Getting squished but not squashed by my second health scare of 2023 — When I turned 40 last year, I put off my first mammogram. Partly because having my sweater puppies pulled and smashed isn’t my idea of a good time. …

Watch the desert sky come alive with 30,000 sandhill cranes — Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area in southern Arizona’s Sulphur Springs Valley is a must-visit for nature appreciators and bird nerds. Near the community of McNeal, Arizona, and off a wide dirt road that’ll knock your teeth out, this 1,500-acre area was created in 1997 to preserve natural habitat and provide a…

A walk through Tucson’s Sweetwater Wetlands Park with camera in hand — Just off Interstate 10, tucked back into a collection of commercial buildings, there’s an unexpected goldmine for us outdoorsy types. Sweetwater Wetlands is more than a park — it’s also an important part of Tucson’s reclaimed water system. Tucson leads the United States with its water conservation and reclamation efforts…

I couldn’t smack the upgrade membership button fast enough. — Yep, another article on the shiny new Friend of Medium membership tier. If you’re a shameless Medium addict like me, I’m sure you’ve read a dozen. Or maybe you saw the update, sighed heavily, thought, “I can’t be assed to keep up with the changes on Medium,” and scrolled by. …

Reflecting on six years of unconventional living — On November 26th, 2017, my spouse and I said goodbye to the Midwest with one finger and waved an enthusiastic hello to Tucson, Arizona. We plopped down in the first RV park that would give us a reservation with our old motorhome and young selves (many RV parks in Arizona…

Why this mountain in the Southwest’s Sky Islands holds more than just impressive landscapes — How many times have you noticed an unfamiliar road and thought to yourself, “I wonder where that goes?” One of the many things to love about Arizona is that if it isn’t military, mining, or private property, you’re encouraged to explore its expansive public lands. Open roads are irresistible invitations…

When thin walls meet smooth brains — I lived in a house for 13 years and got on well with my neighbors. Until I sold the house and moved into an RV park. Despite not knowing me, a particular faction of people here aren’t members of my fan club. From having a fake snake in my yard…

That awkward moment when your social skills are more pixelated than your avatar — A few months ago, I was invited to a private Discord group of Medium writers. I know so little about Discord I hadn’t considered that was even a thing. I’m also bad at figuring out how people feel about me, and I don’t particularly enjoy attention. …

This forgotten town’s ruins tell stories of courage, tragedy, and survival in the American West — Arizona’s rugged backcountry is full of abandoned mines, ghost towns, and other fascinating pieces of history. It’s not uncommon to stumble on something cool while exploring. Still, when my spouse and I found adobe ruins along Forest Service Road 143 in Coronado National Forest just east of Tubac, Arizona, I…