Random Thoughts About Living In Tucson

We arrived in Tucson, Arizona, eight weeks ago today. It has been quite an adjustment from living in St. Louis. Here are some random thoughts from my first eight weeks here.

The desert starts to grow on you, the more you spend time in it. The picture to the right is the view I have every morning when I walk. The main road near our home turns into a dirt road close to our house, and there are numerous trails off the road to walk. Tucson is surrounded by mountains on three sides. There is something comforting about mountains. I have enjoyed seeing roadrunners, rabbits, lizards, and quail on my walks. I'm still watching for deer, gila monsters, and javalinas. (wild pig like animals)

Yesterday, while I was walking, I watched five Air Force A-10 fighter jets take off from Davis Monthan Air Force base. I have always loved seeing military aircraft in flight. We have a lot of military aircraft in the air in Tucson. This is a real treat. Davis Monthan AFB is also a storage facility for hundreds and hundreds of military aircraft. I drive by a lot of them on the way to and from work. I don't think I'll ever get tired of seeing them.

Pima County, our county, is broke, like many counties across the country. I have never driven on so many poorly surfaced roads as I have in Tucson. I imagine the car repair and particularly the wheel alignment sector of the economy ought to be doing good here. Supposedly, there is no money to repair roads. However, almost every main street here has clearly marked bike lanes, complete with signs that tell motorists to give bikes the right of way. The bike lanes seem to be in better shape than the roads. Because the weather is so nice for so much of the year, you can bike nearly year around here.

I have been surprised by how many people have tattoos here. And not just tiny tattoos on shoulders or ankles. We're talking big tattoos on arms and legs and necks and other places. Since it is hotter here, a lot more tattoos show than they would in Minnesota. In Tucson, tattoos aren't found on just younger people. People of all ages have a lot of tattoos. Maybe it's because Tucson was a wild West town in the old days and some of that wild West feel still prevails. Maybe it's because Tucson is "artsy" and more liberal politically. Maybe it's just that I lived a somewhat sheltered life the past ten years in an affluent area of St. Louis where having visible tattoos isn't cool. Maybe I'm just getting old...

This is Mexican food heaven. Between all the tortilla bakeries, restaurants and by-the-side-of-the-road stands, a person could gain a lot of weight living in Tucson. Sometime soon we are going to sample a dish invented here in Tucson called a Sonoran hot-dog. I'll let you know how it tastes. After just eight weeks here, I'm thinking the menu at the marriage supper of the Lamb is going to have to be tamales, enchiladas, tacos, pinto beans and all the other great Mexican cuisine. I've roasted several pounds of green chili in our oven and the smell is overwhelmingly wonderful. Anyone who visits us, and loves Mexican food, is going to be for a treat.

Well, that's it for now. I'll write on again on this topic. We've only scratched the surface of this place in our first eight weeks.