That's why I currently live in southeastern Arizona, 300+ days of sunshine per year... and I've been through all that cold weather in my "trucking daze." I like this climate, and there are SO MANY outdoor recreation venues nearby, with heaps of offroading and dirt biking to enjoy, plus the whole adult playground known as Cochise Stronghold, there's heller world-class technical rock climbing out there and my home has a million-dollar view of the crags, domes & spires on the West Side. I love it here, man, living in this small town is like going back in time, with no traffic, no smog, no foul city attitudes, virtually no crime because the would-be perps know that even Grandma is STRAPPED with a .44 and will "blow their heads clean off" (blatant ripoff of a Dirty Harry line, LOL).
My job is going so well, I almost have to pinch myself to make sure it's not a dream... all the higher-ups love me because I'm kickin' @$$ and making the maintenance shop right, it was an ugly clusterf#% when I arrived and now it's looking the way a shop SHOULD look, 10-4? Hell, even the mayor shakes my hand in the Walmart aisles when I see him off-duty, that's a novel experience and a refreshing change from dealing with all the corrupt scumbag politicians in the Republik of KaliMexiFornia, LOL. Here's another thing: I was cruising the WallyWorld aisles one day and saw a chick that looked pretty good, turned my head to get a view of the back yard and she had a nice semiautomatic pistol shoved behind the waistband of her jeans, LOL. Gotta love an "open carry" state, that's what keeps the crime down (unless ya live in a Big City).
Anyway, I like the progress you're making on the bike, it's good to have a winter project to keep one occupied. Right now, my LIFE is my winter project, LOL, but I believe I've FINALLY turned it around now that I have this kick@$$ gubmint job, despite the phony felony charges in Kalifornia, that f#%ng seaside ghetto dump. Like MILLIONS of others, I fled that state because it's a sinking ship, thanks to corrupt scumbag pols and traitorous sellouts to globalist trash who think their excrement doesn't STINK, AYE??? And GOOD RIDDANCE to that $h!thole & cesspool of corruption, even my best friend whose family ran the first & oldest surf shop in Coronado for 35 years wants OUT of that burg... you can Google "Coronado, CA" and see the place, then wonder why the LOCALS all wanna leave, LOL. I'm already gone, and happy to live here in Arizona...
Ya know, I just couldn't do in Kalifornia what I've done here in Arizona: own a home free & clear, no rent or mortgage, find a decent job with REAL benefits, live like a f#%ng KING because the cost of living is so low, meet cool & friendly people who are NOT all stressed out because they live in Kalifornia, etc., etc. I mean seriously, I paid $36K for this home when I bought it, paid cash and it's already worth TWICE as much with the work I've put into it. I'm sitting on a quarter-acre on a terraced hill with a MILLION-DOLLAR VIEW of the Stronghold, relatively low property taxes and utility bills, the air is fresh & clean with a million stars overhead at night, it's just a really cool place to live. Many folks don't realize that this corner of Arizona has mountain ranges that push 8000', 9000', 10,000' and even 11,000' in elevation... Mt Graham rises to 10,720' and it's not that far away, I'll go there this summer to check out the mountain lakes and the observatory.
These bad@$$ ranges are known as "sky islands" because the ecology & habitats & wildlife are different from what's found below in the desert, even the high desert where I dwell. We have all kinds of deer here, but you'll find elk at higher elevations, along with a bunch of other wildlife including bobcats, cougars, coyotes, etc. We have all those other critters here, but there are MORE of them up there, LOL. Big-@$$ raptors too, gotta watch those critters if ya have small domestic animals. Anyway, I'm only sharing all this info with you in case you know folks who are thinking of relocating as I did, for whatever reason. We have $h!tloads of "snowbirds" and retirees here, due to the weather, and living in rural or semi-rural Arizona is like going back in time to a better way of life, 10-4? No lie, life is GOOD here, and with the economy strong NOW is the time to move if one is so inclined.
Just sayin' in case ya have kids who are restless, LOL, or have friends dealing with that situation... don't let those kids move to that crowded and costly Kalifornia dump, better to live in AZ and rip out to the coast now & then on vacation, as I'll do once I rack up enough hours. The freedom here is great, especially in this area where I live, way less badges giving citizens grief... the cops here are "local yokels" (trucking parlance) who focus on speeding, DUIs & domestic violence, the idiot wife-beaters who should never have gotten married in the first place. Ain't love grand??? LOL. Meh, I'm loving life here now that I'm FINALLY established for real, can't wait to buy my big ol' thumper and ride all these bad@$$ trails out here, just minutes from my home instead of hours, LOL. It might not be a mini, but I'll be sure to post pics of my adventures so alla youse riders out there in cyberspace can share the views, 10-4? And check this: at times I'll be riding with climbing gear in a pack on my back, just to pull some long moderate route at the Stronghold, WAHOO!!!
And NOW, a few pics of that adult playground known as the Stronghold, I may have posted some of these elsewhere at this site but I can't remember where, as I suffer from CRS, LOL. So here goes, enjoy yer mini tour, and keep up the good work on that project, it's already looking SWEEEEEET!!! CHEERS!!!
P.S. Arizona sunshine, dirt biking on the way in (to the West Side), outdoor adventure on bad@$$ crags, domes & spires, many with excellent & solid rock, hot climbing chicks... what's NOT to like? LOL...
AS ONE MOTORCYCLIST TO ANOTHER, "CHEERS, MY FRIEND!!! ROCK ON..."