in a very similar desert terrain in Southern California. She used to joke “I’m the only person who ever lost money on California real estate” (this was, of course, before the unpleasantness of 2008). Same deal: Streets and utilities laid out; here and there a house. We visited the property early in the century to catch a meteor shower, since it was far from the city lights. There was actually an occupied home nearby, a few parcels away. What’s odd is that when L looked in on the property a few years later, there was only a slab to mark the structure’s former presence.

She still pays property tax upon the thing every year, and occasionally imagines aloud that we will build upon it and retire there. “Not in this life,” I assure her grimly.

cordially,