What does a snowbird's life LOOK like?

I know, it all sounds so wonderful...retirement, travel and maybe even a second home in Arizona or Florida. But don't you really having a hard time visualizing the life? If you have a great deal of money, it will look one way. If you don't, it will look another.

Our Tucson Arizona home...a park model on the corner!

Then there are those of us that live like we want to live. We probably even make choices that are less costly than they need to be but just fit our personalities. I thought maybe today I would give you a little glimpse into a very simple lifestyle. That is the one we live.

If you have any questions, just leave a comment! I you chose this lifestyle, how would you want to live?

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Our park model front porch after dark.

Flower Garden in front of our park model.

A special treat...golf at the Tubac Resort

The historic Presidio District near downtown Tucson

Outdoor plaza in the Presidio District

Just because!

Golfing with friends

My hand-me-down table and chairs...spray painted

Bocce Ball Tournament 

Taken on Arizona National Golf Course

Sightseeing in Tubac

Yes, it does snow and rain in Tucson Arizona

Rodeo Week Dance at the Elk's Club

Pink Martini concert, the Tucson Symphony

Our RV resort pool

There Is A Rule for That!

I know I have written about rules a lot. My daughter has rules for napping. I have rules for counting calories. I play golf so rules* guide everything I do on the course.

So I have started golfing with a women's group again. I know...I must be nuts. But it turns out I am having a lot of fun. I am also learning that there are rules for playing with women in Arizona that I had not heard of before. I did not know it could be different. Thankfully, my friend has helped me stay ahead of the rules committee whoever that might be.

It turns out you cannot put the rental golf cart key in your purse and take it home. The golf course does not like that and they can be very kranky. I will pay attention to that one...not that I have ever done that but who knows.

I don't think we are suppose
to feed the coyotes. This guy
looked like he could use
a good meal.

There is a specific order that you tee off when you begin a round of golf. On the golf card you are handed, the names are listed. Everyone plays the first hole going in order. After that it doesn't matter. I need to remember that I do not get to go first all of the time. I am paying attention to that one. I like to be first.

We play ready golf...unless we truly respect the person hitting next or if we are just not in the mood to hit yet. Some people are very fast and others are very slow. Ready golf can be interpreted many ways. That one is not very clear to me yet. I'm working on it. I think that if I am playing with someone slow, I cannot leave them behind and play on to the next hole even if I am ready. But I could be wrong. I am not the most patient person in the world sometimes.

Most golf courses have a dress code of sorts but on this course there is not a rule that you have to dress any particular way. As long as your body is covered and if you are a man, you have a collared shirt, you are good to go. I was a little disappointed in this one...I like new golf clothes and even though I don't play good golf, I want to always look like I can. I am making up my own rules for that one!

Women will correct other women if they don't obey the rules. It is a given that sometime during the round I will be told where to drop my ball if I land on the golf cart path. I always do that and it is not easy to stop a ball on the cart path. Thank goodness someone knows what they are doing. Otherwise I would be bumbling around for 18 holes. I have only played golf for 20 years so I really am a beginner.

So there you have it. Rules follow us around everywhere. I really like it when other people follow the rules even though I don't want to myself. But what is, is.

What is the strangest rule you have ever run into? We would love to hear it.

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*Note: Rules are what we expect other people to do and don't want to do ourselves. For example, I don't want the people in my neighborhood to paint their house sky-blue-purple if it is against the rules. But if I fall in love with that color, I might want to do it myself. 

2013 Best of Tucson AZ: Retire In Style Blog Recommendations

This is the "I did this and I recommend it" list for 2013 snowbird season.  My husband and I have visited each one of these locations plus a lot more.  I hope that you will give each one a try and let me know what you think.

Best of 2013, Tucson AZ 

Restaurants

• Best Wine List at a reasonable price: Zona 78 Italian Kitchen
• Most authentic Sonoran Food: El Charro (Court Street, original location)
• Best Historic Old Pueblo Restaurant: Congress Hotel (breakfast)
• Best Outdoor Dining: Old Pueblo Grill (best outdoor patio)
• Best Mexican Family Owned: La Sur (Yelp recommended)
• Best Southern Arizona Country Restaurant: Wisdom's Cafe (Tumacacori, AZ)

Old Town Artisan Entrance

Best Golf Experience

• Best Golf and Fish Fry for Friday nights: Del Lago Golf and Hacienda del Lago
• Best Golf Deals: Golf Now Tucson or Easy Links (24 cancelation option)
• Best Beautiful Low Key Resort: Tubac Golf Resort Spa and Restaurant (Tubac, Az)
• Best Municipal Golf Course:  Haven Golf Course (Green Valley)

Best Arizona Folk Art

• Old Town Artisans

Best Band for Dancing

• Sixties Garage Band (playing at Elks, American Legion, hotels and casinos)

Del Lago at sunset

El Charro Restaurant (Original location)

Haven Golf Course

Tubac Golf Resort and Spa

CNN said: "We dare you to take a vacation!" Or do retirees even need one?

