I have decided that I am at the point my life where a career change is due. I have loved being a writer and publisher for most of my working days, and have enjoyed some success at it, but it’s time to move on and try something new. I am going to become a remittance man.
For those of you unfamiliar with the term, a remittance man is someone who lives away from family and friends, and is supported by an allowance from home. In the glory days of the British Empire, many remittance men were the black sheeps of their families, who were paid to stay away so as not to embarrass or scandalize their kinfolk.
I have decided that, since I seem to bring cold and nasty weather with me wherever I go, I might be able to make good money just staying away from my RVing friends who want to enjoy sunshine and blue skies instead of frosted windshields and frozen water pipes. I’m sure there are enough boondockers freezing their butts off out in Quartzsite that would be willing to pitch in a few bucks to send me and this frigid weather away that I could make several months’ payment on my motorhome, and still afford dinner out now and then. After all, it would probably still be less than what they’re paying for propane to keep their RV furnaces going 24/7. What do you think?
As cold and nasty as it has been here in Apache Junction, where the high was 36 at noon yesterday, I’d even pay to get away from myself!
Yesterday, while Miss Terry was off helping her mother celebrate her birthday, I had hoped to get some work done on the new issue of the Gypsy Journal, but it just wasn’t happening. The telephone started ringing in the morning and it never stopped until late afternoon. Vendors were calling to reserve spots for our Arizona Gypsy Gathering rally and asking about the availability of seminar time slots, attendees were calling with questions about arrival and parking at the fairgrounds, and still others wanted to know if they could be assured they would park with their friends at the rally.
We only have a couple of vendor seminar time slots left, and they are going fast, on a first come basis. Some vendors will be upset that they didn’t get a time slot, but we can’t hold them forever while they try to decide if they will attend, when we have other folks standing in line to get them.
The City of Yuma prevents the fairgrounds from allowing RVs to park overnight, unless they are taking part in an event there, so nobody can arrive until our Early Birds come in on Sunday afternoon. There is a Good Sam rally going on at the fairgrounds before ours, and we have to wait for them to vacate before we can take possession. The only exception is a couple of rigs we’ll bring in early as part of our advance party. For folks wanting to park with friends, please arrive together, or be prepared to wait until they arrive before being parked. We will have a lot of RVs to get parked in a short time, and it’s impossible to hold spaces for people who have not yet arrived.
Several people have asked if we have made a decision about holding a rally in Tucson yet. I’m sold on the idea, if we can make the numbers work. But we’re still waiting for the fairgrounds to tell us how much they are going to charge us. As soon as we hear from them, we can make a decision.
Speaking of money, in another one of those dumb schemes to save money, the State of Florida is proposing closing 53 state parks, to help offset budgetary shortcomings. Arizona did this last year, as well as closing highway rest areas. A lot of our RVing friends who are Florida snowbirds use state parks, and I’m sure they’ll be disappointed if this measure goes through. Here is a list of state parks targeted for closure.
On a final note, yesterday somebody sent me a link to a new online RV magazine for women called Trailer Chix. It looked interesting in a quick look I gave it, check it out and see what you think.
Thought For The Day – I was going to ask God for a bike, but I know God doesn’t work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness instead.
Nick Russell
World-Famous, New York Times Best Selling Author, and All-Around Nice Guy!
Nick, for a long time we’ve considered painting “RAINMAKER, PHONE 330——-” on the back of our RVs. Since we have rain following us all summer, we thought the farmers might help support us. Our Remittance could be overwhelming.
Wow. What an idea! Any time you needed a influx of cash you could anounce ahead of time that you were traveling to a certain area and the cash would start rolling in for you to stay away!
Dont come this way, i will start the fund going right away!! We are having nice weather up here in Oregon!! wait till summer, then it will probably rain, haha!!
Florida State Parks
Normally I’m not for this but to save closing the parks they should consider turning the operations over to a third party. The price of things might go up a little but the parks would still be open and probably run much smoother.
