Looking Back needs update with new Supreme Court Ruling
As I sent the book Looking Back to the editor, I expected to be finished with it except for making the changes she suggested. Instead, one important, historical news item after another has filled the airwaves during the past week, and some of them seem to be important to the book's promise to cover history from the '40s to the present.
For instance, yesterday the Supreme Court turned back the clock on racial integration. So in the year of the 50th anniversary of school desegregation in Little Rock, racial diversity is no longer a goal of our society. Apparently, neither is equal education for all, because that will certainly change as many parents rush to move their children to new, segregated schools.
Why does this disturb me? Well, 50 years ago this September, I was one of the 2000 white students at Little Rock Central High who had our lives turned into a media frenzy by the forced integration of our school when nine black students were admitted. We lived a year filled with fear, pain, and humiliation as we watched on TV nightly as mobs of racist bigots, with the help of an over-zealous mob of photographers and reporters, turned what would probably have been a non-event, or at least a less dramatic moment in history, into a media circus.
We faced almost daily bomb threats, and had to nervously stand around outside while all lockers in the building were searched for explosives. We lived in fear that our school would suddenly be bombed, or closed down by politicians trying to placate their most vocal voters. Our parents were frightened out of their minds as they sent us off to school each day to face, what? No one knew for sure.
We students had no voice in what was happening. We were merely victims of a Court ruling and were suddenly picked out of a lottery of faceless young people to become guinea pigs for that first experiment in integration in the South. We were forced to grow up—to prove that we were more adult than the racists who waved signs and shouted in front of the school each day. And yes, we were scared. Yet, more than 600 seniors managed to graduate that year, along with one black student.
Students the next year weren’t so lucky. Schools were closed down and some dropped out. Others were forced to live with relatives out of town or else their parents had to pay for them to attend private schools.
That is the price we paid. Now, after all these years, we find that it was all for nothing. A Supreme Court that is out of touch with the real world, real lives, of people in this country, both black and white, has decided that racial diversity doesn’t matter. So, if parents want their kids to live in an all-white (or black, or Asian, or Hispanic) community and not have exposure to others of different races, they can move to segregated neighborhoods where they never have to rub shoulders with someone different from them.
That’s not the real world. Well, yes it is in some exclusive gated communities like where Supreme Court Justices live, but do the rest of us really want things to be like they were back before integration? Personally, I think my life has been richer for knowing people of all races. How would I have survived moving to Honolulu in 1964, where white faces were few and far between? What would I have done when I was sent to a black home as an interior designer? Refuse to go in? Walk in and say, “Hi, oh I see you’re black. Too bad. Goodbye”?
Right now, I’m thinking this is the scariest thing our Supreme Court has ever done—even more frightening than the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education was to those of us in Little Rock at the time. Maybe I’m over-reacting, but I worry about more race riots and violence, more hatred and less respect and understanding of others. I hope I’m wrong.
The sad thing is, I can see the point of people who don’t want their children bused out of their own neighborhood. It has to be hard to put a child on a bus early each morning and not have her or him come home until late. But, as I write in the book, no ethical question is either black or white. There are all shades of gray when these types of problems face us. I feel with this decision, the Supreme Court has created a situation that will haunt us all for a long time.
And I’m mad about having gone through all I went through at Central High, only to find out 50 years later that it was all for nothing. I'm mad about the sacrifices we made, and for what? What had been accomplished has been erased by this decision, and justice has not been served by the “Justices.” If they’re concerned at all about the future, they should realize we’re a nation where the Caucasian race will soon be a minority. Isn’t it important that we be exposed to other cultures, other races, before we become the minority?
You can read all about Central High in 1957 in the book, Looking Back, when it is released in July (or possibly, August). In it are essays by two other students who were there that year. In all, 22 exceptionally expressive essays and poems on a wide variety of historic events provide personal insight into the times that shaped Boomers’ lives, and the lives of all of us.
