Arizona in August
In August ’07 we traveled out to Arizona for a vacation and to visit with my grandparents who had moved out there in November ’06. Now I must admit that it probably wasn’t he best time of year to visit Arizona but it was the only time that I had between the kids t-ball and when they had to start back to school. This is one of the pictures we took traveling from Sedona to Williams.
Since that time I lost my job back in Ohio and relocated to Phoenix to do some contract work. When my wife and her family found out about what I decided to do they had a royal fit. I could understand their position if I had decided to quit my job and move the family but it wasn’t. I could understand their position if my wife was a career woman but she’s not she’s a stay-at-home mom. No discredit to the work she is doing at home with our kids.
What really truly amazes me is the fact that her family really seems to like the outdoors: camping, fishing, NASCAR, boating, etc… In Ohio you have a limited season to do those things and truly enjoy them. I’ve never seen them go camping, boating, or fishing in the winter. Typically October hits in Ohio and you are done with the exception of going outside to shovel snow or bring a load of firewood into the house. You go outside if you have a job because you need to get to work, but for the most part you remain inside from Oct – Apr.
In Arizona you can do all those wonderful out door things all year round. Now if you enjoy an outdoor lifestyle why would you not want to live someplace warm? Yes the summers are hot, but you can still spend time outside. Driving north to Flagstaff in the summer time it is quite comfortable. As a kid I spent many summers in northern Arizona. The only thing I can say I truly miss besides my family are trees. I’m talking about the big tall oak, maples, and ash that you find back in the Midwest. Northern Arizona has the tall Ponderosa Pines which have their own unique beauty but they do not truly compare to the red, yellow and orange leaves you get in the fall back east.
