There are no showers in the forecast where Gary Nelson is, just blazing sunshine and temps in the 80s.
In fact, the overnight low in Phoenix is 52 degrees, warmer than the daytime high predicted in Snohomish County.
“I don’t miss that anymore,” Nelson said. “It’s nice to get in this comfort zone.”
The retired Snohomish County Councilman traded in his woolen suits for khakis and trips to the pool.
Instead of debating county policy day in, day out, the snowbird is debating which club to use on the par 4 on the back nine at Lookout Mountain at his winter home in Phoenix.
At the desert golf courses, “I have to hit over all those doggone cactus to get to the fairway on the other side,” he said.
County term limits halted Nelson’s career after 13 years on the council.
Between rounds of golf at Lookout Mountain and TPC in Scottsdale, he is working for his wife. Since the 1970s, JoAnne Nelson has owned SuperBooks, which sells phonetic-based reading books for kids.
Gary Nelson helps with Web design, marketing, convention work and shipping.
It’s a whole new lifestyle.
“I have a lot more control over what happens everyday,” Nelson said. “Expenses are down considerably. There’s not as much fuel, no dry-cleaning bills to pay every two weeks, fewer times of going to lunches or banquets of one sort or another. A lot less expense.”
Nelson’s frugal side still shines through. His golf game is in the low 90s and he plans to practice on the less expensive city courses, where greens fees are in the teens instead of pushing $200.
“You have to get ready with your game there before you hit a lot of these expensive courses,” Nelson said.
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