I’ll list the essays and point out the contributors who are also subscribers to Portable Writing Newsletter as soon as the book comes out.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Saturday, June 16, 2007
RVING AT MILITARY CAMPGROUNDS
I know many readers of this newsletter can’t access military installations because they’re not eligible, active-duty or retired military personnel. However, for those who can, I’d like to pass on information about some that we’ve stayed in recently. These campgrounds are usually located on a military installation, or next to one, and they’re most often located near major highways. Sometimes they’re located in remote recreational areas, or at military installations in the middle of nowhere, where you’d find it difficult to find other camping facilities.
Before I tell about the ones we’ve stayed in, I should mention that almost every military installation entry is now protected by an obstacle course. If you’re driving a car, it’s easy to wind between the concrete barricades that force you to take a zig-zag route. However, if you’re driving a large rig, you might find it difficult to maneuver through the barricades. Always call the installation in advance so you can get directions for entering. They may have a commercial entry for big trucks that you can use, but entry times to these gates will be limited to business hours.
Sometimes the obstacle course is unavoidable, so don’t try it during rush hour as you might hold up military personnel rushing to get to work. We had one guard offer to call for moving equipment to remove a couple of barriers when we entered, but my husband drove very slowly and took extreme measures to wiggle his way through, so the heavy equipment wasn’t necessary. You might not be so lucky!
Our favorite military campground is south of Tacoma, Washington, just off I-5 (exit 122), and is situated on the banks of American Lake in a beautiful setting. Camp Murray Beach Military FAMCAMP is often busy, especially in the summer, so if you fail to secure reservations, try Ft. Lewis next door, which is located on the same lake but lacks the spectacular views. Another nearby park is at McChord AFB, across the freeway and north about three miles from Camp Murray. Camp Murray closes from December to March (check your military RV & camping directory for details), but the other nearby FAMCAMPS may stay open year-round.
Ft. Lewis FAMCAMP is at exit 121 west has lovely wooded sites, and log cabins and bungalows are available for rent. Propane is sold within the campground and Ft. Lewis also has 30 additional rustic camper and tent sites that are free.
McChord AFB FAMCAMP is at exit 125 east, then follow road to the gate. The FAMCAMP is located in the woods among giant fir and pine trees, and is populated with wildlife. You will hear jets taking off and landing, but the thick woods help muffle the sound.
All three of these facilities are located near Mt. Rainier and only about 60 miles south of Seattle and its waterfront. There are many recreational opportunities available in the area, including boating, fishing, and swimming on American Lake. Prices are reasonable compared to commercial RV parks, which are few and far between in the metro-area of Seattle/Tacoma.
In Wyoming, we stayed for a few days at D.A. Russell FAMCAMP, which is at exit 11 on I-25 in Cheyenne, WY. One entrance to the campground has a low clearance, of 11’6” under a railroad trestle, but guards at the gate can tell you the best route to take to avoid this underpass. Speaking of the railroad, the tracks run right above the campground, but very few trains go through and they’re traveling extremely slow—especially when antelope are roaming the base during hunting season.
This is an area we would love to explore more someday, so may go back for a longer stay.
In Southern California, we stayed at March AFB FAMCAMP, which is on a former Air Force installation that now belongs to the National Guard and Reserves. It’s at the March exit on I-215 just south of CA-60. There’s nothing special about the campground, but does have a nice laundry room and restroom facility. And this park is located within easy driving distance of many Southern California attractions. No reservations—first come, first served, year-round.
We checked out the FAMCAMP at Nellis AFB, NV, but decided not to stay there. Somehow, having noisy jets taking off and landing overhead didn’t appeal to us. However, it does have nice, level RV sites and is convenient to on-base activities and Las Vegas casinos. It’s located north of Las Vegas, just off I-15 east.
Another beautiful FAMCAMP we’ve stayed in several times is at Little Rock Air Force Base, which is located in central Arkansas just off US67/167. It is an on-base park next to a lake. Some of the RV sites are paved back-in, tree-shaded, facing the park and lake; pull-thru’s and more back-ins are located in a clearing past the back-in spaces. The restrooms are nice, but you’ll have to go into Jacksonville, outside the base gate, to find laundry facilities. This FAMCAMP provides a central location for exploring Little Rock and the rivers, lakes, and tourist attractions the area offers. You can drop your payment in a drop box at the entry to the park, and a gas station with a mini-mart is located across the road from the park.