Since we’re Floridan residents I guess I gotta start sending out the emails.
Florida State Parks
Normally I’m not for this but to save closing the parks they should consider turning the operations over to a third party. The price of things might go up a little but the parks would still be open and probably run much smoother.
Since we’re Florida residents I guess I gotta start sending out the emails.
If you need money that badly, why don’t you take a load of rocks to Cairo and sell them?
Nick , the following list of 53 state parks are the LEAST attended AND DO NOT HAVE CAMPING . I would rather these close and keep the camp sites open !
As a newspaper man I think you know about thorough research .
Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park, Haines City
Atlantic Ridge Preserve State Park, Stuart
Big Shoals State Park, White Springs
Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park, Flagler Beach
Camp Helen State Park, Panama City Beach
Cedar Key State Museum State Park, Cedar Key
Colt Creek State Park, Lakeland
Constitution Convention Museum State Park, Port St. Joe
Crystal River Archaeological State Park, Crystal River
Dade Battlefield Historic State Park, Bushnell
Dagny Johsnon Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park, Key Largo
Deer Lake State Park, Santa Rosa Beach
Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park, Gainesville
Don Pedro Island State Park, Boca Granda
Dudley Farm Historic State Park, Newberry
Dunn’s Creek State Park, Pomona
Estero Bay Preserve State Park, Estero
Fort Cooper State Park, Inverness
Fort George Island Cultural State Park, Jacksonville
Fort Mose Historic State Park, St. Augustine
John Gorrie Museum State Park, Apalachicola
Judah P. Benjamin Confederate Memorial at Gamble Plantation Historic State Park, Ellenton
Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park, Tallahassee
Lake June-in-Winter Scrub State Park, Sebring
Lake Talquin State Park, Tallahassee
Letchworth-Love Mounds Archaeological State Park, Tallahassee
Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park, Islamorada
Madison Blue Spring State Park, Lee
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park, Cross Creek
Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park, Woodville
Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park, Olustee
Orman House Historic State Park, Apalachicola
Paynes Creek Historic State Park, Bowling Green
Peacock Springs State Park, Luraville
Perdido Key State Park, Pensacola
Ponce de Leon Springs State Park, Ponce de Leon
Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park, Jacksonville
Rock Springs Run State Reserve, Sorrento
San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park, Alachua
San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park, St. Marks
Savannas Preserve State Park, Jensen Beach
St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park, Stuart
St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere
Suwannee River Wilderness Trail/Nature and Heritage Tourism Center, White Springs
Terra Ceia Preserve State Park, Palmetto
The Barnacle Historic State Park, Coconut Grove
Troy Spring State Park, Branford
Wacasassa Bay Preserve State Park, Cedar Key
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, Palm Coast
Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park, Port Richey
Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park, Islamorada
Ybor City Museum State Park, Tampa
Yellow River Marsh Preserve State Park, Holt
I’m in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just got the authorization from Monty to go!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited!!!!! I need to register and I don’t know how. So, I’ll be thumbing around the site and clicking on everything until I get through. I’ll bring a bunch of free stuff too, cause free stuff is super cool! Let me know what else I can do or bring. Thank you sooooooooo much!!!!!
Cinda
Last night in Quartzsite my outdoor thermometer showed 24 degrees. Nick, you must be getting close to us!
Mr. Remittance Man, do you take PayPal? SKP Geocachers BOF Rally voted “no potluck” tonight so you know the weather is COLD. A SKP event cancels a FOOD event? Major Headline! It was a bright, sunny sky but 27 degrees at MM2 on Plomosa Road this morning and dripping hot water heaters have left frozen ice heaves.
I think you might be confusing remittence man with lepersy
Are you sure you should combine info on your rally and “remittance man” in the same article? People might want to pay you to stay away from your own rally! Ha!
It was 11 degrees on the west side of Tucson this AM! Supposed to be back in the 60’s by the weekend though!
We thank you for accepting our $10.00 contribution on your way out of FL. Mid 70’s to lo 80’s since you left 🙂