2011 

A Vacation Sunset

I saw an article on CNN Travel called I Dare You to Take a Vacation that made me stop and wonder about the nature of retirement's relationship to leisure. Are retirement and leisure the same thing? Or is it only those that dream of retirement that see it as a never ending vacation?

Do you love to work and will never retire?  Are you even ignoring vacation time because you just don't need one? Or have you retired and you look at your life as a paid vacation with no responsibilities or work piling up?  Do you wonder why you would even need a vacation when you are retired? Or have you gone the other way and slipped into the habit of making retirement into a job. No one can replace you and you are  thinking you do not have time for anyone or anything. You definitely don't need a vacation.  Do any of these describe you?

Here are some thoughts how a vacation can improve your life.

Reigniting Your Enthusiasm
If you are still working and plan to do that all your life, you have truly found what we all would like to have...a job that brings you satisfaction. You may not need a rest or to escape from the job but there are other reasons you need a vacation.

If you work in a healthy way, you know that a break now and then reignites your enthusiasm for what you do daily. If you are the type of person that cannot leave the job behind, take it with you!  Just change the scenery and the air you breath. Creativity will increase when you are not doing anything but letting your mind wander. You will see better ways of doing what you do and the time will not be wasted.  I dare you to take a vacation...double dog dare you!

Leisure can Kill Too! 
We all know that we cannot or should not sit down and wait to die when we retire. Just like too much work, to much leisure can be a killer too. Retirement, especially in this era, can actually be a second adulthood. We all face the possibility of living a very long time. I see more and more people that are acting very young and talk about working until they are 65+ without any regret.  The period between the age of 60 and death can and should be productive in some way. A person's physical and mental health depends on it. It is a balancing act.

A man told me recently that he left his business at retirement age but spent the next year working regular hours on a house he was remodeling. He was afraid that he could not not work! It occurred to me that retirement probably shouldn't be about never working again. For this man a job, either as a volunteer or at a part time employment, was the answer to his person retirement satisfaction.

What he did was find the perfect place for his busy mind so he could enjoy a lifestyle he loves.  He scored a job as a marshal at his golf course and obviously is very good at it. The job pays minimum wage and gives him free golf at his golf course plus reciprocal at other golf courses.  He and his wife enjoy their very expensive hobby for free.

Moving and learning will keep us happy and healthy for a long time. Those vacation breaks are a necessity I think. Maybe the barometer for our productivity is how much we even need a vacation. I don't know about you but I need to want to go on a short vacation once in a while. When I feel that need for leisure, I know I have been doing something worthwhile with my days. Even a man that gets free golf needs to go camping.

When I dare you to take a vacation, I do not mean for you to go home to lean against a post. I mean that you should live a healthy balanced lifestyle each and every day.  Eat a little, work a little, read a little and vacation a little. I dare you!

How do you vacation?
So what are you afraid of?  YOU are allowed to go on vacation! In fact, I dare you to leave your children and grandchildren or your job for a few days, weeks or months. Really, none of those people will be unhappy to see you leave and they will be glad to see you come home. Maybe they need a vacation (from you) too.

So that brings me back to the question:  Do you ever take a real vacation? I hope the answer is yes. Even in a our retirement world, we need a change of scenery and relief from the work-a-day hum drum to keep us fresh, alive and active. Give it some thought and let me know.

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I welcome your comments and if you become a follower, it helps this blog reach it's goals. You are a very important part of what goes on the blog pages.  Thank you.

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On the road with Retire In Style Blog

Traveling here in the Northwest can be as inexpensive or expensive as you want to make it.  I think that Coeur D Alene, Id is a perfect example.  This community located on the northern shore of Lake Coeur D Alene is just a few short miles east of Spokane Wa.  It is a destination resort area and boast one of the premier golf courses in the nation.  Coeur D Alene Resort Golf Course is the Pacific Northwest's answer to Pebble Beach.  The famous island green as stymied many a golfer over the years.  The resort rates can come it at around $500 a night for two people using a special package deal.

