October is quite a busy month at Shangri La Ranch, make your plans to join us now.

Fall Festival is Oct 11-13, this is the annual sports festival weekend with teams from other clubs invited to compete.

The weekend starts off with Karaoke on Friday night. Saturday continues the fun with a Water Volleyball Tournament, Music Poolside, Craft Fair 10am-2pm, a Billiards Tournament, the day ends with a DJ Dance. Sunday ends the weekend with a Morning Pickleball tournament and some relaxing by the pool.

The Annual Bare Buns Desert Run 5k is Saturday October 19th. The run starts at 8am with check in starting at 7am. All sign ups for the run have to be completed through and external company that is used for the timing of the event; registration includes the ability to stay through the day. This route is fully on the property and can can be completed nude or whatever state of dress you wish to participate in. To sign up for the run use this link. Run

Halloween dance will be on Saturday November 2nd. This is a members only and reservation required event so call or email to get placed on the list. This event will book out as only a certain number of people will be permitted into the clubhouse.

Shangri La Ranch is more than a just clothing-optional resort; it’s our community, our neighborhood, our home. We live on 50 remarkable acres of desert landscape, rich in history and with a climate conducive to living nude most of the year. There is an amazing array of plant and wild life, not to mention all kinds of amenities, for all of us to enjoy.

Taking care of The Shang involves a dedicated team who is on duty keeping the business of the resort running and its facilities operational. They work long hours, under some interesting conditions at times, and have a never-ending list of tasks; but that’s not the whole story.

We also have an exceptional group of volunteers who donate their time by giving back to our community. From cleaning the public facilities to watering plants and clearing weeds; from maintaining the dog run to caring for our trees and shrubbery – and we cannot forget those individuals who help with festivals and special events throughout the year. These are folks who take pride in their neighbourhood and want to make a contribution.

So, how can you get involved? It’s easy. Stop by the office and let Patty, Danielle, or Cyndi know that you want to volunteer and how you would like to help. Offering just an hour or two here and there, or pledging to take stewardship of an area – it all helps. It’s a great way to say thanks for this little corner of paradise we call home!

As a follow up to our article with the 5 P's for Preparedness, this month we're going to go a bit more in depth with information directly from Maricopa County about their READY, SET, GO guidance for evacuations.

As Arizona moves into an average to above average fire season, we need everyone’s help to reduce the potential risk of large wildfires.

How to Do Your Part:

Follow Ready, Set, Go!, Arizona’s statewide evacuation program, to keep you, your family, wildland firefighters and the whole response community safe.

The Ready, Set, Go! program’s three tenets encourage Arizonans to get READY by preparing now for what threatens their community, be SET by maintaining awareness of significant danger and to GO, evacuate immediately when the danger is current and life-threatening.

All-Hazard Evacuation Steps

READY – Prepare Now

Be aware of the hazards that can threaten your community.

• Take steps now to prepare for seasonal threats.
• Create defensible space around your home by clearing 30 to 100 feet of vegetation
• Register with your county/tribal emergency notification system.
• Connect with your local emergency management, sheriff’s office and public health department on social media.
• Make a family evacuation and communication plan that includes family phone numbers, out-of-town contacts and family meeting locations.
• Build an emergency go kit with enough food, water, health supplies and other necessary items for at least 72 hours. Include supplies to help keep you and your family healthy.

Start with the five P’s; people and pet supplies, prescriptions, papers, personal needs and priceless items.

• Check with your neighbors, family, friends and elders through video chats or phone calls to ensure they are READY.
• Keep up to date on local news, weather watches, weather warnings and public health recommendations.

SET – Be Alert

Know there is significant danger in your area.

• Residents should consider voluntarily relocating to a shelter or with family/friends outside the affected area. Residents should avoid close contact with those who are sick and should practice public health recommendations when relocating.
• Grab your emergency go kit.
• Keep in mind unique needs for your family or special equipment for pets and livestock.
• Stay aware of the latest news and information from public safety and public health officials.
• This might be the only notice you receive. Emergency services cannot guarantee they will be able to notify everyone if conditions rapidly deteriorate. Be SET to GO.

GO! – Evacuate

Danger in your area is imminent and life threatening.

• Residents should evacuate immediately to a shelter or with family/friends outside of the affected area. Residents should avoid close contact with those who are sick and should practice public health recommendations when relocating.
• Follow instructions from emergency personnel, stay on designated evacuation routes and avoid closed areas.
• If you choose not to evacuate, you must understand emergency services may not be able to assist you further.

A Day of Water Volleyball at Shangri La Ranch

The sun set high in a pristine azure sky, radiating warmth and light upon the idyllic Shangri La Ranch—a haven for naturists seeking communion with nature and freedom from the restraints of everyday clothing. Gentle breezes wafted through the leaves of towering machete and palo verde’s, carrying with them the faint scents of wildflowers and the distant chorus of nature's creatures.

