“We’re built of contradictions, all of us. It’s those opposing forces that give us strength, like an arch, each block pressing the next. Give me a man whose parts are all aligned in agreement and I’ll show you madness. We walk a narrow path, insanity to each side. A man without contradictions to balance him will soon veer off.”
― Mark Lawrence, King of Thorns
In high school we learned about the classic literary conflicts – Man Versus Man, Man Versus Nature, Man Versus Society, and Man Versus Self. On this journey I found myself embroiled in the latter of these conflicts, to my surprise.
For seven weeks, I traveled on the open road. Some nights I camped in parking lots, slides closed, sleeping in my clothes for an easy getaway in the morning. (It is also difficult to get to fresh clothes from the drawers and closet when the slides are closed.) Other nights I camped in state parks, most with no sewer hook ups – only dump stations at the exits. When the temperature got down to 17 degrees in New Mexico and Arizona, I unscrewed the water from the tap, slept between flannel sheets in flannel pajamas under two down comforters, and hoped for the best when it came to the holding tanks.
For most of the trip, DirecTV was on the fritz; those satellite dishes can be very persnickety. I was largely without network television or news for almost two months. My diet consisted of cold cereal and sandwiches and anything I could microwave – that is, unless I ate out. It was too much trouble to unpack the barbecue and cook outside, especially in freezing temperatures.
When I began this journey I believed I would be in a constant state of travel bliss; however, two facets of my nature were in conflict. On one hand, I have a lust for traveling and adventure, and I want to go, go, go. On the other hand, I am a nester (shout out to the Cancers!), and once I settle for a few days it is hard for me to pick up stakes. Yet, once I pack everything away and the slides are in, I am raring to go.
I have two prime examples from this trip. First was the convention in Oklahoma. I stayed three days after the convention ended, with excuses like a hair appointment, a visit with an old friend, and cleaning the rig and doing laundry. But the truth was, I was sedentary for 10 days during the convention, and I had a hard time gaining momentum when it ended. And, believe me, the Convention Center campgrounds were no Nirvana!
The second example is Sedona, Arizona. When I awoke on the morning I intended to depart, my heart was heavy. The work of getting ready to go seemed almost unbearable. Then, within one hour, I was on the road again, and happy to be so.
Friday morning I left Buckeye, Arizona – the westernmost suburb of Phoenix – on my way to terminus: Palm Springs for the holidays. The whole town of Buckeye smelled like cow dung. I slept the night before in a Walmart parking lot under a huge electrical tower, hoping I wouldn’t get cancer.
Speaking of Walmarts, I have discovered it is better to ask for forgiveness than permission when it comes to overnight camping in Walmart parking lots. Everything I read before becoming a full-time RVer suggested that one should phone or reach out personally to a store manager when arriving at Walmart, to inquire if overnighting is allowed. Here’s what I know. Every time I pulled into a Walmart parking lot without speaking to a soul, I always found other RVs in the vicinity. I parked near them and never had any trouble. However, on the several occasions that I called ahead of time, I was told, every time, that overnight parking was not allowed.
This proved true in Buckeye, Arizona. I was the only RV in the parking lot at 5:00 p.m. when I walked to the next strip mall to grab a pizza. I didn’t ask anyone if I could park there. By the time I returned at 6:30, there were several RVs around me. By 9:00, five semi tractor-trailers had joined us. In the morning as I walked Olive, I noticed several signs around the parking lot: “No Overnight Parking,” and “Large Trucks Not Allowed.”
So much for that.
I ate two slices of cold pizza for breakfast in Buckeye and got on the road. Three and a half hours later I crossed over the Riverside County line. A billboard inquired, “What does your driveway say about you?”
Welcome to California!
My senses were in overload as I pulled into Outdoor Resorts Palm Springs. My “slip” has full hookups, a picnic table, and citrus trees; I can pick limes and lemons directly off the tree, from the windows of my rig (for cocktails, duh.) My address is on a lighted sign. There are eight pools, more tennis courts, golf course (of course), two restaurants, a beauty salon, convenience store, and espresso bar. Garbage is collected five days a week. Most people zip about in golf carts with their dogs and wine glasses. The property is gated and coded, as are most properties in Palm Springs. It is 80 degrees in daytime and 60 degrees at night. The satellite dish miraculously decided to work.