Just off I-40 and I-17 outside of Flagstaff, AZ at 7000-foot elevation is the Luke AFB FAMCAMP. It is called Ft. Tuthill Recreation Area and is in a beautiful wooded site that holds RV sites as well as yurts, cabins, multi-family cabins and a hotel. This is within easy driving distance (80 miles) to Grand Canyon, Skiing at Snowbowl, and about 20 miles, straight downhill through Oak Creek Canyon or by I-17, to beautiful Sedona and the Verde Valley. This area is cool in the summer and very cold and snowy in the winter.
We have stayed at numerous other FAMCAMPS overnight while traveling, including Gila Bend, AZ and Edwards AFB, CA, but haven’t had occasion to stay long enough to rate their quality.
Military campgrounds do offer an alternative to commercial parks, are usually cheaper, often nicer, certainly secure, and sometimes are located in areas where there are no other RV camping facilities. If you are eligible to use them, check http://www.RVBookstore.com for their current edition of U.S. Military Campgrounds Directory on CD.
I know many readers of this newsletter can’t access military installations because they’re not eligible, active-duty or retired military personnel. However, for those who can, I’d like to pass on information about some that we’ve stayed in recently. These campgrounds are usually located on a military installation, or next to one, and they’re most often located near major highways. Sometimes they’re located in remote recreational areas, or at military installations in the middle of nowhere, where you’d find it difficult to find other camping facilities.
Before I tell about the ones we’ve stayed in, I should mention that almost every military installation entry is now protected by an obstacle course. If you’re driving a car, it’s easy to wind between the concrete barricades that force you to take a zig-zag route. However, if you’re driving a large rig, you might find it difficult to maneuver through the barricades. Always call the installation in advance so you can get directions for entering. They may have a commercial entry for big trucks that you can use, but entry times to these gates will be limited to business hours.
Sometimes the obstacle course is unavoidable, so don’t try it during rush hour as you might hold up military personnel rushing to get to work. We had one guard offer to call for moving equipment to remove a couple of barriers when we entered, but my husband drove very slowly and took extreme measures to wiggle his way through, so the heavy equipment wasn’t necessary. You might not be so lucky!
Our favorite military campground is south of Tacoma, Washington, just off I-5 (exit 122), and is situated on the banks of American Lake in a beautiful setting. Camp Murray Beach Military FAMCAMP is often busy, especially in the summer, so if you fail to secure reservations, try Ft. Lewis next door, which is located on the same lake but lacks the spectacular views. Another nearby park is at McChord AFB, across the freeway and north about three miles from Camp Murray. Camp Murray closes from December to March (check your military RV & camping directory for details), but the other nearby FAMCAMPS may stay open year-round.
Ft. Lewis FAMCAMP is at exit 121 west has lovely wooded sites, and log cabins and bungalows are available for rent. Propane is sold within the campground and Ft. Lewis also has 30 additional rustic camper and tent sites that are free.
McChord AFB FAMCAMP is at exit 125 east, then follow road to the gate. The FAMCAMP is located in the woods among giant fir and pine trees, and is populated with wildlife. You will hear jets taking off and landing, but the thick woods help muffle the sound.
All three of these facilities are located near Mt. Rainier and only about 60 miles south of Seattle and its waterfront. There are many recreational opportunities available in the area, including boating, fishing, and swimming on American Lake. Prices are reasonable compared to commercial RV parks, which are few and far between in the metro-area of Seattle/Tacoma.
In Wyoming, we stayed for a few days at D.A. Russell FAMCAMP, which is at exit 11 on I-25 in Cheyenne, WY. One entrance to the campground has a low clearance, of 11’6” under a railroad trestle, but guards at the gate can tell you the best route to take to avoid this underpass. Speaking of the railroad, the tracks run right above the campground, but very few trains go through and they’re traveling extremely slow—especially when antelope are roaming the base during hunting season.
