New from the Desert Northwest

[Gardnr]

What, might you ask is the desert northwest? Well it can be 112F and it can be -29F. We can have 2f of snow and we can have 60d with no measurable precip. These last 3 weeks it has been rain rain rain and more rain and the ski mountains had a crappy snow year while the NE was begging for mercy. We have amazing mountains and lots of trails for hiking/biking. 100s of high mountain lakes for fishing and camping. Natural hotsprings for heating homes and for swimming. That is a taste of our beautiful desert northwest.

I'm new here so a little about us: DH thoroughly LOVES the IT world. He was a bit of a late bloomer starting his career at 33. I on the other hand am an RN and started my career 6d after my 20th birthday. So I just started year 34! Where does the time go I ask?

We have removed all grass from our city lot. We have raised beds (of which half were planted today), we have a blackberry patch, we have a big backyard concrete patio which is full shade by 3PM daily.

No children. I consider myself a professional aunt and the youngest of those babies is now 19 while the oldest is 40. They have 11 newbies amongst themselves and I get to see every dang one of them at a family reunion in July. Yippee! We have 2 fabulously entertaining purebred Lynx cats. (cheap buy on Craigslist-I would never pay purebred price but they only wanted vet fees which I would have paid at the shelter so adopted them at age 8m from a family that couldn't keep them).

I have buried both my parents already

I look forward to some fun conversation around here about living life to its fullest and enjoying the daily journey.

In closing for now, these words I read many years ago..... "Now that I can afford broccoli, I'd rather grow it". Gardnr

[Francie]

Eastern Oregon or Eastern Washington? Maybe parts of Northeastern California or Western Nevada? Those are the only ones that I would classify as "Desert Northwest", but your definition may differ from mine. We're in Western Idaho (Boise area) which can be pretty desert-like, especially south toward the Snake River and down towards Nevada.

Welcome aboard! I've been here a very long time, under a variety of names, but I keep coming back. We're 100% debt-free for many years, but technically some may not consider that we are -- we put nearly everything on our credit card, to get the "points", and pay it in full each month. Other than that, no debt. Works for us, and feels great.

[Tussiemussies]

Hi Gardnr, welcome to the boards. I'm sure you will find quite a lot of great posts that you can chime right into some great conversations!

[SteveinMN]

Welcome! Here in Minnesota we almost achieve both ends of the temperature spectrum, but unless we're in severe drought, it never looks like a desert. :-)