Impressions after Arizona vacation

[jrdudas]

We have just returned from a short vacation in Arizona.  We lived there (Tucson) for many years and it was great to see old friends and enjoy our favorite restaurants again.  It has been many years since I spent any significant time in the Phoenix area and I must say that I am disappointed with the changes that have occurred.  When I lived in the state the population of the Phoenix metro area was about 800,000; now it is 3.5 million.  Phoenix used to be a really nice laid-back desert town, now it has become a clone of LA.  Too many people for the available resources, and lots of them speeding around town in their BMW's, Infiniti's, and Lexus's.  All of the bad traits of the LA area seem to have been copied to Phoenix, and few of the good ones.  Traditional farm land is being gobbled up by developers at a blistering rate.  New subdivisions with houses on postage stamp size lots are everywhere.

One thing seems the same however.  Phoenix for all of it's growth and problems still seems to embrace their "cowboy heritage".  While in Tucson I was reminded of my impressions from many years ago.  Tucson, at least to some extent, seems to be ashamed of their "cowboy heritage".  Some horse owner friends from Germany met us in Arizona and wanted to buy some tack while in Tucson.  There were only three tack stores listed in the yellow pages and the one with the largest ad sold "english" tack exclusively.  Not a decent "western" tack store in town.  Tucson is blessed with many good Mexican restaurants, and a number of fine steak houses.  But, beyond that and a couple of good museums, they seem to really downplay their "cowboy" roots.  Perhaps the wild and wooly days of Tombstone (some 60 miles southeast) are too fresh in the collective memory of Tucson and an effort has been made over the years to distance themselves from that history.

Just my ramblings, thanks for listening.

JR   

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Tombstone probably would've been a better choice to find western tack. I believe there's at least two saddlers there........Buck

[jrdudas]

Right you are.  As it turned out, our friends went to visit Tombstone and did find a nice western tack store there.  They went home satisfied with their purchase.

JR

[RRio]

Actually, having lived in the Phoenix Metro area since 1974, I' d have to say that it is Phoenix that has lost it's "cowboy heritage". Use to be you could find horse property all over the valley, and see people riding all the time. I live almost in Apache Junction (and use to see horse riders all the time), and now it is a very rare occassion to see someone riding. We have lost so many tack shops, I can even tell you were the nearest one is. It's a sad disappointment.

[Angus McKechnie]

That's too bad about the horses- to me, Arizona IS horses. At least that's what I'm planning on when I finally make the big leap and retire to Tombstone (I'll have to find a place just outside of town since you can't keep horses in Tombstone itself). Out here in California, we're fighting a constant battle to keep the equine heritage alive- all these idgits can think of is building condo complexes and complaining about "how smelly" horses are. Compared to people, I'll take horses anyday.

Angus

[RRio]

Out here in California, we're fighting a constant battle to keep the equine heritage alive- all these idgits can think of is building condo complexes and complaining about "how smelly" horses are. Compared to people, I'll take horses anyday.

Angus

Complete agreement!