Life in an R-V Park

     In January, an old man’s fancy lightly turns to going south, to paraphrase Mr. Tennyson.  It can get cool in the desert, but nothing like the freezing temperatures we experience in Colorado.  We have thought about going south for a while during January.

     Our trip to Tucson to take in the gem show also let us experience life as snowbirds, living in an R-V Park.  Jeri arranged for us to stay in one of her friend’s R-V.  She rented a space for the three nights we were there. It was a smaller vehicle, though far from the smallest we saw in the park.

       We were situated closed to the park shower, which we used rather than the trailer’s facility.

      We were quite comfortable during our three-night stay.  We didn’t spend much time in the R-V during the day, but I can see the place would get rather cramped in the case of inclement weather.  Getting accustomed to the smaller space will take some adjustment if we decide to try the R-V lifestyle.

      Limited space leads to other problems.  Rubbermaid-style containers stand in for garages and basements. 

       At night as we returned to our mobile bedroom, strings of lights around nearly every vehicle, trailers and cars, lit the way.  Still celebrating Christmas?  No.  Anyway, the lights weren’t colored. 

     Pack rat deterrent, we were told.  Everyone could tell a horror story about the destruction the rodents cause, chewing electric and water lines, not to mention the destruction if they find their way into an auto or R-V.  No need to tell us about that.  We know packrats.  I never would have guessed that the vermin would not cross a string of lights.  Many of the lights are solar powered, requiring small storage batteries, charged during the day to power the lights by night.

      Bob and Jeri had  fake rattlesnake under their trailer, the idea being that the fake reptile will discourage a real one that occasionally slithers into the park.  Other potentially bothersome wildlife include wild pigs called javelinas.  They can be quite destructive in their search for something to eat.  Be sure to get the garbage into the park dumpster—don’t leave it outside!   

      Coyotes also serenaded us on our nocturnal stroll among the R-V’s on our way to retire for the night.  For me, the wildlife is part of the charm of living in an R-V park, not a deterrent.

     We also talked about renting a home as with VRBO or Airbnb.  There would be more space, with no maintenance headaches that comes with an R-V.  But the R-V Park offers something we have lost in our lives in the city or suburbia.

     A sense of community.  Text messages, email, ubiquitous telephones, social media have replaced our sense of community.  The R-V Park offers a community, or communities, big time.  The park has various outbuildings, shower and restroom facilities, laundry sites.  There are also buildings where various groups meet or talented folks entertain park residents.  A bluegrass band performed on our last evening there.  We stopped to watch them warming up, but we were too tired from taking in the gem show to attend the concert.

      Another building serves as a library, which is maintained by volunteers (as are most of the activities).  Bird watchers, gourd painters, jewelry makers, card players, walkers and runners, just about any hobby you can think of all have their groups.  Don’t find the pastime for you?  Start a group.  There will be a place and time for you to meet.

      With the sense of community comes responsibility.  You must be a good citizen.  There are written and unwritten rules to follow.  The park is not exactly a democracy in spite of all the citizen input and volunteerism.  It is a sort of monarchy controlled by the park owner or manager. In “our” park, a sure way to be told (not asked) to leave is to have a yappy barking dog.

      Another way to be exiled from the park is to presume too much, to tell the manager that something is going to happen at such and such a place and such and such time rather than asking for his approval of an activity.  We didn’t witness anyone being deported.  I have only second-hand reports to support my conclusions.   

     All in all, the R-V Park has much to offer. We would miss out on all the activities and the sense of belonging they bring if we rented an apartment or house.  

     The big drawback for me would be the maintenance of an R-V, particularly in the offseason when it is far too hot to stay in Arizona.  (We heard horror stories of folks trying to reside there year around, paying $700 utility bills to keep cool during the desert summer.)

     A close second deterrent would be dragging an R-V around getting to and from the R-V Park.  I remember my dad saying he didn’t want to be dragging a trailer around behind a truck.  He had enough of truck driving.  I understand completely.  We would have to buy or rent a much bigger pickup if we decided to become R-V owners.

      The trip to Tucson gave us plenty to think about.  Going south in winter attracts.  The chance to meet interesting people, escaping bitter cold sings a siren song.  Owning an R-V repels.

     Maybe we can find an R-V, already in a park, we can rent for two or three weeks in January.