Day four: The Search. Where I write about mountains and condos and camaraderie.
My day started out early with a wonderful jog around the town, up and down some of my favorite streets. I love the wide side-walks and wide streets, giving the town a feeling of openness. The sun had just risen over the shoulder of Four Peaks (our special mountain here where amethysts were mined years ago) saying good morning.
Four peaks got its name because, well, it has four peaks. It’s a great landmark because it’s so unmistakable. The peaks are jagged looking, not rounded, as if God took his finger and drew a zig-zag across the top just for fun. It stands tall and proud, reveling in its special honor as personal sentinel for everyone in the valley.
Next on the list of things to do for the day was to look at some condos. Three very sweet and knowledgeable Realtors, Jaki, Nan, and Randee, accompanied me as we checked out one after another. I love ‘shopping’ like this with women because there’s an instantaneous sister-hood that happens. We ‘oooh’ and ‘ahhh’ together and give our opinions on the good and the bad of each one. It’s a community effort. I had a blast.
The first one was cute, but the patio was very small, although we all agreed that the huge oleander growing outside the dining area window was wonderful for privacy. The second one was spectacular which meant the first one was off the table as a possible. Bigger unit with a gorgeous kitchen (even though I don’t cook anymore), fantastic views of the mountains, including Four Peaks, although it faced the main road, so there was street noise but the patio was nice and big. The third and fifth condos were in this same complex, but the third had back views overlooking the wash (which I also love), with the McDowell mountains (not my favorites). The carpet was old and nasty, and the unit hadn’t been taken real good care of, so that was a maybe if I could get it for a good price. The fifth one was not even in the running, so we’ll not speak of it.
When we drove up to the third unit, it was obvious that the Realtor who put the listing in the MLS had lied about views. There clearly weren’t any so we didn’t even go in.
The fourth one, though, had the views to die for. Backing up to an Indian Reservation, you were at ground level with the wash, then as your eyes travelled upward, an unobstructed view of Four Peaks and the Superstitions in all their majesty. Spectacular! However, the floor plan was awful, and the condo had not been maintained very well. How’s that saying go – ‘rode hard and put away wet.”
So, anyway, some good things to chew on and I got some numbers on what I could get for rental income. We shall see.
Other than writing the blog post for the day, I took a day off from working on my book and will resume my efforts tomorrow.
I had planned on hiking the Ballantine Trial in the morning – about 21 miles up 87 (what they call the Beeline Highway) toward Payson and into the foothills of the mountains inside Tonto National Forest, but the wind has picked up considerably and with my contacts, and the dust in the air, it might not be a good idea. We shall see what’s it like in the ‘wee smas’, as the saying goes.
Three more full days to soak up the sun and warmth, peace and quiet of Arizona. I’m already asking God when I can come back – maybe to stay for good next time.
Onward and upward!