I felt absolutely feral, like a wild woman in a strange, and eerily tame, town. I had to shed the last seven weeks in large chunks off my person, like a concrete suit.
I have been at the resort for three nights now, and everything is nice and tidy and clean and organized. I sleep with the windows open at night. Vendors washed 5,500 miles off Nellie and the toad. My hair is done and I got a pedicure. I had my infusion today. I watched some favorite TV shows in real time on Saturday and Sunday for the first time in months. The outdoor patio is set up, including the propane grill and fireplace. The Christmas decorations are up. This is as close to putting down roots as I get nowadays. It worries me a little if I will have the energy and desire to move again on January 31, when I head to Yuma for one week to visit a friend, then to Mexico for one month.
This Post Has 8 Comments
Wow I’m so happy that I subscribed to you blog. I’m an introvert, on Saturday mornings one half of me wants to chill out inside and the other half wants to do things outside, usually the depleted side wins. I’ve read that introverts need to recharge after the work week. I had a similar experience like you have during my month long tour by Jeep of the USA back in 1997, it took mental effort to pack up the tent and load up to hit the road. But as soon as I got behind the wheel I was dreaming about my next destination. I guess when doing thing by ourselves there’s an internal conflict of some type. I still live in a stick n brick and have decided to sell everything and be driving an RV by early June 2016 and you’re the second women blogger I use as sort of a mentor into the RV lifestyle, Interstellar Orchard the other. Hope you recover from your medical condition and continue writing your RV adventures, specially the quirky ones. Be safe.
My son thought it was hilarious when I told him what a rush I get when I am driving my truck and towing my home. I love the feeling of freedom and power. I am excited to see what is ahead. But I have a really hard time packing up and unhooking every time.
When I was planning my full time endeavor I thought I would spend a month or more in each location, and for the most part I have.
I am definitely a nester and I enjoy setting up my home and snuggling in. If all RV parks/campgrounds were clean and aesthetically pleasing, I would linger and see very little. I imagine that I will eventually find a place I love and the thrill I get from the roar of the engine will be a memory.
Wow I just looked at the web site of outdoor Resort Palm Springs.
It looks very nice but sounds strict. They indicate no logos allowed on your RV, and your RV has to be no older than 15 years. Does it really feel that strict there? I have no problem with paying for a nice location, and have looked in the Palm Springs area for one, but I hate places that are stupidly strict with rule upon rule. I would love to hear your comments after being there for a while.
Mitch, I will definitely let you know! I talked to the leasing agent about the graphics on the RV and car before I came here. The graphic on the RV is no different than a snow leopard or a lion or any of those murals that used to be on the backs of RVs. The back window of my car however, was another matter. It has my website on it. I couldn’t figure out how to obscure it, so I just back into my parking space. No one has said anything…yet. Regarding rigs less than 15 years old, some of them are pushing it, as they have been long – time residents. It really is a tidy and good looking park. I’ll let you know if I run into any trouble.
I hope you’re still having fun full timing. I felt a little sad when I read your blog this time. I know it’s not convenient when we have to rely on walmart. We’re pretty fortunate, although tight, when the slides are in we can still function . In the kitchen the fridge is still accessible, although I’m not skinny enough to get around the island. Fortunately the bathroom isn’t affected. In our previous rv, you couldn’t use the potty . I always wondered what idiot designed it.
I’m going online to check out the palm springs resort . Sounds exactly like what you need to perk you up. Wish I was there at the moment too. Enjoy your patio, fire up the grill with an amazing steak, have a wonderful cocktail or two & enjoy life.
Nancy s
Oh no, Nancy, don’t feel sad! I am still enjoying full-timing. I was just trying to juxtapose the life of being on the road versus being in a plush resort like the one I am in in Palm Springs. I’m sure by February I will have had my fill of the desert and be ready to move on.
I really identified with what you said about the last six weeks coming off you like concrete. At over 100 days on the road I began to feel like I was bipolar. There were parts of the day when I would be just fine, then other parts where I felt so unsettled I had to talk myself down. I began getting anxiety just thinking about what the next stop would be like. It was always such a crap shoot. Moving 34 times in 100 days will teach you things about yourself you may not want to know. Man versus self indeed. What was learned overall? There is a yellow Dollar General sign in every town USA and I may not be a nomad!
Just checking in on you Tammy. Palm Springs! How fun. Never been there myself but I have a dear friend there who is a hair stylist. Hope you are having a great time!