Lola and I leave Tucson for home in just a few more days. I had been toying with the idea of driving north from here to Denver, then heading east on Interstate Highway 70. Doing so would allow for new sights and adventures. To this flatlander, at least, driving over and through the Rocky Mountains holds much allure.
Unfortunately, my Subaru does not have 4-wheel drive. I don’t carry tire chains. The Rockies are not merely gorgeous and breathtaking. These mountains also can be notoriously treacherous to navigate during early spring. I glanced at the 10-day weather forecast for the area and was not optimistic.
Indeed, shortly thereafter I read that the area was bracing for a massive, late winter snowstorm. By late afternoon today, it was reported that more than two feet of snow had fallen at higher elevations above six thousand feet and that Interstate Highway 70 was already completely shut down in both directions. So much for my bright idea to take this route home.
Now, my main decision boils down to choosing between passing through Amarillo, Texas via Las Cruces or by way of Albuquerque, New Mexico. I’ve done both. I have a friend in Las Cruces. If she would like to have dinner with me, I’ll head her way when Lola and I depart Tucson.
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After overwintering in Tucson last year, to my surprise when I got back home, I had more questions about my rationale for making this road trip than when I left.
Certainly, Tucson is warmer and sunnier than our hometown. Ordinarily, you won’t need a heavy coat, a snug wool cap, thick, insulated gloves, galoshes, or a snow shovel in this environment. Nonetheless, there are plenty of warm places I could have chosen for my stay.
Tucson also is a university town that offers diverse cultural opportunities and an intellectually stimulating environment. It’s a definite draw for me. I enjoy the town’s vibrant music and art scenes. Regardless of what types of things pique your interest, chances are good that you will find them here. Of course, the same could be said of numerous other potential winter getaway destinations.
Tucson’s desert terrain is not my personal favorite, yet admittedly the Tucson desert is chock full of interesting plants, most notably succulents and cacti, and most especially the signature giant saguaros. There are many interesting animals here, too, ranging from bighorn sheep to the fearsome rattlesnake. This year I had a close-up and fleeting encounter with a shy bobcat, and another with a stubborn javelina, a wild desert pig, I observed munching a small cactus immediately outside the front door of a home I had been visiting in a pricey gated community.
And, unsurprisingly, due to the heat, Tucson also is home to many species of beautiful birds. My friends Ross and Johanna, whose house is located on the edge of town, host numerous iridescent hummingbirds and tiny, colorful finches. It’s a nice local feature but, again, hardly a unique draw. When Lee and I still had our country getaway, Deer Tick Manor, that property annually would be visited by dozens of different bird species simply by virtue of its location along a major north-south migratory route.
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Location is, for all the amenities, really about people. As I’ve mentioned, I have several old and dear friends here in Tucson, which is a major drawing card for me. Through them, I’ve been introduced to new people. And, because Tucson also draws lots of out-of-town visitors during the winter months, I will sometimes see other people whom I know from back home.
Despite the personal contacts, the truth is that while I’m here I miss Robyn’s regular company. As much as I do enjoy spending a good chunk of the winter months here in Tucson, if Robyn were to tell me that she’d prefer a different place, I will take it under advisement as next year’s getaway destination, so long as it is blessed with a warm, comfortable climate.
