Opera, in the desert? Welcome to Amargosa Opera House . . . and the dream of Marta Becket. The New York ballerina parlayed a flat tire in a ghost town south of Death Valley, CA, into dancing, performing and painting, regardless of audience (or lack of, in this case). Her solution? Paint her little theater with its own gallery. And visitors have been charmed for close to 50 years.

Elizabeth Pomazal, alto, performs one evening in April in Marta's dream theater.

Three people officially live in Death Valley Junction, as did Marta until she died in January. Her art lives on through a non-profit foundation. Ballet and opera performances still run.

​Her fierce, independent focus, and what she created here, resonate with the artist in me. She made art for art's sake, regardless of the world's view. I know that compulsion. She had the guts to reinvent herself in the second half of life, and to take that leap where only ghosts and dust reigned. I admire that. In my case, I'm using my travels to define myself anew. Both ways work.

​Click on the images in the gallery below to expand them.

What could be better after a few dusty days dry camping near the junction than a soak (or two!) at Tecopa Hot Springs? $7 for 24 hour access.  Ahhh. ​

Why the move from Arizona to Nevada? It's a nice central location. ​I can slip up the coast for the ride of a lifetime this summer: Highway 101 -- and I can't wait! I can see my new twin grand nieces in Carlsbad. And it's easy access to sisters in Arizona and Mexico.  Not to mention a nice climate, plenty of free parking, no state income tax, and it's friendly to RV travelers (sort of).

Officially, there's no such thing as a person who travels full time in this land of the free. You MUST have a permanent domicile. So, mine will be in Nevada. Here are some desert shots along the way.