I live east of Yuma, Arizona in an area known as The Foothills. My neighborhood is called Arroyo de Fortuna, which is the Spanish name for the Fortuna Wash which lies just east of our subdivision. There are 123 homes and our demographics include a couple families with young children, a few middle-age working people and the rest are retirees. Most are in their 60's and 70's and a few are in their 80's or 90's. As far as I know, I am the only one with Parkinson's disease. I would say about 25% stay year round and the rest only come here for the Winter (four to six months). Quite a few are from Canada and the rest come from the Pacific Northwest with an occasional mid-westerner thrown in for good measure.
When it comes to Holiday decorating, it's an interesting mix. It seems like the Canadians tend to do the most, maybe it's because they enjoy being able to put the Christmas decorations up without having to trudge through snow. The ones who go back North to visit family for Christmas tend to do the least. Almost everyone has something, even if it's just a Poinsettia in a pot or a wreath on their front door.
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| Poinsettia in a pot |
You've got the ones who decorate the cactus.
The ones who put out the lighted snowmen and Santa.
The ones who have a sense of humor.
The minimalists.
The creative ones.
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| Snowman made from Tumbleweeds |
And my favorite, a fellow who lives here year round puts out this one every year.
His next door neighbor happens to live in North Pole, Alaska during the Summer.
As I walked through the neighborhood this Christmas morning, I waved and said Merry Christmas to everyone. And a special Merry Christmas to all of you!