This is an area we would love to explore more someday, so may go back for a longer stay.
In Southern California, we stayed at March AFB FAMCAMP, which is on a former Air Force installation that now belongs to the National Guard and Reserves. It’s at the March exit on I-215 just south of CA-60. There’s nothing special about the campground, but does have a nice laundry room and restroom facility. And this park is located within easy driving distance of many Southern California attractions. No reservations—first come, first served, year-round.
We checked out the FAMCAMP at Nellis AFB, NV, but decided not to stay there. Somehow, having noisy jets taking off and landing overhead didn’t appeal to us. However, it does have nice, level RV sites and is convenient to on-base activities and Las Vegas casinos. It’s located north of Las Vegas, just off I-15 east.
Another beautiful FAMCAMP we’ve stayed in several times is at Little Rock Air Force Base, which is located in central Arkansas just off US67/167. It is an on-base park next to a lake. Some of the RV sites are paved back-in, tree-shaded, facing the park and lake; pull-thru’s and more back-ins are located in a clearing past the back-in spaces. The restrooms are nice, but you’ll have to go into Jacksonville, outside the base gate, to find laundry facilities. This FAMCAMP provides a central location for exploring Little Rock and the rivers, lakes, and tourist attractions the area offers. You can drop your payment in a drop box at the entry to the park, and a gas station with a mini-mart is located across the road from the park.
Just off I-40 and I-17 outside of Flagstaff, AZ at 7000-foot elevation is the Luke AFB FAMCAMP. It is called Ft. Tuthill Recreation Area and is in a beautiful wooded site that holds RV sites as well as yurts, cabins, multi-family cabins and a hotel. This is within easy driving distance (80 miles) to Grand Canyon, Skiing at Snowbowl, and about 20 miles, straight downhill through Oak Creek Canyon or by I-17, to beautiful Sedona and the Verde Valley. This area is cool in the summer and very cold and snowy in the winter.
We have stayed at numerous other FAMCAMPS overnight while traveling, including Gila Bend, AZ and Edwards AFB, CA, but haven’t had occasion to stay long enough to rate their quality.
Military campgrounds do offer an alternative to commercial parks, are usually cheaper, often nicer, certainly secure, and sometimes are located in areas where there are no other RV camping facilities. If you are eligible to use them, check http://www.RVBookstore.com for their current edition of U.S. Military Campgrounds Directory on CD.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Writing (and Rolling) Down the Road
I can just hear you asking what is meant by “writing and rolling.” Well, it’s the world’s best way to earn income from writing while traveling. And it becomes easier to do every day. With a satellite-ready portable computer with an air card, an online connection that works almost anywhere, and a portable inverter, anyone can continue to write and submit their work, or research the Internet while rolling down the road. In other words, you can work just like you would if sitting at your desk or dining table at home.
When I started doing this, it was not impossible to write while traveling—but forget about submitting an article via the Web. There was no such thing as the Internet for average users then. We had a cell phone, but forget about being able to contact anyone, or them contact us. We could receive and send calls in our home area, but if our cell phone provider didn’t have an “agreement” with those in other states, we were forced to stand in line at the pay phone to keep in touch with business contacts. Ditto for anyone else we had to speak with. All of America was supposed to be connected by satellite by the end of 1992, like Canada already was. It has never happened!
We started out with a cell phone, a computer and everything we thought would be necessary to operate our business on the road. We picked up the phone in Nevada (our residence then), but as soon as we drove into California, we could no longer receive our messages or calls. Arizona was even worse since we had to use our long-distance phone card to make a call on our cell phone. Arizona definitely didn’t have an agreement with Nevada!
Thank goodness for mergers. Cell phone providers got larger, then started sharing towers. Finally we could stay in touch with those important in our lives and to our livelihood.
With our new satellite equipped laptop, we were finally able to merge Internet with cell phone usage. Then by purchasing a portable converter, I was able to work while we’re traveling down the road.
Wow! It just keeps getting better!
In case you are interested, the costs involved in setting up a working system like ours follow:
Laptop computer with satellite capabilities: between $500 and $1000.
