I have missed face-to-face socializing during COVID even though I’m pretty darn good at isolating during the winter.
My nearest within sight neighbor, also overlooking the Plomosa Mountains, sat 100s of feet away. It’s a big desert without many obstructions. I stayed a week, and we never spoke.
I did get to know a few of my neighborhood trees.
Sat out in the warmest afternoon sun, a delightful 63° with no wind, reading or crocheting.
Lots of noisy OHV and I figured out it’s because I’m so close to town, within sight in fact, and there’s a “trail” they can use. Sets up a lot of dust, in the distance thank goodness.
Caught a few sunrises and more sunsets.
I often put off writing blog posts as my routine seems redundant to me, boring even for others. I haven’t really traveled much this winter though I am enjoying many days of desert environment. Makes me wonder why readers return. I thank you, you feed my ego.
Packages arrived at my Wickenburg mail but nothing I couldn’t live without or felt the need to rush off the 1 1/2 hour drive. I could go in a few days and make arrangements to outdoor socialize with friends in the area.
Really, with a strong signal looking at the Quartzsite tower I spent lots of time online socializing with friends, sharing photos, working on blog posts, and a little news. Heck, I did that for days and days.
Until…all shit broke loose on the 6th. I was obsessed like I rarely am staying in touch with the news all day. I felt my blood pressure jump and my computer wouldn’t respond. That’s some powerful energy. My fridge wouldn’t stay lit and the ice cream was on melt down. I ate faster.
I did get outside several times to cool down and center with nature thankful for a brilliant sunset.
I also needed more down time the next day so figured to roll to Wickenburg on Friday.
However, Friday morning I got a phone call from Trish, who would be traveling from two months in California to her Colorado home and coming through Quartzsite. So I directed her to my camp for her first boondock experience. And we sat outside all afternoon safely socializing during COVID.
The next morning she continued her journey as did I. Picked up my mail including three Christmas cards, bought groceries, and headed to Congress and my ole stomping grounds off Ghost Town Road.
In fact, this giant Saguaro, a diverse bird condo, might look familiar as I’ve camped here before.
My social life is feast or famine. Saturday I had two visitors. Joann drove down from Prescott and we took a walk to the “swimming pool”/wildlife water tank. The camera is gone but the air and water were still too cold to dip.
Later Gypsy stopped by bringing vegie-cheese muffins we snarfed down as we sat in the sunshine, trying to avoid the wind, sharing our herstories as we all get to know each other better. I’m so glad socializing during COVID is possible while boondocking in the Arizona desert. Especially nice in real time because the signal is not reliable in Congress.
And so I’ll spend a few more days of isolation working on posts and photos mostly offline before I have to do the necessary dump and fill again.
Bonus, I get to watch the birds in my local Saguaro condo. This is a very diverse community hosting in the many holes Flickers, Gila Woodpeckers, Curve-billed Thrasher, and a solo Starling that only seems to stay overnight.
And might see a few more sunrises or at least some sunsets.
And before too long, another friend is coming to Quartzsite, so guess I might just head back that way, again.
What a nice change for you Gaelyn, Having visitors is great when you have been isolated for weeks on end. Thanks for the great photos Enjoy the rest of your break. Take care and stay safe.
Thanks. The timing was right as I really needed some interaction with friends in real time. Be well.
Well, I always read your posts because the writing is witty, the locales are interesting, and the images are spectacular. Please don’t stop.
Thank you very much, that’s a nice thing to say. I don’t plan to stop blogging any time soon.
You have the best adventures. The thought occurred to me the other day, about your mail! Now I know!
Some adventures are better than others. Mail used to be way more of a problem until Berta took care of it for years so now I pay a service.
I have read your blog for many years and it was your photos of the Arizona desert along with Al’s over at The Bayfield Bunch, that made me pull up stakes dogs and all and move to that Arizona desert. I see those sunrises over the Mule Mts every morning but cannot see the sunsets because the Huachuca’s are blocking my view. Thanks for the great blog and photos.
Thank you. Nice to know Al and I influenced you. Hope you’re a morning person.
I wasn’t until I moved. The hounds woke me up before sunrise as they must have been on eastern time when we moved here. But I am always up before the sunrise now. There is a link on my blog called Arizona Sunrise that shows all the photos I have taken or on my Facebook page. I must say they are beautiful in this area.
These pictures are fantastic especially the first one. What beautiful subjects you have in your chosen spots. Your life actually seems much busier than mine as I pretty much wait for and bite my fingernails about the latest RV tech and my slides.
Thank you. I am sorry to hear your slides still aren’t working. Repair work stresses me out. A friend just helped me with a few little fixes.
I know that you don’t do a lot of sunrise photos, but with the longer nights you have rewarded us with some spectacular views. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a purple sky like the one in your first photo …. amazing!
Thanks. Ya’ know, even in winter it’s hard for me to get up for those possible morning colors. Only a couple times I’ve seen a purple sky and always in AZ.
It’s been a weird year, and who knows what tomorrow will bring. I hope you’re bundled against the cold and insulated from the political madness somewhat down there. Might be better to hear a summary at the end of the day, rather than experiencing every moment as it happens.
No doubt a weird year. I am comfortable here in the desert. Don’t usually obsess about the news, but that day…
I could never get tired of your posts, just the best photos ever, and even if you take the same view 100 times it will always be different. I see some of your comments and replies are showing up but not all. It is fun reading what others have to say. Keep safe and stay well. Did you ever hear from J. Big hugs from us both, Diane and Nigel.
Thank you, that means a lot. But you know how it is some days. I still don’t know what’s happening with the comments but do see some show up.
Your pictures are stirring our memories and the wishes that we were there now.
Be Safe and Enjoy the freedom.
It’s about time.
I am happy to invoke memories but wish you could be here in real time.
We come back for many reasons, I think. For me, it is the consistency, the gentleness of a quiet life punctuated with gorgeous photos of sky and clouds, and a sense of humor. There are some daily bloggers out there, especially from the past, that got to be pretty darn boring and I finally gave up reading. Besides, I do always read blogs of friends I have met, where we have followed each other along for yeas. Maybe that is part of it, who knows, but I’ll keep reading as long as you keep writing. Take care and enjoy your visits.
Thanks you two. I am also more likely to keep up with bloggers I’ve met in real time.
Gaelyn, I’m here again for my desert fix. Your pics are just amazing. I wish I could be sitting beside you on a 60’s day, reading (but not crocheting…). You were Ms Social Butterfly for awhile. I talked to a neighbor today (10′ apart). That was my big contact for the last week! Stay safe and well. Barb
Thanks Barb. You know I love your snowy pics from this warm desert place.
Love your bird condo, sunrises, sunsets and the fact that you are living a lifestyle some of us (me) only dream about. So please, please never consider your writings redundant and continue to allow us to feed your ego. Now get out there and find me another desert picture!! LOL Stay safe, healthy & happy Ms. Gypsy!!
Thanks for feeding my ego. However, grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, yet I’d never discourage someone from living a nomadic life. More pics coming soon.
Strangely enough, you have seen more friends than I have since we started isolating in March. I’m a natural loner but probably still not good. I talk on the phone with a couple people and other than that my blog friends are my social life. Except tonight I am trolling my fellow Okies who are enraged that nobody, but nobody, cancelled trumps goodbye speech. That was fun for a little while but I am already tired of them.
Winter is usually my time to isolate after six months nonstop as a Ranger. You as a loner have family around. Blog friends are most of my social life too.
Always enjoy your pictures which are gorgeous. Especially liked the ones of the Saguaro condo. Stay safe.
Thank you for the nice comment. Be well.