On the other hand if you want to stay on the northside of town in a very plain motel with clean beds and recently painted walls you can get a room for $79 including taxes both city and state.  It is your choice.

We are staying at a Guesthouse Inn booked through Orbitz.  We have one bed and get a breakfast in the morning.  The bed is fine and the bathroom is clean.  It has a microwave and a small refrigerator.  It is a short drive to the lake.

So, you make the choice...big and fancy, special occasion resort or a road trip stop on the way to Montana.  You can do it either way.

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Arizona and Golf...Robert Trent Jones Course in Rio Rico

Rio Rico's Robert Trent Jones Golf Course just north of Nogales, AZ

WISH YOU WERE HERE!  

The weather's fine and 

the company is wonderful!

Arizona and Golf

The perfect combination!

My life includes three close friends that are willing to golf with me!

My husband and I joined 6 friends for a game of golf yesterday.  We drove south of Tucson to a small community/resort called Rio Rico.  The golf course is located very near Nogales, AZ and is connected to a five star hotel called Esplendor Resort.  The golf course was designed by Rober Trent Jones.

We were celebrating a friend's 77 birthday.  The weather was more beautiful that I can describe. The sun was very warm and the air was springtime cool.  We made one tee time on EZ Links and another through the golf course.  We just divided the cost equally among the 4 couples.  Golf in Arizona is a unique experience.   You would have had so much fun!

Hollis is celebrating his 77th Birthday at Wisdoms!

Wisdom's Restaurant located just south of Tubac was the next stop.  Even the hour wait outside under the heaters turned out to be lots of fun.  We ordered chips and salsa and the famous Wisdom margaritas. Once we moved inside where it was warm we were seated by the fire.   I had the best shrimp taco I have ever eaten (just in case you were wondering) and then we shared a cherry deep fried chimichanga with a scoop of ice cream!  

I am a very happy camper.  Hope you're having a wonderful weekend too!

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My Friend Carole and her husband Ken

How to herd cats...playing golf with women!

Yesterday I mentioned that I was going to play golf today with a ladies club on Fred Enke Public Golf Course here on the Eastside of Tucson Arizona.  The course is located off of Irvington and very near the east campus of Pima County Community College.  I was paired with 2 other women and one club board member.

I am joining the club for 4 months at a cost of $25, adding my handicap to the package for another $25 and buying hole in one insurance for $2.  My round of golf with a resident's card was $32 including a cart.  After I have played a number of rounds with the women, the residents card will give me a free round of golf.  Actually, when you think about it, it is a very reasonable kind of recreation.

In organizations like this, the people that have volunteered to be in charge try to keep a modicum of continuity in the games that we play.   You have to give them a round of applause for trying.  The board member that plays with new member tries to explain the drill to the new members so everyone is on the same page.

I don't know how this works with men but leading women is a lot like herding cats!  In a woman's mind, the rules/proceedures are made to be revised.  This process of revision is one that each woman feels is her responsibility.  My hat is off to any woman that consents to do the board member's job.

This is the second time I have given "ladies day" play a try during my golfing life.  I hope that I can do this week in and week out.  I had such a good time today.  I am still not any closer to understanding how to herd cats...as I grow older I may be getting more and more catlike.  I, however, do not want to be in charge, make the rules or even keep the score (other than my own).  Being a quiet cat is a very good thing.

Cats love to play with a ball, are very independent and can scratch if they are displeased...sounds like a woman golfer to me!

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Living on a budget..golf, restaurants, resort living in Tucson, AZ

Image by Always at Home via Flickr  Fort Lowell Neighborhood

Inexpensive living while still living in style is actually very easy.  It just takes a while to figure it out.  So here are some basic tips: 

NEVER PAY FULL PRICE FOR GOLF.  

There are links that you can connect to for discount golf in almost every resort area in the nation.  Here in Tucson golfnow, and EZLinks INC. are the services my husband uses.  You will find tee times afternoon are very reasonable but later in the season the very early tee time and the later afternoon tee time become more and more appealing.  

We also buy a Wild Cat Trail Card that is good for some very good courses and will give you a free round for your birthday at places like Tucson National.  I suggest you check that out if you are spending a season from Oct. to May.  The card it not good during high season.  If you birthday is during that time you can use it with a month of the date.  

