Here's what it looks like now, up at the condo in Colorado:

                                                                

...and this is what it looks like just outside my home, here in New River, AZ:

                                    

The reason it's called "New River" is that, every time it rains, we get a new river - then, of course, it turns to steam and dries up, so we have to wait for the next rain to get a new river again...

I've decided on a sea change. I only have one real complaint, and it's time that I focused my efforts.

I'm not going to be complaining any more about getting old - about losing leg speed or strength or the inability to do simple tasks that I used to be able to do - about the loss of my youth and beauty and health.  I'm not going to complain about the diminishing possibility of retirement with any level of security or comfort. I'm not going to complain about my depression or ADD or high blood pressure or nagging injurings or that shred of obsessive-compulsive disorder that forces me to do things like count the road reflectors as they fly by.

I'm not going to complain about Silas' efforts at home or at school. I'm not going to complain about how stupid Lucy is, how much hair Maia leaves around the house, or how bad Kia stinks now that we have a pool and she jumps in and out of it all day long.

I'm not going to complain about the way that Ethel treats me, or the way that I am dismissed as irrelevant by all and sundry. I'm not going to complain about the government or taxes or health care reform or my neighbor who ripped out his landscaping when he left, leaving the house unattractive to any new owners, thus affecting my real estate value.

Nope.

I've decided that, well, I live in Arizona.

And as long as I live in Arizona, complaining about anything else is missing the point. If my concerns about the government and  taxes and health care reform and Ethel's treatment of me and my complete lack of impact on those around me and my ex-neighbor and the dogs and Silas and my own health issues or slimmed-down 401(k) or aging were all to simply disappear, I would STILL live in Arizona, so what good would it do me?

It's hard to really focus on current events when every step outside carries the possibility of bursting into flame.

So that's it. I've said my piece and counted to three. It's nice to have one's priorities worked out. At least I know what's important now. I'm glad that we had this little talk.

Now - to complain about living in Arizona....