It was a special day at the ranch, one that many had been anticipating with joyous hearts: the annual water volleyball tournament. Residents and guests alike gathered around the crystalline pool, its surface a sparkling oasis of cool relief against the summer heat, ready to revel in the camaraderie and lighthearted competition that the day promised.

Among the eager participants was a middle-aged couple, Tom and Eliza, both of whom had found solace and a sense of belonging within Shangri La's welcoming community. Today, they stood side by side on the edge of the pool, their skin warmed by the sun and their spirits light, sharing smiles that reflected the simple happiness that life without pretense offered.

Much like the birds that sang in the branches above, the participants shed all their layers, baring themselves not just physically but emotionally, allowing vulnerability to bridge the gap between strangers and friends. The game commenced with good-natured laughter echoing across the water, punctuated by the playful slap of the ball being volleyed over the net.

On one side of the net stood Alicia, a young college student whose first time at Shangri La had been met with a mix of trepidation and exhilaration. She was partnered with Bill, a gentle giant of a man with a booming laugh that seemed to resonate with the very soul of the earth. His jovial nature eased Alicia’s nerves, and he offered her words of encouragement that transcended the game and touched upon the philosophy that nudism was far more about self-acceptance than anything else.

Across from them, Tom and Eliza demonstrated a synergy that came from years of loving partnership. They moved like parts of a whole, anticipating each other's movements and providing support in the form of a well-timed set or a strategically placed spike.

As the sun traced its path across the sky, the game unfolded with the fluidity of a dance. Splashes erupted as players lunged for the ball, while onlookers cheered from loungers and picnic blankets sprinkled along the poolside. Children giggled and frolicked in the shallows, under the watchful eyes of elders who shared stories and tender glances that spoke of decades in this very sanctuary.

As the final point was won, it was not the victory that shone most but the unity that had been fortified through shared joy. Sportsmanship ruled the day, with every player shaking hands, or wrapping an arm around a shoulder in a gesture of mutual respect.

With the game concluded, the crowd didn't disperse but rather transformed the area into a space of celebration. A feast was laid out, with potluck offerings ranging from garden-fresh vegetables to mouth-watering grilled delights, all shared freely among a community that found beauty in life's simplest pleasures.

As day turned to dusk, and the hues of sunset painted the canvas of the sky, Tom and Eliza found themselves waist-deep in the still-warm waters of the pool once more. They looked out at the tranquil scene before them—the laughter, the conversations, the open-hearted sharing of life—and they knew that within this naturist retreat lay the essence of Shangri La, a paradise found in the joy of authenticity and the gentle play of water volleyball on a sunny day.

We are so fortunate to have quite a few of the deserts wildllife species right here at the ranch, so more information about these creatures is in order!
This month, let's take a closer look at the very commonly seen Gambel's Quail.

Gambel's Quail are ground-feeding desert birds—so they are likely to visit yards that offer birdseed and water at ground level. They sometimes also come up to elevated platform feeders. It's fairly common to see these birds in pairs, and with quite a few young around the ranch. Gambel's Quail are considered socially monogamous, but some females desert a mate and her brood to take a new mate and lay another clutch, leaving her original partner to raise the chicks on his own. The funny thing about quail is that they seem to prefer nesting in residential areas. Gambel's quail are unique in their egg-laying and incubation habits. When the female begins producing eggs (usually one per day) she does not begin the process of incubation until she has finished laying the whole clutch.

They especially love to eat the fruit of cacti. The flight of a covey of Gambel's quails is brief but powerful. During the middle of the day, the covey will spend their time preening or sleeping, always in an area in which they feel safe, such as an area of thick vegetation. Their lifespan is only about a year and a half, and they are preyed on by a wide diversity of small to medium predators including snakes, raptors, foxes, bobcats, and coyote. Gambel's quail prefer to roost in dense shrubs or trees at night. Shade from various types of desert vegetation is also very helpful.

Hearty Lentils and Vegetable Soup is a comforting meal that’s chock-full of nutrients, perfect for seniors. Lentils are an excellent source of plant-based protein, fiber, and essential minerals like iron and magnesium. According to the American Heart Association, a diet lower in meat and higher in plant-based protein can lead to a reduced risk of numerous chronic diseases, including heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, many forms of cancer, obesity, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

Recipe

1. Simply rinse 1 cup of lentils and dice 1 sweet potato, 2 carrots, and 1 onion
2. In a large pot, heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil and sauté the onion and 3 cloves of minced garlic until translucent.
3. Add 1 teaspoon of cumin, followed by the lentils, sweet potato, and carrots
4. Pour in 4 cups of low-sodium vegetable broth and 2 cups of water, then bring to a boil
5. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for 30–40 minutes until everything is tender.
6. Optionally, add a handful of spinach or kale for 5 minutes before you’re done 
7. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve hot