Cell phone: Watch ads for providers in your area. Verizon often runs specials that include the cost of the phone and some accessories for under $100. You’ll have to sign a one- to two-year agreement for service (meaning that if you decide to cancel before the agreement ends, you’ll pay a hefty fee). We’ve had our service since 2002 and couldn’t be happier with it.
Cell phone service: Service for 450 minutes (peak time) with no roaming and no long distance charges runs about $40. Calls after 9:00 p.m. in your time zone, and on weekends are free.
Internet service: Unlimited Internet access runs about $60 per month. Most ISP’s that provide email service will charge from nothing to $30 per month. Yahoo is free for now, and Juno charges a small yearly fee. We’ve been able to connect everywhere we’ve been so far.
Portable Inverter that plugs into your vehicle’s cigarette lighter: $60
All prices of the above products depend on where you buy them, and are subject to change. Watch for sales. Check prices at www.Fryselectronics.com if there’s no store nearby since they seem to consistently have the best prices on electronic equipment.
I can just hear you asking what is meant by “writing and rolling.” Well, it’s the world’s best way to earn income from writing while traveling. And it becomes easier to do every day. With a satellite-ready portable computer with an air card, an online connection that works almost anywhere, and a portable inverter, anyone can continue to write and submit their work, or research the Internet while rolling down the road. In other words, you can work just like you would if sitting at your desk or dining table at home.
When I started doing this, it was not impossible to write while traveling—but forget about submitting an article via the Web. There was no such thing as the Internet for average users then. We had a cell phone, but forget about being able to contact anyone, or them contact us. We could receive and send calls in our home area, but if our cell phone provider didn’t have an “agreement” with those in other states, we were forced to stand in line at the pay phone to keep in touch with business contacts. Ditto for anyone else we had to speak with. All of America was supposed to be connected by satellite by the end of 1992, like Canada already was. It has never happened!
We started out with a cell phone, a computer and everything we thought would be necessary to operate our business on the road. We picked up the phone in Nevada (our residence then), but as soon as we drove into California, we could no longer receive our messages or calls. Arizona was even worse since we had to use our long-distance phone card to make a call on our cell phone. Arizona definitely didn’t have an agreement with Nevada!
Thank goodness for mergers. Cell phone providers got larger, then started sharing towers. Finally we could stay in touch with those important in our lives and to our livelihood.
With our new satellite equipped laptop, we were finally able to merge Internet with cell phone usage. Then by purchasing a portable converter, I was able to work while we’re traveling down the road.
Wow! It just keeps getting better!
In case you are interested, the costs involved in setting up a working system like ours follow:
Laptop computer with satellite capabilities: between $500 and $1000.
Cell phone: Watch ads for providers in your area. Verizon often runs specials that include the cost of the phone and some accessories for under $100. You’ll have to sign a one- to two-year agreement for service (meaning that if you decide to cancel before the agreement ends, you’ll pay a hefty fee). We’ve had our service since 2002 and couldn’t be happier with it.
Cell phone service: Service for 450 minutes (peak time) with no roaming and no long distance charges runs about $40. Calls after 9:00 p.m. in your time zone, and on weekends are free.
Internet service: Unlimited Internet access runs about $60 per month. Most ISP’s that provide email service will charge from nothing to $30 per month. Yahoo is free for now, and Juno charges a small yearly fee. We’ve been able to connect everywhere we’ve been so far.
Portable Inverter that plugs into your vehicle’s cigarette lighter: $60
All prices of the above products depend on where you buy them, and are subject to change. Watch for sales. Check prices at www.Fryselectronics.com if there’s no store nearby since they seem to consistently have the best prices on electronic equipment.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
WAS THIS THE ORIGINAL RV?
My ancestors traveled the Oregon Trail around 1878 on their way to Union County, Oregon in a covered wagon similar to the one pictured above. Their trip was neither smooth nor easy. Wagons were oxen or mule powered instead of driven by diesel or gas engines like modern day RVs. And it took six months of numerous perils and untold tragedies before the more than 300,000 pioneers that included my great-grandmother, reached their destination.
