20071107 Warm and Dry

20071107 Warm and Dry

Arivaca, Arizona, sits on high desert between Tucson and Nogales and west of Interstate 19. Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, a ranch until 1985, occupies much of the land to the east and south of town. The town site, less than 20 miles from Mexico, is just a few square blocks. Arivaca Mercantile--a well stocked little market, a feed store, a cantina, the post office and a library are the places people meet.

Most of the 1700 Arivacans do not live in town but rather within 5 miles of it on parcels 5 acres and up. Land is still relatively inexpensive here compared to Patagonia on the east side of the Interstate and well water is drinkable and plentiful. Over the course of a year the sun shines in this part of the country more than just about any place else, making Arivaca prime for solar power. Since late 2003 I have been interested in land here.

Specifically I have been looking at a remote ranch, situated almost three miles down a rough rocky road leading north of town into the Las Guijas Mountains. No one else lives within two miles. BLM manages most of the adjoining land. A ranch house built piecemeal beginning in the 1930s sits in a basin at about 3800 feet, surrounded by ocotillo and mesquite-covered hills.
From the house one can see no power lines, no antennas, in fact no structures other than those that belong to the ranch. City power? Dream on…remember, no power lines. When I first became aware of the place on a realtor’s website, solar energy provided the juice. A classic windmill stands in a saddle between hills. It still turns in the breeze and in the past drew water from the well at its base, but today solar panels power a submersible pump.

In the spring of 2004 I looked seriously at the property, for sale at that time, but did not offer. The long rough road concerned me, as did a well-worn footpath across one corner. Being so close to Mexico you can guess who uses it. Also, Pima County charges extracts exorbitant property taxes.

Despite passing on the place, I still wanted it and dreamed about it. I dreamed of a place where I could live on renewable energy for the most part and raise some if not much of my food. I wanted a place where friends could visit and stay for extended periods.

Well, I’m back and seriously looking. The place is not listed for sale but the owner is willing. We are in negotiations. I don’t think we’ll agree on terms but hey, I’ve gotta try. And what the heck, with daytime temps in the mid-eighties and almost no chance of rain, Arivaca is a warm and dry place to spend some time at this time of year.