Bob,
Thanks for your concern. No, no problems due to age etc; they may come later, (hopefully much later). Every now and then I tend to get just engrossed on some other occupation and don't post anywhere. Then I get around to wondering what has been going on, and rejoin the fray.
Staying off topic, Maybe if you set up all your gardening in boxes, and mulch over the surface to reduce evaporation, you could find enough water to see you through the summer. Make the boxes about two foot deep and put plastic in the bottom. No need to water the whole desert.
I think I once mentioned that I had an interest in hydroponics, the gravel bed kind of system. That is probably the way to go in your area. Knock up a couple of troughs and give it a try. Much easier for you wife as there is no digging involved.
I've started using my daughter and grandkids as free labour for the heavy work, Probably a law against that, but I feed them on Sunday, so they don't complain.
Dave
(Manta)