 If you spend the whole season and can produce a bill from your RV Park for example you can get a residents card that gives you a discount on golf.  Joining a men/women's club is a good thing because it will allow you to participate in local tournaments that have very good rates and wonderful prizes.  My husband belongs at Fred Enke Golf Course and renews his resident’s card every year.   

EAT AT THE BEST FOR LESS

I don't like sleazy, dark, dirty or shabby and will not go to a place just because you can get Mexican or steaks for less!  It is just not any fun and it might make you sick!  We do a couple of things to keep it under control and still eat at some very upscale place. Some of the best places in town have great happy hour (Urban Spoon) specials.  For example, a place called Luna Bella on the corner of Fort Lowell and Swan has a beautiful outdoor patio and their happy hour is the best we have ever had.  We also use Restaurant.com occasionally.  This coupon service will make some restaurants affordable.  I do, however, recommend that you check people’s comments online before you purchase.  Some restaurants that are failing use this service to 'sucker' people in...at least that is what I think.  NEVER FORGET THAT UPSCALE RESTAURANTS OFFER LUNCH FOR LESS WITH A WONDERFUL MENU!

JOIN A FRATERNAL ORGANIZATION

Believe it or not you fraternal organization have some wonderful benefits.  The Elks Club for example offers great good at very reasonable prices.  The club in Green Valley is absolutely gorgeous and has great bands playing in the lounge almost every weekend.  The camaraderie and opportunities to volunteer may be just the medicine you need to keep you emotionally well.  My husband reactivated his membership this last year and it has been a wonderful experience for us. 

RV RESORT LIVING... 

Even though the rental of a park model can be expensive living in an RV resort can help with the budget and still give you a beautiful place to spend your winters.  Actually, you would never need to leave the park accept to get groceries.  Activities, beautiful pool, and lots of neighbors to visit will fill your days.  We will have our block party this Monday.  I have organized a Western BBQ and we will all gather around BBQ's to eat sing and visit.  It is loud and lots of fun!

Area potlucks (Northwestern States for example), dances, dance lessons, poker, card games of every kind, a pool hall, exercise room and a coffee room are just a few of the activities.  You could be busy every minute of every day. 

And there are little jobs that pay...if you are interested in working just a little bit.  Get in contact with your resort office and see if there is anything for you to do.  You may have to wait a while but something will turn up.  Gate guards, custodial work, the mailroom and even the office may be able to use your talents.  I suggest that you establish yourself as a volunteer and go from there. 

If you want to earn extra money using your talents you can do that too.  There is always the need for a carpenter, electrician, painters, etc.  You could even set up a little business on the side helping a few people shop or meet doctors appointments.  Once you have built a trust in the community you can offer your services.  We have an Avon lady, a Sentsy representative; cake-decorating service, a guy that surfaces the roofs and the list goes on.  Just be creative!

LIVING IN STYLE

Retirees live on a budget too...not because we are poor or even living on a limited income.  We do it out of habit.   There are those among us that even...gasp...wait until we have the money saved before we buy things.  I am not sure whether it is what happens when we actually grow up or if most of us have always lived this way.  These are just some of the example of how we manage to leave our REAL homes in the north and go south for six month at a time.  It is, in fact, very doable!!

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Tucson, Arizona Day on the Golf Course

Sometimes the ghost of the moon peeks over the top of the Rincon Mountains during daylight hours.  When you click on the image and it appears in full scale, you will be able to see the moon in the middle just above the horizon.  Today it was just too beautiful not to photograph.  I would love to catch it at sunset when the mountains have that beautiful pink hue.  Erika Jean has one on her blog and I am very envious.

In Tucson the mountains that surround us are listed in alphabetical order going clockwise around beginning with the Catalinas in the north.  The list reads like this:  Catalina, Rincon, Santa Ritas and the Tucson Mountains.  The views are gorgeous as the sun goes down.  The mountains turn from pink to purple.  Even though it may be very warm in the afternoon, by the time the sunsets this time of year, it will be in the low 60s. 
Today we played golf at the Forty Niner Country Club on the east side of Tucson.  This course was once home to the Tucson Open. While not a pristine resort course like that found at Arizona National, it is still a wonderfully challenging course.  We have a Wildcat Card and the one we purchased gives us 7 rounds of golf plus one for my husband's birthday.  We can use the card at a number of courses in Tucson and in Green Valley during November through January and again later in the spring.

The pictures I have posted here today were taken on the golf course.   Houses that have been built on the course are for the most part in the Santa Fe style.  The one your see pictured above was  beautiful.

I hope you are having a wonderful holiday week...Happy Thanksgiving to all.

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