. This place is a belt-buster so I better schedule in some exercise walks. Right up behind the house is Chimney Rock and more rattle snakes!
Stay tuned!