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So You Thought You Knew Something About Tucson, Arizona? (3 of 10: Outdoor Living)

By
Mortgage and Lending with SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) NMLS 223495

Sign near the summit of Mt. Lemmon indicating the Arizona TrailMy Darlin' and I have lived here in the Tucson Mountains for more than a decade.  She's a transplanted Jersey Shore girl, and I've lived all over the western hemisphere.  Our neighbors hail from locales as diverse as Cook Inlet, Alaska, Vancouver, British Columbia and the American Midwest. 

Mexican blue oak captures the light filtering through a canyon in Tucson, AZ

What we all have in common is a love for the outdoors.

Outdoor living is special no matter where we come from, but there's a magical quality to Tucson that captures our visitors and draws them back.  It's the light.

Artists and photographers from around the world visit Tucson to capture that light on canvas or paper, and take it home with them.

Outdoor living in Tucson, AZ

Topography and architecture create different moods as the sun courses through the day.  A photo of that Mexican Blue Oak would be ordinary, except for a single shaft of afternoon light shining into the canyon, painting its blue-green leaves yellow. 

And doesn't the architectural detail of the ramada in the afternoon sun make you want to take a nap in that hammock?

Outdoor living in Tucson, AZ There's another thing that makes outdoor living in Tucson so enjoyable:  we have no gnats.  No mosquitoes.  No black flies.  No biting, annoying, buzzing, blood-sucking insects requiring screened-in porches, cans of bug spray, or that favorite of the Jersey Shore, bug zappers.  (You know, those outdoor lights that attract and then electrocute the little monsters.)

The absence of these nasty little insects allows Tucsonans the luxury of creating outdoor rooms that are extensions of our indoor living areas. 

Except for the hottest days of summer, entertaining in the Old Pueblo is an outdoor enjoyment.  And even in summer, when the days are scorchers, we enjoy outdoor living and entertaining at night.

Nightfall over Golden Gate mountain from our back yard in the Tucson MountainsYou see, that special quality of light that brings magic to this little corner of the planet doesn't end when the sun goes down, the moon rises, and the stars come out. 

The atmosphere in Tucson is (usually) so clear, the air so clean that even nightfall has its own magic.  Isn't it time you decided to come visit us?

I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, AZ Mortgage lender.
Mike Jones (Tucson Mortgage Company, LLC): Loan Officer in Tucson, Pima County, Arizona
Think of me as your Tucson mortgage expert.

Call me if I can help you with a mortgage to buy your next house: 
(520) 349-9090

Photos copyright Mike in Tucson (all rights reserved)

The Series:

So You Thought You Knew Something About Tucson, Arizona? (1 of 10: Origins)

So You Thought You Knew Something About Tucson, Arizona? (2 of 10: Geography)

Comments (17)

TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

Mike, Really neat pix of your area. I am putting the pictures you post of the Tucson area and am putting them in my "mind movie" Plan to vacation there next Jan...

Jan 30, 2009 09:18 PM
William J. Archambault, Jr.
The Real Estate Investment Institute - Houston, TX

Mike 3 out of 4 still makes your photos great, but that last one was a little under exposed! It comes up black on my screen.

Bill

Jan 30, 2009 10:11 PM
Don Rogers
Keller Williams Realty Chesterfield - O'Fallon, MO
Realtor, Broker, CDPE, GRI, OnullFallon MO & St Charles County MO homes

Now I know what you are trying to do Mike.........You are trying to get me to leave all of this snow and cold and come to your warm, sunny and inviting area to enjoy all of the bug free nights and savor all that Tucson has to offer.  That's what you are trying to do isn't it?  Come on fess up!!!!

Jan 30, 2009 10:44 PM
Toula Rosebrock
Diane Turton, Realtors, Forked River, NJ - Lacey Township, NJ
Broker/Sales Associate, Realtor, Lacey Township,

Hi Mike:

This is great stuff.  There is so much information we can share about our areas.

I look forward to part 4.

ToulaRosebrock.com

Jan 30, 2009 10:50 PM
Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Toula,

Thanks!  What's the temp in NJ?

Don,

You bet I am!  Is it working yet?

Bill,

Time for a new flat monitor if you can't see the skyline against the mountain.  :)

Michael,

It is working!  Thanks for being the first to comment.

Mike in Tucson

Jan 31, 2009 12:29 AM
Larry Brewer - Benchmark Realty llc
Benchmark Realty LLc - Nashville, TN

Mike - The pictures are stunning as usual. You have almost convinced me to schedule a vacation to visit soon. When I do, I'll give you a call.

Jan 31, 2009 12:41 AM
Fran Gaspari
Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA
"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ

Mike,

I'm enjoying this series so much, I decided to leave my 11,000th comment here!!! :) Thanks,   Fran

Jan 31, 2009 01:00 AM
Jason & Amber Gardner
Hasson Company, Realtors - Sherwood, OR
We're Committed to Your Success!

WOW - It's simply beautiful there.  I've yet to experience AZ in person, but you've done a wonderful job of providing an online presentation.  Very pretty place. 

Jan 31, 2009 03:19 AM
Doreen McPherson
Homesmart ~ Scottsdale ~ Tempe - Tempe, AZ
Phoenix Arizona Real Estate ~

Mike,  Are you moonlighting with the Chamber of Commerce or the Convention and Visitors Bureau or something?  Very nice.  :)

Jan 31, 2009 07:12 AM
Shawn Davis
Home Crossings, P.C. - Davison, MI
Homes For Sale, Genesee County, Michigan

The way you describe this bring back memories of vacationing in Cozumel...though I have never visited Arizona...sounds like a great vacation spot!  Beautiful write and photos on this, Mike!

Shawn Davis

Jan 31, 2009 07:38 AM
Terry & Bonnie Westbrook
Westbrook Realty Broker-Owner - Grand Rapids, MI
Westbrook Realty - Grand Rapids Forest Hills MI Re

Sounds very enticing with our high temp in Michigan for January was 35 degrees I sometime wonder why I don't live in the south.

Jan 31, 2009 02:13 PM
Kent Simpson
Realty One Group Mountain Desert - Tucson, AZ
Real Estate Is About People

This is a great series of articles, Mike.  Thanks for sharing them with everyone!

Jan 31, 2009 02:14 PM
Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Kent,

I'm having a good time with this; thanks for stopping by.

Terry,

Brrr!  I wonder that, too!

Shawn,

It's a wonderful place to visit, and even better to call home!

Doreen,

Someone's got to pick up the slack.  LOL

Jason & Amber,

Come on down for a visit!

Fran,

I'm honored that you would spend so auspicious a comment as #11,000 on my blog!  Thanks!

Larry,

I'll be looking forward to your call!

Mike in Tucson

Jan 31, 2009 02:17 PM
Harrison K. Long
HomeSmart, Evergreen Realty - Irvine, CA
REALTOR , GRI, Broker associate, Attorney

Mike ... thanks for this post about Tucson, and photo images are great.

We cheered loud and long for the Arizona Cardinals to win the Super Bowl today.  They didn't give up, played well, and Christi and I are proud of the team, Kurt Warner and management for that.

Best wishes. Harrison

 

Feb 01, 2009 03:50 PM
Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Harrison,

They gave us an exciting game!  I've never seen a Superbowl that was more so.

Mike in tucson

Feb 02, 2009 09:15 AM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Mike I am convinced that I need to visit.  Your love of the area shines through.  Thanks for sharing.

Feb 07, 2009 10:38 PM
Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Jennifer,

Call before you come!  We'll roll out the red carpet.

Mike in Tucson

Feb 07, 2009 11:04 PM