I might have lied, just a little. To say I have “been camping” is a bit of a stretch.
What I (along with Keeper and Dog) really did was pack some nice clean clothes, nice fresh food, and hygiene supplies (for a nice clean body) into a nice, dry space of approximately 8 x 17 feet with room still to live (the PUC – see previous posts) and drove to Gillette, Wyoming where we parked, “camped,” on the level, grassy terrain of the county fairgrounds with full hookups (so we could “camp” (sleep and eat) in a temperature-controlled, dry environment while we attended five days of seminars and other rally events inside the dry, temp controlled, Gillette Camplex.
The event was the 51st Escapees Escapade.
After thirty-plus years of various forms of camping and RVing, this was our first RV RALLY. There is a reason for that. We do not like crowds and are not particularly inspired by the artificial enthusiasm, we call it the “rah-rah hoopla,” that permeates such events.
We made an exception this time because after several years of membership in Escapees, I am convinced that ESCAPEES is the finest RV organization in existence and I let myself become convinced that I just might learn something new by attending an Escapade.
That said, I will tell you this. Because of my feelings toward large gatherings, I was still a bit skeptical. I have a shirt that says “Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.” I took this with me and planned to wear it the last day of the rally as a sort of “in your face” kick at the inanity I half way expected to deal with during the week.
But our idea is to live full time in an RV someday and we went to learn about various aspects of that life, and learn we did. There was a wide variety of seminars and most of the presenters were very knowledgeable on their topics. I am one who believes a day spent without learning something is a day wasted. Sadly, since I fell into my current position of “retired,” “between jobs” or what have you, I let too many days get by without improving my mind. I made up for many days of slacking off at the Escapade. By the end of the five days, my head was ready to explode. (Too much info in a small space, I think.)
Between seminars, there were enough vendors and other activities to keep us amused. Most of the vendors were more than willing to answer questions and just chat if you caught them at the right time. (After all, they are there to make a living, so “chatting” without “selling” may not be high on their agenda.) The rally entertainment and gatherings provided good information, many, many door prizes (not for me- I could not win a door prize if I was alone in the audience) and some pretty hearty laughs. The first night of the rally, Sunday, we were entertained by Jimmy Travis. If you ever get a chance to listen to him, do not pass it up. He is hilarious!
One consistent thread that ran throughout the event was support for Escapees C.A.R.E. (Continuing Assistance for Retired Escapees.) I got my introduction to C.A.R.E. three years ago as a one month volunteer and I have wanted to get back ever since. Someday I will. It is a wonderful organization. This Escapade showed just how caring the Escapees are as a group; more than $3,000 in donations were contributed during the five days of rally events. (Maybe well over; there was some counting not complete by the closing event.)
I am not a promoter so I will not gush at you that EVERY one we met was delightful and helpful and became a “friend for life” (or even a minute) or that EVERY seminar, event, and vendor was top notch. But I will tell you this. I did not wear the aforementioned shirt.
The Keeper and I are planning to attend the next Escapade in Sedalia, MO next September. We will see what comes to pass.
One final note for today. One of the presenters, Steve Anderson from Workampers, had this to say: “If you are ripe, you rot; if you are green, you grow.”
Words to live by.
What I (along with Keeper and Dog) really did was pack some nice clean clothes, nice fresh food, and hygiene supplies (for a nice clean body) into a nice, dry space of approximately 8 x 17 feet with room still to live (the PUC – see previous posts) and drove to Gillette, Wyoming where we parked, “camped,” on the level, grassy terrain of the county fairgrounds with full hookups (so we could “camp” (sleep and eat) in a temperature-controlled, dry environment while we attended five days of seminars and other rally events inside the dry, temp controlled, Gillette Camplex.
The event was the 51st Escapees Escapade.
After thirty-plus years of various forms of camping and RVing, this was our first RV RALLY. There is a reason for that. We do not like crowds and are not particularly inspired by the artificial enthusiasm, we call it the “rah-rah hoopla,” that permeates such events.
We made an exception this time because after several years of membership in Escapees, I am convinced that ESCAPEES is the finest RV organization in existence and I let myself become convinced that I just might learn something new by attending an Escapade.
That said, I will tell you this. Because of my feelings toward large gatherings, I was still a bit skeptical. I have a shirt that says “Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.” I took this with me and planned to wear it the last day of the rally as a sort of “in your face” kick at the inanity I half way expected to deal with during the week.
But our idea is to live full time in an RV someday and we went to learn about various aspects of that life, and learn we did. There was a wide variety of seminars and most of the presenters were very knowledgeable on their topics. I am one who believes a day spent without learning something is a day wasted. Sadly, since I fell into my current position of “retired,” “between jobs” or what have you, I let too many days get by without improving my mind. I made up for many days of slacking off at the Escapade. By the end of the five days, my head was ready to explode. (Too much info in a small space, I think.)
Between seminars, there were enough vendors and other activities to keep us amused. Most of the vendors were more than willing to answer questions and just chat if you caught them at the right time. (After all, they are there to make a living, so “chatting” without “selling” may not be high on their agenda.) The rally entertainment and gatherings provided good information, many, many door prizes (not for me- I could not win a door prize if I was alone in the audience) and some pretty hearty laughs. The first night of the rally, Sunday, we were entertained by Jimmy Travis. If you ever get a chance to listen to him, do not pass it up. He is hilarious!
One consistent thread that ran throughout the event was support for Escapees C.A.R.E. (Continuing Assistance for Retired Escapees.) I got my introduction to C.A.R.E. three years ago as a one month volunteer and I have wanted to get back ever since. Someday I will. It is a wonderful organization. This Escapade showed just how caring the Escapees are as a group; more than $3,000 in donations were contributed during the five days of rally events. (Maybe well over; there was some counting not complete by the closing event.)
I am not a promoter so I will not gush at you that EVERY one we met was delightful and helpful and became a “friend for life” (or even a minute) or that EVERY seminar, event, and vendor was top notch. But I will tell you this. I did not wear the aforementioned shirt.
The Keeper and I are planning to attend the next Escapade in Sedalia, MO next September. We will see what comes to pass.
One final note for today. One of the presenters, Steve Anderson from Workampers, had this to say: “If you are ripe, you rot; if you are green, you grow.”
Words to live by.
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