#6 The RV Life

Living in the RV has its good points and its bad points, especially when you have 3 “kids” (actually 2 cats and a dog – but more about them later).

On the “good” side is:

- doesn’t take long to clean the house

- easy to move from one neighborhood to another

- everything is within 10 steps of everything else

- stuff that is lost is easy to find, sometimes

On the “not so good” (ie. bad) side is:

- everyone is always under everyone else’s feet

- it’s easy to knock things over (like the coffee grounds on the carpet yesterday morning)

- dogs always want to play

- you can’t get too far away from the others inside

Everyone in the RV Park is very friendly, which is really nice, but when you are outside, walking or riding, you have to say hello a hundred times! You find that in the park, it is a real melting pot with the people next door from Iowa and Montana, and the ones behind you are from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Colorado – all Winter Texans now. Everyone is fleeing the cold weather, and most of them will stay in this park for 3 months, usually Jan. – Mar. Many have been to this park many for years in a row.

The main building has some offices and a big hall where dances and other meetings are held. They have many functions ranging from Sunday services to bands, magicians, karaoke, shuffelboard, swimmimg pool, etc. A lot of acts come to the Rio Grande Valley this time of year from Branson and elsewhere to perform for the Winter Texans. There are also clubs for computers, model cars, kite flying (its windy here), and others. We have gone to one concert and listened to some karaoke so far, but haven’t done much more here at the resort (I keep wanting to call it a campground!!).

What else????

Overall, it is a pretty quiet, relaxed environment. It is only boring if you let it be so. Right now it is Saturday morning, 8am, and a sunny 49 degrees with a high expected of 67. Think I will go for a bike ride this morning. Then off to get some bargains at the Brownsville flea market.

Ahhhhh……the life of a Winter Texan……..

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Ps. Here are some numbers, for those who like them:

- monthly rental at this resort: $480 (doesn’t include electricity)

- distance from chi town: 1550 per R odo

- RV mileage, towing the car (diesel fuel): 8.1 mpg

- Unleaded fuel price here: $2.59/gal

- Camping fees on the way down:

o Low: $13

o High: $38.50

- Best Bargain: 4 Texas red grapefruits for $1

- Biggest ripoff: $38.50 for KOA in St Louis

- Harlingen population in 2000: 57,000