Living with pine trees, sand dunes and within a half hour of Lake Michigan for a sliver under fifty years, it is quite amazing to have a permanent home in Arizona’s high desert. I never gave any thought to an “Exit Plan” but I bought this property in the early 90s when I was still very much adventure bound. Ya just never know!
North Ranch Escapees Rainbow RV Park is a two-mile square property at 3000’, with 436 deeded lots and a 111-site RV campground. Most land owners were full-time RVers at one time and maybe a third have settled in full time. Others are extended-time RVers. A decidedly eclectic group (would you expect anything less from RVers), we have stick, straw-bale, and manufactured housing on 1/3-acre lots, with some park models on 50’ X 70’ RV lots. RVs are also used for living quarters or parked at the ready for easy escape (thus Escapees).
My lot is in the shadow of the 400+ year old saguaro that lives in Saguaro Park. This garden is at the edge of a huge basin that has a canal leading to it from the desert. When it rains, at least for a half hour, those living on the basin have waterfront property. Narrow canals throughout the park connect two large basins that handle this rare rain accumulation. The park’s ancient mesquite tree shades my back deck.
The park is filled with desert plants, native trees, bunnies, quail, birds, occasional javelina and coyotes, and very rarely, a mountain lion or bobcat (and probably far more rattlers than we ever see!). Five miles away the Weaver and Bradshaw Mountains lead into Arizona’s high country with occasional snow to define their beauty. I am blessed and I wish you blessings, too. Until next time.
At 45, Widow Minshall began 20 years of solo full-time RVing throughout Alaska, Mexico, and Canada. Sharlene canoed the Yukon, mushed sled dogs, worked a dude ranch, visited Hudson Bay polar bears, and lived six months on a Mexican beach. She lectured at Life on Wheels, published six RV-related books and wrote a novel, “Winter in the Wilderness.”
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