Kathy and Floyd Turnquist Stress Free Living in the Desert By Heide VanDoren Betz
Heide Betz: Tell us a bit about your background
Kathy Turnquist: I grew up in cold and chilly Minnesota; we were a family of six. After I graduated from the University of Minnesota I followed my dream and came to the sunny (well sometimes) Bay Area to work in the recreation and leisure business. Working at Oakland’s Park and Recreation Department was a good start to take me to the next step in my life. In the late 60’s the travel bug got me, so I accepted a job with the USO in South East Asia.
HB: Please tell us a bit about the USO
KT: The USO is most famously known for sending Bob Hope and his entertainers all over to visit troops – starting during WWII and onward. When I mention this everyone remembers the USO. Not everyone remembers the late 60’s when the U.S. was sending troops to South East Asia; the USO opened clubs all over Asia to serve as a “home away from home” for the military and their families – the civilian, nonprofit clubs were located next to the military bases. Some still exist world-wide, especially in airports (there is a USO at both San Francisco and Palm Springs airport). At the USO, I worked with staff running clubs in various locations – Okinawa, Thailand, Saigon. As a “home away from home”, troops and family could stop in anytime for recreational activities, various personal assistance, good American food (hamburgers, apple pie, milkshakes and more; no liquor – USO facilities were not bars). Musical and entertainment tours, were a big draw. The Saigon USO from 1969-70, had 3-5,000 visitors per day at the Club, because many troops came into Saigon from the field, for a few days of R&R. The Saigon USO also had a phone bank with direct overseas lines to the USA for the military personnel to call home (obviously this was before I-Phones and internet). Calls were routed directly to the Oakland, California phone operators who then directed the calls to their American families. Our Saigon USO was one of the busiest phone banks in the world.
HB: What is Floyd’s background?
KT: Floyd grew up in Chicago and attended the University of Illinois. He joined the US Army, then attended the prestigious Defense Language Institute, in Monterrey, California studying Mandarin Chinese languages. He was then was assigned to various regions including Okinawa, Japan, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
HB: How did you and Floyd meet?
KT: We met in Okinawa. These years were very adventurous and memorable. It was like being part of “Mash”( the TV show – the great camaraderie amongst them), this was us. We could hop on a plane – a C 130 – or hitchhike a helicopter ride and drop off gifts from Americans to the military troops out in the field. In Okinawa, everyone bought or sold their car for $50-$100 when coming or leaving the island. Gas was 10 cents/gallon. There was only “Highway One” which circled the island. Now Okinawa, as part of Japan, is a fancy high-rise and beach resort area.
South East Asia then, on-and-off military bases, was not like the modern Asia of today! It was more like the wild west. We traveled much, had the opportunity to collect art and antiques and made many friends from different cultures.
HB: Is there a memory than stands out?
KT: Yes, while working in Bangkok, I remember many of us, looking at the one and only, old black – and – white television set at the USO, watching Neil Armstrong land on the moon! This was 1969.
HB: Where did you go after your USO and Floyd’s military experience?
KT: We went back to San Francisco and married. Floyd attended the Haas School of Business for his MBA at UC Berkeley . But Asia beckoned, so a few years later we returned to South East Asia where Floyd worked in the International Banking Division for Citibank in Hong Kong. This gave us the opportunity for more adventure and travel in a part of the world we still love today.
HB: You then returned to the United States?
KT: Yes, using this international experience, we returned to San Francisco in the late 1970s and started our own real estate investment business. Many of our clients are from South East Asia as well as California. Of course, we are continuing our travels to our beloved Asia.
HB: What influenced you to seek property in the desert?
KT: The California desert is known world-wide as a popular travel destination due to its dramatic, natural features with colorful mountains, endless sand dunes, windmills, hypnotizing sunrises and sunsets, and generous vegetation due to the underground springs. Many recreational developments lure visitors from near and far. In the l980s we discovered the much talked about La Quinta Resort, located near Palm Springs. This resort was built in 1926; it is where Frank Capra wrote “It Happened One Night”. La Quinta Resort was a favorite of many old movie stars. The original resort is still there but has expanded with restaurants, lounges, pools; it is now surrounded by suites and luxurious homes. It also boasts several golf courses. We were hooked. Over the years we purchased several properties in La Quinta, interestingly all are near the original resort.
HB: Please suggest some activities in the desert for those who are not familiar with the area
KT: The desert is a beautiful escape from any city, with year round sunshine, sports – golf, tennis swimming, hiking, biking ; then again, you can just relax by the pool with your iced mojito.
There are over 100 golf courses in the desert areas, including PGA West’s five famous courses near La Quinta, the Hotel’s Mountain and Dunes courses wind through the gated communities. Every March the BNP Paribas world famous International Tennis Tournament is held in nearby Indian Wells.
HB: Aren’t there Music Festival that draw crowds worldwide?
KT: Yes, there are national and local music festivals and smaller music venues of all kinds that take over the desert cities. April is the month for Indio’s famous Coachella Festival as well as the Stagecoach festival.
HB: And the restaurants?
KT: There many fine – dining and casual restaurants which may be reason alone for some to visit. People dine out a lot because of the many and varied options in each of these areas. Anything from fine California cuisine, to Italian, French, to Mexican , Vegetarian; I think you get the idea. Some of our favorites in La Quinta include Arnie Palmers, Lavender, at the La Quinta Resort: Morgan’s ( with a great Piano bar) and the fabulous Adobe Grill with the best Guacamole anywhere. In Palm Springs we love Spencers at the foot of the mountain, Lulus downtown. In Palm Desert there is Tommy Bahamas & many more. Don’t miss the great shopping in local and national boutiques and galleries on what is known as the Rodeo Drive of Palm Springs – El Paseo.
HB: What is best time of the year to visit?
KT: The desert cities are especially popular during the November to May – high season when weather is mostly sunny and clear. People come from all over the world to stay.
HB: What makes your home so unique?
KT: One of our homes – Casa Flora is elegant, comfortable, unique. The Casa Flora house has an open-space floorplan with many windows giving a feeling of the inside space extending to large, lushly planted, outdoor areas. You look out to dozens of palm trees, the pool, bougainvillea vines, lawn and flowers at high noon or sunset. You may watch a glorious sunrise changing the colors of the mountain from midnight blue to bright orange. Flora has a feeling of Bali with the hint of Asian furnishings from our many travels in Asia. It feels like a far- away tropical getaway without going far away!
HB: Many Bay Area folks are retiring in the desert cities past ten years. Why?
KT: Yes, Bay Area people are retiring here, or have second homes. It is relaxing being away from the hustle of city life. This has been happening for years; people escape the city to retire and relax; the desert areas have something for everyone and it is easy to retire here No pressure! That’s what the desert is all about- no pressure.