Profile by Donna Carter It was a process of exclusions that ultimately led Bruce and Danice Covert to the San Tan Valley southeast of Phoenix. While still working, the pair of now-retired school teachers living in Colborne, Ontario started their search for a sunny, southern location where they would eventually establish a getaway home. Taking advantage of school breaks, the couple began looking at prospects along the Atlantic coast from Georgia southward, including various Florida options. Despite their efforts, nothing clicked. “We seemed to always run into rain and sometimes cold,” said Danice. “We wanted a place that offered guaranteed sunshine and reliable weather that would fit with our school schedules and later on, of course, our retired lifestyle.” With all previous contenders ruled out, the couple decided to try Arizona – the state known for a mix of interesting cities, hauntingly beautiful desert terrains and, last but not least, its famous saguaro cactus. Right from the get-go, at least two features seemed like a good fit: Arizona ranks among the top-10 places in America to retire, plus it records more sunny, clear days per year than almost any other state. “We immediately loved everything about the place,” said Danice. With year-round sunshine, hot dry summers and moderate winters, this was exactly what the couple had been looking for. Not only had they found the destination that suited them to a tee, their timing could not have been better. As it turned out, the United States was in the midst of an enormous economic downturn which fuelled a major buyer’s market in the nation’s housing industry. At the same time, the Canadian dollar was trading at par. With very good homes in their preferred San Tan Valley area selling well below market value, Bruce decided that it was time to act quickly. As a result, in 2011, the couple purchased an attractive 2,600-square-foot home with an in-ground pool in a master-planned community (Rancho Bella Vista) rimmed by farmland, the Sonoran Desert and unobstructed views of the modest San TanMountains. Bruce pointed out that there are plenty of golf courses nearby, including one that is a mere 10-minute walk from the couple’s home. “It’s sunny almost every single day and if it rains at all, it’s very brief,” said Danice. When the Coverts are not at home in Arizona, they contract the services of a pool tender, house sitter and property maintenance people. The couple is clearly smitten with the San Tan Valley, including everything from its climate to general location. Situated 45minutes southeast of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the Coverts say that they have the best of two worlds. “If we want to tap into the city vibe, we are a short distance from both Phoenix and Scottsdale. On the flip side, we have this wonderful suburban community for our home away from home,” said Danice. They are also within easy driving distance for visits to some of Arizona’s major attractions such as the Grand Canyon and Sedona’s famous red sandstone formations. The Old West city of Tombstone, where the legendary 1881 gunfight at the OK Corral took place, is a day trip away. “Initially, we used rental cars to get around but since it didn’t make financial sense, we purchased a vehicle that we leave down there,” said Bruce. The Coverts are not your typical snowbirds who head south in the fall and spend the entire winter there. Instead, the couple makes sporadic trips pretty much whenever the mood strikes now that they are retired. Their visits no longer rely on school breaks, however, another circumstance is somewhat affecting their movements this year. Bruce has accepted a one-year contract as Manager of Officials Development for Ontario Basketball, a provincial association that provides leadership and instruction in the sport. However, in spite of this and other basketball-associated obligations, the Coverts are definitely planning getaway time in their Arizona home. “Our typical trip schedule is basically the opposite of traditional snowbirds,” said Bruce. “For the last three years, we have gone down from mid-March to the first of May and then later on from mid-August to mid-September.” The late Zane Grey – one of the cactus state’s most famous writers – once wrote, “there is something wonderfully healing in Arizona air.” If there is truth to his claim, the Coverts have one more reason to praise Arizona. Perpetual sunshine and a perfect desert oasis are what drew two retirees to their ideal retreat. PRAISING ARIZONA 22 | www.snowbirds.org
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