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Throwback and Thankful Thursday - How I Ended Up In Arizona...

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Realty NRDS # 146013739

Lake Mojave Arizona 1984

 

I only saw these for the first time a couple of days ago! 

Lake Mojave pronounced (Lake Moe-HA- vee)

Lake Mojave - 1984 Sheri and the kids

(image above) 1974 Bubble Nose 18' Jacuzzi Jet 460 CID Lincoln engine 

 

Out of the Blue...

I got a message with these two pics on Tuesday.  I had to share them. We don't have many pictures of our boat moving on the lake or the Colorado River. So these are pretty special. 

This might be the only image... (Above)

Yes, that is me piloting the boat! In the back of the boat is my youngest son who is turning 40 Tuesday along with my high school friend's kids. My oldest son is manning the flag in the front passenger seat.  My husband is skiing behind the boat (picture below). My high school friends, who we still are in contact with, are in their boat paralleling our boat.  The river trips we took with them were always so much fun. 

1984 - Rick skiing no hands

River Rats From 1972

Starting in 1972, we have owned most types of watercraft including an 18 foot Hobie Cat and 2 PWCs. My husband's father rented a boat on Lake Tahoe when Rick was 14 years old and that was it. He had the itch! 

A Family of Water Skiers

At this point (1984), Rick had been skiing for about 12 years. He was self-taught and taught everyone else how to ski including our kids, me, my family and his brother besides other friends.

Accomplished Skier

 

He could cut a wave and get an elbow in the water. But his favorite thing was to use his legs to hold the ski rope with no hands on the rope (pictured above). Rick could ski like this for over a half hour with no problem at high speed.  His favorite thing was to take his left leg out of the boot to ski with one foot and no hands. Those were the good old days! Ha Ha!

Our Arizona Roots Are Forming

With all the trips to the "River", we got to know Arizona very well and really enjoyed seeing the sun every day. When you live on the west coast in SoCal, everyone knows that the river you refer to is the Colorado River. 

Starting the Second Act

My husband was able to retire at 55 years old, so we started looking at retirement areas in the late 1990s. We narrowed it down to Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona. We started boiling it down to great weather, lots of sunshine, low humidity and close proximity to Southern California. 

Enchantment Resort Sealed the Deal!

In 2000, I brought my husband to the Enchantment Resort in Sedona for his birthday. He really wanted to go to the Biltmore in Santa Barbara!  He did whine a little until he stepped outside on the patio of our casita and saw the night sky. His next words after OMG were..."Find a REALTOR®! This is it!"  The rest is history.  

A Three Year Process

There was lots of traveling back and forth from SoCal to Sedona as properties hit the market. It took 3 years but we found our dream home.  We never thought of it as our "forever" home. ... I am still not sure about that. But, I do not want to leave the Soldiers Pass area and we are very happy living in the Cottages At Coffeepot

 

 

Very Blessed

I am thankful every day for all the wonderful circumstances that helped make this journey possible. Our oldest son was the caretaker for our California home and he moved out to Sedona when we sold the property in 2012.  Now we are blessed to have him, his wife and our grandson live just 20 minutes away. 

 * * *

 


 

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As a Coldwell Banker Sedona Arizona REALTOR®, my primary goal is to help my customers obtain their dreams, as well as satisfy their financial goals and objectives through real estate. From the moment I am contacted, you will observe my seasoned ability to provide you with "World Class Service" and that "personal touch" while utilizing a complete package of technology options that are of the utmost importance and so critical in today's market.

I will tailor real solutions to fit your specific needs. - Sheri Sperry -

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Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Sheri Sperry - MCNE® - You and your family have lived an incredible life and the journey to the home stretch in Sedona is rather remarkable. The video showing exclusive life behind the gate in the gated community is very well presented. The life you live is truly a blessing. 

Jun 08, 2019 05:35 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

If it hadn't been for wanting to be close to Southern California you could have ended up in Central Washington.  As beautiful as Central Washington is, it's hard to beat Sedona! 

Jun 09, 2019 12:27 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thanks for sharing some of your story and the wonderful photographs.

Enjoy the season!

Jun 09, 2019 01:33 PM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Michael Jacobs - We are making more memories because my son followed out here and started his own family. It is wonderful.  

Jun 09, 2019 02:29 PM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Brian England - Thank you. It is funny how our paths can take us to places and in so doing, make new friends!

Jun 09, 2019 02:30 PM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Sheila Anderson - It has been a journey but it seems it was meant to be!

Jun 09, 2019 02:31 PM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

HI Will Hamm - I am happy to do so. I was just so surprised to see this pic. 

Jun 09, 2019 02:32 PM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

HI Joan Cox - I was going to say I have no regrets but that almost sounds negative.  I still am astounded by how it all worked out and very happy.

Jun 09, 2019 02:35 PM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP - Thank you. I really can't describe it any other way than feeling very blessed. 

Jun 09, 2019 02:36 PM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Carol Williams - It is so true. Even though we didn't have grandkids at the time, I knew people who moved back because of the grandkids.  If my son did not follow us, who knows what would have happened!

Jun 09, 2019 02:39 PM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

It appears to be a perfect spot for you two. I can see why Santa Barbara was also calling his name...I really love it there, but you found the right fit. Obviously. Ha.  Happy Birthday to your son...

Jun 10, 2019 07:30 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Good morning Sheri - that is a great story and one that I can relate to.  I have started the journey by buying a house in Florida.  I have my brothers and sisters there and my children in New York.  No plans to have just one home, at least not yet.

Jun 10, 2019 08:11 AM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

HI Debb Janes EcoBroker and Bernie Stea JD - Thank you!  I will let Ryan know. We are spending time with him in Palm Desert.  I am a Marriott owner so we got a Villa with 2 bedrooms and a separate one for my other son and his family.  It has been a wonderful trip with the family all together. 

Jun 10, 2019 08:18 AM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Grant Schneider - Thanks for the follow!  Two homes got to be too much. California has super high taxes so we had to cut ties.  Your transition is a perfect way to slowly make the move. 

Jun 10, 2019 08:28 AM
Amanda S. Davidson
Amanda Davidson Real Estate Group Brokered By Real - Alexandria, VA
Alexandria Virginia Homes For Sale

Sheri, your post put a big smile on my face. I felt like we were right there with you as life led you to Sedona. Perfectly written. From reading your posts over the years I know how much you love Sedona and can see exactly why it's home. 

Jun 10, 2019 11:18 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

It sounds like you made the right decision to move to Sedona - and it just might be your forever home after all.  Great story and pictures too!

Jun 10, 2019 05:01 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Sheri:

I so enjoyed your look back and how you got to Sedona. And of course your posts are always accompanied by terrific photos. I'm going to be in Sedona in late September briefly visiting family...I will be in touch to see if you are around, I would love to get together, even if only for a hour or so!!

Jeff

Jun 12, 2019 10:15 PM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Oh thank you so much, Amanda S. Davidson, I appreciate that.  It is so easy to write when it comes from the heart. 

Jun 13, 2019 01:14 PM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

HI Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089 - I would say that it just might be!

Jun 13, 2019 01:15 PM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Jeff Dowler, CRS - Sounds great.  That is a nice time of year to come out also. When you lock down the dates let me know so I can keep some time free!  I would love to meet up. 

Jun 13, 2019 01:16 PM