Situated in the Santa Cruz Valley and surrounded by the Tumacacori Mountains, Tubac's setting could not be prettier.   Large stands of cottonwood, mesquite and acacia trees dot the area, and centuries-old adobe houses line the town's main streets.   Four nations (Spain, Mexico, the Confederate States of America and the United States) have flown flags over this tiny oasis, and it is the second oldest European settlement west of the Mississippi.   It was also once Arizona's largest town.  Today, city facilities are comprised of the Tubac Historical Society, a fire department and the McCollough Regional Health Center; there is no official city government. There are two churches, two parks, a new community center and a small library.  Tourists come to stroll the cobbled sidewalks, shop and dine; retirees come to find a slower pace and a very casual, mellow Southwestern-lifestyle.  This is a place where one can taste Old Mexico without leaving the U.S.

Tubac real estate is not cheap and not overly plentiful, which is to be expected considering the size of the town.  The median home cost is $310,000, although at the time of this writing, most two bedroom, two bath single-family homes with 1,500-plus square feet are starting at around $400,000 and rising significantly from there.   Town homes with 1,200 to 1,500 square feet, two bedrooms and one bath are available starting in the low $300,000s.   In keeping with local history, every home in Tubac is built in the southwestern, adobe style.   

There are several new upscale master-planned communities, including the Tubac Golf Resort (lots for sale on this 200 year-old ranch start in the $300,000s) and Barrio de Tubac.  The Townhomes at Embarcadero (800-700-2506) are beautiful, completely furnished (Southwestern-style) town homes with a full-time concierge, housekeeping services, laundry services, valet service, errands' service, covered parking and meal delivery.  One bedroom units with a year-long lease start at $1,679 per month.  Weekly and monthly rentals are also available.  Tubac does not have a manufactured home community.

The town does not have a public transportation system, but this really is a walking community.  No one is in a hurry to get much of anywhere, anyway.   Even though things move rather slowly, a number of volunteer opportunities are available, including working with the Tubac Historical Society, an all-volunteer preservation group, giving time to the Tubac Center of the Arts, and doing a variety of jobs, including acting as a docent, a gardener or manning the visitors' desk, at Tumacacori National Park.

With an elevation of 3,857 feet, the Village is cooler in the summers than nearby Tucson or Phoenix.  Still, July temperatures can reach into the high 90s, and days in the low 100s are not uncommon.  The average January low is 32 degrees, and the average January high is 55 degrees. The area averages 30%-40% humidity, and the sun shines nearly 90% of the time. 

With such accommodating weather, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the gorgeous natural surroundings.  Nearby Tumacacori  National Historic Park is a great location for backpacking, mountain biking and lots of bird watching.  Madera Canyon is wonderful for hiking, and the 4.5 mile Anza Trail that runs along the cottonwood forests from Tumacacori National Historic Park to Green Valley provides even more chances to hike and bike.  Peņa Blanca Lake and Sycamore Canyon are within 30 minutes and are prime spots for bird watching and fishing.  Visiting nearby wineries, caverns and historic Spanish missions adds to the list of things to do.  Tubac Presidio State Historic Park is worth a visit, and the lovely Tubac Center of the Arts exhibits the works of a number of local artists, including silk screeners, bronze sculptors and potters.  The major event of the year is the juried Tubac Festival of the Arts, presented each February and showcasing artists from around the country.

Golfers will love the area as ten courses are within 30 minutes of Tubac.  The newly renovated Tubac Golf Resort provides challenging play in a spectacular setting along the Santa Cruz River.   The Rio Rico Resort offers one of Arizona's top rated courses, the Robert Trent Jones Championship Course, and has attracted golfers to the area for more than twenty-five years. 

Shopping is not plentiful for items other than pieces of art, but there are two small markets.  Most residents make monthly shopping trips to Tucson for their supplies.  Restaurants are numerous, and many chefs consider their food to be art, as well!    One could be quite content spending his or her days visiting with the local artists, enjoying excellent dining and basking in the desert sun.

Health care is limited primarily to a local clinic.  More extensive care can be found at Carondelet Saint Joseph's Hospital in Tucson (45 miles) or at Carondelet Holy Cross Hospital in Nogales (20 miles).  Both are full-service facilities providing a wide array of health care options.

Retiring in a town this remote and this small is obviously not for everyone, and anyone who chooses to live here has to have a love of handcrafted arts, artists and their creative ways.  And those used to hustle and bustle may have a hard time adjusting to the Tubac's leisurely pace.  The weather may also be a drawback since even at nearly 4,000 feet high, summers can be beastly hot (but the climate is dry and winters are delightful).   Real estate costs are high, but utilities and health care costs meet the national average.  The crime rate also meets the national average and consists primarily of thefts; violent crime is rare.

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