SEDONA SENIOR LONGEVITY

MY SEDONA EXPERIENCE After enduring over 30 winters in the frigid deep snow of Lake Tahoe/Donner Pass area of N. Cal, I finally got an offer I couldn't refuse: a ride to Arizona! Sedona AZ in particular. I had heard of this town many times, and had acquired an interest in its legendary mystique and a yearning to visit some day. I am very glad I did make the trip just last December, arriving. providentially, on the Winter Solstice [2023]. I have been captivated ever since with its extraordinary beauty, favorable climate and hospitable people, and hope to spend a good part of my life here. It turns out however, that this is not my first visit: after looking over area maps I noticed the little town of Jerome, not far down the road. Now I knew I came through Jerome some 50+ years ago on a road trip with an interesting fellow in his VW van. The hair-raising route from Prescott over Mingus Mountain with all its hairpin turns in a heavy snowstorm in the dark of night was unforgettable: The uninhabited blackness of the surrounding wilderness was offset by the multitude of large snowflakes illuminated by the headlights and swirling like a myriad of galaxies before a speeding spacecraft. We remarked on the many mysteries of earth and space while observing the spectacle: this was decades before the famous Hubble images of galactic multitudes were first made public! When we arrived at a gas station in Clarkdale or Cottonwood, the old-timer attendant told us we were lucky: he said "We lose a few people every year up there around Jerome"! On the maps I noticed that the only way through to the east goes through Sedona --and then I remembered: The fellow driving had mentioned to me the legendary spectacular scenery of the area as we passed through what then, in the early 1970's, resembled a small Old West town that arose like a bright mirage and then vanished in the darkness behind us. Naturally I could see nothing of the cliffs and canyons, peaks and spires, of the surrounding countryside in the misty night --which I certainly would have never forgotten had it been daylight. How strange it now seems, and how much more is my interest kindled in the history and character of this wonderful place! By vocation, if any among others, I am a brewer. I have experience in the preparation fermented foods and beverages from a variety of raw substrates and and active microbiotic cultures: the fermentations not only improve the flavor and preservability of consumables, but also greatly enhances their nutritional value. After numerous fits and starts in N. California (including the Covid shutdown panic), I come to Sedona with high hopes of establishing a brewing operation in this area. My specialty is Kombucha tea, and have developed many flavor recipes, notable for their 'dry' taste and texture as opposed to the overly sweet and vinaigery aspects usually encountered in off-the-shelf brands --along with a suite of 'trade secrets' employed in producing them. "Sedona Kombuchery" anyone?