Make Yourself At Home In Tucson Arizona with Long Realty Services

Su Swanne, Realtor - GRI, CSHP, SRES

Graduate, Realtor Institute

Certified Senior Housing Professional

Senior Real Estate Specialist

520-248-6297

Make Yourself at Home in Tucson

The Season of Light is approaching with rapid pace. It seems it was only a fews days ago we were anticipating a long weekend with family and friends for a feast. During this season I like to focus on the Winter Solstice which begins the Yuletide, as it was known to the Anglo-Saxons of Britain - it must be because of my heritage as 91% Irish, Scottish, and English! The Winter Solstice is the first day of Yuletide, with 12th Night being Wassail night, and what we’ve come to celebrate as New Year’s Eve. Based on, and borrowed from Yuletide we have Christmastide, with Christmas Day as the first day, and Epiphany on January 6 as the 12th day of Christmas. Many of our traditions of this holiday season combine elements from both celebrations. Other celebrations this time of year also focus on the theme of Light. Light makes things visible and makes things clear so we can see our way. I wish everyone the Joy of Light as we move into a new year, and maybe a new way of seeing things.

“May your heart embrace the return of the Light!”

A Word About Real Estate in Tucson

• Do you hang holiday lights on your house and shrubs, fences and trees? Did you know there are businesses that can do that for you? Check out We Hang Christmas Lights for some ideas. And if you are a true Do-It-Yourselfer, there are many websites that offer instructions on how to put lights on your house and in your yard. Just Google “hanging Christmas lights”! And if you ARE doing it yourself, try to avoid damaging anything that might need repairs later, when you get ready to sell.

• Most everyone is busy between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, and most people don’t think about buying or selling a house during this time. BUT sometimes it is necessary. Do you know of someone I should speak to who could use my help? If so, Message Me at 520-248-6297.
• Curious about this month’s Housing Report? Want to know where your house might be valued? Check it out on my website. Just enter your address and see from three perspectives what your house could be worth.
• BRAND NEW LISTING! - Six acres with large outbuildings, $95,000, near Sahuarita. Are you an artist who is looking for a studio, or a sculptor/metal worker looking for a place to create your masterpieces? Do you have a landscaping business that needs a lot of storage for tools of the trade? This property is rural, and also has income potential. Go to the Public MLS Website and enter MLS#21831907. Then Call Me!!!

A Word About Seniors

• The holidays can be a source of sadness and depression for Seniors. Visiting Angels, a home care organization, has put together a list of classic Christmas movies, TV shows, and radio shows that might brighten a Senior’s day.
• You can Be A Santa to a Senior here in Tucson. Click the link to find gift tree locations. Deadline is December 17, 2018.
• Music turns on the part of the brain responsible for memory, motor control, timing, language, and emotions. The songs of the season that are familiar to Seniors can lift their spirits. A family sing-a-long could be just the thing to bring Joy to a loved one.
• Stay tuned for an announcement about the Senior Seminars I am planning for 2019. The first phase has been initiated; details to come!

A Word About Me - Su Swanne, GRI!

As of December 13 I have completed my year-long journey to receive my Graduate, Realtor Institute - GRI designation. This is a national designation (National Association of Realtors) that demonstrates a  commitment to the highest ethical standards in serving clients and customers, and a higher level of professional service through training and education. I am proud to have the opportunity to serve my clients with the increased knowledge and skill this education has afforded me.

A Word About Events in Tucson

• A complete list of Holiday Light displays this season can be found at Holiday Lights in Tucson 2018 - Tohono Chul Park, Tucson Botanical Gardens, Winterhaven, Lights of the World, and more !
• December 16, 2018 - Parade of Lights and Festival, Downtown
• Through January 16, visit the Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures to see the miniature displays of Christmas Around the World and Throughout Time.
• For some “live” entertainment, how about the Jingle Bell Rockin’ Revue at Gaslight Music Hall! Visit TucsonTopia for times and tickets.
• If you’re a hockey fan, the Tucson Roadrunners will be back in town on December 28 for their home schedule.

“The Light Shines in the Darkness and the Darkness Has Not Overcome It.” John 1:5

How To Find Your Passions In Retirement

We’re all constantly searching for something meaningful to do in retirement. Some may find that a difficult task, but we haven’t much choice but to keep looking. The reality is we have a personal responsibility to move our lives forward. 

A number of life coaches have come up with recommendations for discovering your passions, and I’ve accumulated these below. Some of their ideas might seem a little wacky, but they have been found to work so you might as well consider them. And I’ve also added a few of my own wacky ideas.

Give up what you’re doing now

If how you spend your time is not satisfying, then admit some changes are needed. Otherwise you wouldn’t feel a need to find something that’s more fulfilling.

Go through a university course catalog

Regardless of whether or not you’re interested in taking a class, you might find a topic or two that draws your attention as you flip through the pages, and you can pursue these on your own.

Talk to a life coach

They can take you through the process of identifying your interests, and help you evaluate and prioritize various options.

Talk to your friends and family

They know what you like to talk about, so they have a sense of what turns you on. They can spur your thinking toward a specific field or endeavor.

Pay attention to what you do or think about

Many of the things we dwell on are usually the things we love. If you find that you lose track of time with something you’re thinking about, you’re interested and engaged, and that makes it a passion.

Think like a child

Believe it or not, many life coaches recommend this technique. Think back to the things you enjoyed doing as a kid. For example, if you loved to listen to music, take it up a level — study music at a local college or learn how to play an instrument; if you liked coloring, learn how to paint or get involved with your local art league.

Be willing to experiment

There are no bad ideas in this stage of your development process. So don’t reject something because you think it’s just not you. You might discover something about yourself. For example, I always hated dancing, so I decided to take dance lessons. I did that for about three years, and while it’s not exactly a passion, I actually enjoy it now (even though my wife still thinks I’m pretty bad).​

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Have the right attitude

Look at this searching process as an adventure, a chance to learn new things and grow. Don’t feel pressure to get it done right away and don’t be afraid of getting it wrong. Seeing it as a journey can make it a positive experience, and that’s motivating and helps keep you committed.

Discover recurring themes

Take an inventory of things you tend to accumulate, such as books, films, etc. If you’re watching TV or reading, what do you watch or read about? If you go to a book store, what section do you go to? You might notice there are certain themes that attract you. 

Keep a list

Write down the things that seem to strike you as enjoyable and worth pursuing. This is a work in progress, so keep adding to your list as ideas occur to you.

As I said, this isn’t easy. Discovering your passions won’t happen overnight and you probably won’t have a “eureka” moment.  That’s important to keep this in mind because a lack of initial success can lead you to quit.

But you can get there if you stick to it, and you’ll be happier and have a more satisfying life for having done so. Using time constructively is one of the surest ways to achieve emotional well-being and a sense of personal self-worth. Giving up, on the other hand, will leave you with a “life sucks” attitude and that can make you miserable, and probably the people around you.

This is just the first step. In a follow-up article, I’ll get into how you can implement your passions into action.

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