A 'gem' of a weekend

The outdoor gem show on Ajo Highway

When we last met here we had seen a not-so-good program at the resort ballroom, only the first program we didn’t really enjoy so no big deal. I had attended Bible study and we were about to go hear the resort manager speak in the Catalina Room.

The new manager at the resort has seemingly restored a lot of confidence in this place among long time residents. When we were here last year, as you may recall, there was a great deal of complaining about the new manager and his lack of “people skills.”

Another tent full of stuff

Since we were here last year, the company who owns the property made a change in leadership and what a difference one person has made. The complaining has turned to compliments and there seems to be happiness on the horizon.

In answering questions, the new manager said one of the biggest challenges for the company is keeping the older residents, the ones who moved here 30 years ago when they were 60 happy along with all the new residents who are now just 60. Different interests and concerns.

Lots of cases just like this

It is clear this is a resort in transition. Currently there are more than 76 properties for sale in the resort and a number of older folks have left, or are planning to permanently leave because of the death of a spouse or the need to be closer to family for health reasons.

For now we have abandoned the idea of purchasing a property here as the $4,800 a year lease agreement with the resort only makes sense if you are going to stay here five or six months out of the year. For us it makes more sense to pay the $1,800 to rent a 3-month space. Maybe down the road, but not now.

They are selling park model homes, which average about 1,100-square feet and most are fully furnished, for around $12,000 (up to $30,000) which is a pretty good deal, but again that only makes sense if you stay here a lot longer than we do.

I don't know that the upside umbrellas are for

Joan got her nails done Thursday afternoon and I did some stealthy Valentine’s Day buying while she was at the mercy of an Asian nail tech. Unfortunately, Joan spotted me carrying one of her packages as I was not so stealthily crossing the parking lot.

On Friday we both got our morning workouts in and then headed downtown to visit one of the numerous gem and mineral tents scattered throughout Tucson for the two-week Tucson Gem and Mineral Show.

It’s not so much one show as a series of shows spread out all through Tucson. The vendors vary from the high end jewelry and fossil dealers to low end flea market offerings. We picked up a few things for family and friends back home.

Lots of beautiful rocks and minerals

After about three hours of shopping we headed home to rest up for our big Valentine’s Day dance Friday night.

At home we had cold cut sandwiches for dinner and then headed to the dance. The resort musicians have a group called Reminiscence and they play a variety of songs from 30s big band to 60s rock and roll. We always enjoy them.

At the dance we got acquainted with a new couple, Dave and Linda, who were from Michigan but recently relocated to South Dakota to avoid all the new Michigan taxes. They save $800 a year simply by registering their motor home in South Dakota rather than Michigan.

Here's some we didn't see

They explained that to become a South Dakota resident you only have to spend 24 hours in a motel, go to the local government driver’s license office and you will be outfitted with a voter’s registration, vehicle registration and driver’s license. Voila! you are now a resident of South Dakota and immune from all the taxes back home.

They are full time RVers so it works for them.

We closed down the dance, which sounds good, but really only means we stayed there until the last dance at 10 p.m. The sidewalks roll up early here at the resort and a lot of folks were leaving the dance at 9 p.m.

The Tourmaline on the right is only $134,000

On Saturday we got up sort of early and after my workout we cleaned up and headed to the main Tucson Gem and Mineral Show at the Convention Center. This is the main attraction and is only open this past weekend.

The high end jewelry, fossil and mineral dealers come to this event and there is a $10 admission charge with no break for seniors.

In addition to the vendors there are many interesting display cases full of expensive and unusual jewelry that you can look at between the shopping times. Some of those items are valued at more than my 401k and many are guarded by Tucson police.

We spent three hours wandering through seemingly endless vendors who were doing everything they could to part you from your money. I feel blessed that I got out of there just $9 lighter for a copper bracelet that Joan didn’t think she could live without.

A headpiece worth more than my 401k

I’m not much of a shopper, but it’s a small price to pay for all the nice things Joan does for me, but every so often I would make eye contact with another husband and we would each give each other a knowing nod that we were both suffering the pains of an endless shopping excursion.

Joan started feeling badly that she hadn’t donated to the local Native Americans here for a few weeks so we headed to Desert Diamond Casino and she spent a couple hours donating back reparations to the local Indian tribe. Actually, she doesn’t spend much and she looks at it more as entertainment than a chance to win a fortune.

While we were there we bought tickets to the Doobie Brothers on April 4 and bought tickets for my sister and brother-in-law as well as they will be in town that night. As a veteran I get a 50 percent break on the concert tickets and free slot play twice a month up to $10 each time. So that was a nice surprise.

If you need Russian nesting dolls, he's got 'em

After Joan’s “entertainment” we headed home and decided to eat at the resort restaurant which is reported to have some of the best hamburgers in Tucson. They were darned good hamburgers and we enjoyed eating outside on the patio with temperatures in the high 70s at dinner time.

We watched a little of the Olympics and went to bed.

Church and a little grocery shopping took up most of Sunday, as well as watching a little golf.

A little word about church. When we first came to Tucson we looked for a local Anglican church, but were unable to find one, although we tried one Sunday.

Dinner outdoors

We have come to appreciate not just the worship, but the convenience of having a “church” within walking distance. That comes with a little peril as the golf cart exodus at the end of church can leave one dodging the silent little machines as you walk home.

Golf carts are a way of life here and it pays to look out for them because they do very little looking out for you.