The above photo was taken at one of the interpretive museums along the Oregon Trail in Northeast Oregon. It offers a wonderful contrast to glossy photos of modern RVs that are found in magazines today. Aren't we lucky to be able to travel as far and as often as we like in air-conditioned, padded comfort? Or, are we unfortunate not to have been part of that great adventure in the 1800s?
Saturday, June 02, 2007
TODAY'S ARTICLES
- Getting your self-published book printed
- Green RVing - yes it is possible!
UPDATE ON THE BOOK "LOOKING BACK"
My new book, Looking Back: Boomers Remember History from the '40s to the Present is still being edited, but as soon as I get it back and make needed changes, it will be on its way to the publisher. The name has gone through a couple of changes that the editor suggested, and I've decided she's right. It is a compilation of history as seen through the eyes of those who lived it! and includes 2 poems and 17 essays contributed by writers and other extraordinary Americans who lived through that timespan - from World War II through Katrina and beyond. The final chapter covers future challenges we all face as we look forward.
Look for my soon-to-be-announced release date, which will probably be in July. This is a book that everyone who wants to reminisce about the past can enjoy as they read stories submitted by people who were personally involved in history-making moments as well as those who were only witnesses as events swirled around them.
History is a living, breathing document that continues to evolve. It is there for all of us to recall and enjoy its most memorable moments - both good and bad.
GETTING BOOKS PRINTED IF YOU PLAN TO SELF-PUBLISH
I’ve heard about Morris Cookbooks for years and had heard that they also print regular books, so I finally decided to order their kit to see exactly what is offered in the way of cookbook printing. I received three examples of their cookbooks (complete cookbooks, but all the same recipes) that include a padded notebook, padded hardcover that’s plastic spiral-bound, and laminated soft cover that is spiral bound. They are lovely. The cost for the soft cover is only a little over $2.00 per unit, and the notebook edition costs a little over $5.00 for each copy and includes a holder that you can stand on a countertop to hold it upright. Their work is extremely nice, as are the layouts of the books and the artwork. They furnish everything for the price, but you can make changes for an upgrade in price.
They provide a CD that has all the information on it as well as a step-by-step book that displays their covers, page designs, etc. in color.
The only downside I could find during my quick read through their how-to-book was that they put their copyright on it UNLESS you provide your own artwork, do your own setup and send it in camera-ready. Also, I don’t think it is a “print-on-demand” company, meaning they can’t print small runs immediately. Minimum order is 200 copies.
I’ve heard about Morris Cookbooks for years and had heard that they also print regular books, so I finally decided to order their kit to see exactly what is offered in the way of cookbook printing. I received three examples of their cookbooks (complete cookbooks, but all the same recipes) that include a padded notebook, padded hardcover that’s plastic spiral-bound, and laminated soft cover that is spiral bound. They are lovely. The cost for the soft cover is only a little over $2.00 per unit, and the notebook edition costs a little over $5.00 for each copy and includes a holder that you can stand on a countertop to hold it upright. Their work is extremely nice, as are the layouts of the books and the artwork. They furnish everything for the price, but you can make changes for an upgrade in price.
They provide a CD that has all the information on it as well as a step-by-step book that displays their covers, page designs, etc. in color.
The only downside I could find during my quick read through their how-to-book was that they put their copyright on it UNLESS you provide your own artwork, do your own setup and send it in camera-ready. Also, I don’t think it is a “print-on-demand” company, meaning they can’t print small runs immediately. Minimum order is 200 copies.
When I had 25 copies of a self-published cookbook printed four years ago, it cost about $5 per copy for a cover of card stock and a plastic comb binding. Then I had to go back and get 25 more printed! I did them simply as Christmas gifts for friends and family, but found there was a demand for them from others who saw them. So my total cost was about $250. I could have had 200 copies of the same book, better looking, for less than $500.
Morris is a viable source for printing that cookbook you’ve been thinking about writing and if you want to get their publishing kit to see exactly what they offer, you can order it for free from their website: www.Morriscookbooks.com. They’re set up to print for non-profit organizations, but they also do family and individual cookbooks.
