Our time here in Mission, Texas is just about over, and not a moment too soon in my opinion. Everybody at our campground has been very friendly, the weather has been nice and warm, and we have enjoyed visiting with several friends who winter here. But it just isn’t for me.
We have dropped off sample bundles of the Gypsy Journal at many of the RV parks from Mission to Harlingen, and there sure are a lot of grumpy old people in this area. Now understand me, I have nothing at all against older people. Terry’s parents are in their upper 70s, and I even like my mother-in-law. J But old is a state of mind. My in-laws are in better physical shape than most people 20 years younger, and they have a young mindset. Terry’s dad will be 79 in February, still walks several miles every day, and I’d never challenge him to a contest doing pushups. Her mom is active from the time she awakes in the morning until her head hits the pillow at night. They are not, and never will be, old. They are just too darned busy to get old! But too many of the people we have seen here seem to be just sitting around waiting to die, and their attitude shows it. They scowl at everybody and everything. One of the local jokes is that every time an ambulance goes past with its siren blowing, another RV site becomes available. Of course, there are a few islands of younger, more vital folks around. Yesterday we spent some time at Ratama Village visiting with Mike and Pat McFall from PressurePro. Several of the boomer generation RVers we know, many with heavy duty trucks, are staying at this very nice RV resort, and we enjoyed sharing happy hour with them. There were several people we have met before, and a few new ones we’ll meet again. It was good to see all of them again. Hopefully we’ll see them again somewhere down the road, far from the Rio Grande Valley.
Every day new registrations come in for our Arizona Gypsy Gathering rally, and I keep refining the seminar schedule. I just added two new seminars, on volunteering and RVing on a budget. My hardworking buddy Jaimie Hall Bruzenak will be presenting these seminars, along with several others already on the schedule. And if you are interested in workamping, don’t forget to check out Jaimie’s great new online seminar for workampers called How To Get Your First Workamping Job at www.workamper.com/university/workamper101/
Several people have asked if we will have an RV tech at the rally. Yes, Phil Botnick will be back in his usual spot, ready to fix all of those things that need attention in your rig. Phil has solved problems for us a couple of times, and he’s an expert. He’ll take good care of you.
Thought For The Day – There are no passengers on spaceship earth. We are all crew.
Register Now For Our Arizona Gypsy Gathering Rally
Nick Russell
World-Famous, New York Times Best Selling Author, and All-Around Nice Guy!
I couldn’t agree with you more on RGV (Rio Grande Valley) – people always ask us, “where is your favorite place in your travels” I answer, “There are too many favorites to name, but I can tell you my least favorite!” You can’t walk the dog … you have to carry him over all the burs and hear him scream if he ever dares walk on the ‘grass.’ Of course it didn’t help that we were working when we were there (2004). We supported the Wi-Fi at Martin Valley Ranches … which had *lots* of problems! I felt bruised and bloodied in addition to being spur-spiked by the time we left there.
I do not agree with your assessment of the Valley. We are having a great time here. We visited years ago for a few weeks and are spending the winter this year. We have been busy since we came. There is so much to see and do. We have met some of the friendliest people, both locals and winter Texans. There is always some class, entertainment, museum, or site seeing to do. I have found very few people just sitting around and being grumpy. You must be looking in the wrong places or else you are like most News Paper people, looking for the negatives. If you continue looking for the negatives, you will probably grow up to be one of those old grumpy people you speak of. Have fun in cold So Low, AR. looking for the perfect spot that satisfies all your needs.
Let’s face it; the RGV is popular because it’s cheap. We were overloaded with $4 and $5 entertainment, and it was fun, but one can take only so much country music — even when it’s your favorite.
When we had the opportunity to partake of live theater, we jumped at the chance and were surprised when we were able to get very good seats, at what we thought were reasonable prices. We said the same to the attendant who surprised us with his answer: “You’re not the typical winter Texan. You aren’t afraid to pay the price. Most of these visitors come down with a dime and a T-shirt and don’t want to change either one.”
Hey, Nick. I’m a native Texan, raised in the Houston area, but I have to agree with you. There’s just about nothing in the Rio Grande Valley that appeals to me. “Been there” and DON’T want to do that. I know there are a lot of really pleasant folks down there, excluding maybe “Diana”, but the USA is a big country, and I have little desire to spend any more time down in the Rio Grande Valley.
You and Terry are special people with about a million friends all over the country who will always welcome your company. My husband and I have enjoyed our visits with you. We hope to see you once again one day, somewhere on down the road.
Sorry Llana and Nick if I come off as an unpleasant person because I disagree on Nick’s assessment of the valley. Perhaps I look at life a little differently. I look for the best in people and places. Nick arrived too late to see the lights of Hidalgo at Christmas and see the talented young people who performed there. We enjoyed the high school mariachi so much, we attend their fall concert just before Christmas. It was wonderful too. We have visited the Museum of South Texas in Edinburg and found it to be one of the nicest museums we have ever visited. The cathedral in San Juan is quite interesting. My husband has met a lot of nice folks while working with Habitat for Humanity in McAllen. We went to South Padre yesterday and walked the beach. It was a beautiful day and we spoke with many nice people there also. We had a good lunch at Dirty AL’s and watched a young man sand surfing with his kite. As we have traveled these last few years all over the country, we have run into grumpy people and unpleasant conditions, but the good always outweighs the bad. It was unfortunate that Nick did not stick around long enough to go to the rodeo, take part in the citrus festival and the onion festival. Or get to South Padre or the mueum I spoke of. Life is what you make of it and we enjoying all we can wherever we are.