I know there are plenty of printing companies that self-publishers use that have “print-on-demand” capabilities. I don’t know anything about the prices they charge, though, or even the names. The best way to find out about them is to network with other writers and ask those who have self-published who they use. I’ll write more about self-publishing as I learn more.
If you are thinking about doing a self-published cookbook or regular book, Morris should definitely be contacted for pricing before you choose a printer. The quality of books they send in their kit is exceptional.
NOTE: You should always check several sources of printing for pricing and offerings. I have never personally used Morris for a self-published book, so can’t recommend them based on personal experience.
GREEN RVING? YES IT IS POSSIBLE!
I know some of you are wondering, what is up with anyone who believes it’s possible to be a green RVer? Is she crazy?
No, I’m not (officially), and yes it is possible to be a nomad and still demonstrate concern for the environment. In fact as a group, we RVers are much more conscious of our natural world because we spend so much time in it. We appreciate the splendor that we see unfold beyond our windows as we travel, and many of us love to walk among newly fallen leaves, or take a hike when the leaves are just beginning to bud in the spring. Some of us even appreciate a fresh blanket of snow and frigid temperatures that nip at our noses. We tend to spend a lot of time outdoors enjoying nature’s beauty.
Few stick-house dwellers ever spend time just enjoying what nature has to offer unless it is during their too-short vacations. They’re too busy earning a living to pay for their homes, cars, and the kid’s piano, soccer, tennis, and cheerleading lessons, and then rushing them back and forth between home, work and classes/practice.While they may live in a gorgeous region of the country with beautiful mountains as a backdrop to their lovely homes, most don’t get much time to relish the view. I’d venture to say that most are just biding their time in unfulfilling jobs until retirement, when they plan to sit on the porch and suck in the view while they suck up cocktails. Some are even waiting for the day they can hit the road in their own RV.
Still, many of them are hesitant to dream of a life on the road because they think RVs waste fuel and pollute the air. They don’t want to be accused of contributing to the destruction of the environment. Frankly, I get r-e-a-l-l-y cranky when ALL RVers are accused of being polluting, fuel-wasting gas or diesel hogs. Sure, some can be accused of being mega-polluters, but so can everyone who drives a big SUV.
To those who accuse all RVers of being guilty of harming the environment, I want to ask, “What have you done for the environment lately?” Do you keep your thermostat turned up to eighty in the summertime and down to 68 during the winter? Do you turn it off at bedtime? Do you use solar panels or wind power to heat and cool your home? Many RVers do one or all of the above.
How big is your home? If it’s the average-sized house, do you know how much energy it takes to heat it as compared to a 300-400 square-foot RV? Lots more, I can promise. Plus RVers are prone to head to sunnier climes if the weather gets cold and rainy, cutting heating costs even more. The same goes for when it gets steamy and hot. We usually rush to cooler locations to spend the dog days of summer. And as a group, we tend to leave the windows open to capture fresh breezes.
Do you know how much water you use when you take a shower? RVers do. We have small fresh water and holding tanks, and even tinier water heaters. We know not to stay in the shower one minute longer than necessary!
Do you help clean up the environment by picking up litter alongside your community’s roadsides? In many RV parks, you’ll find days set aside for just that duty. Even if there’s no special day, a lot of active RVers (meaning those young and flexible enough to hike and bend over, then manage to get back up without help, and those strong enough to tote heavy garbage bags) organize groups or go out on their own to pick up trash along highways.
How many loads of laundry do you wash and dry each day? RVers have to travel light, so many own lightweight clothes that they can hand wash and hang in the shower overnight to dry. Few of us enjoy spending $2.00 or more per load at the Laundromat, so we wait until we have a FULL load before heading over to drop our quarters into bottomless slot machines that never pay out. Somehow, a clean load of laundry doesn’t have quite the same impact as a big, noisy payout on a slot machine!
What about the magazines and books you read? Do you go to the library to read magazines and check out books, or do you recycle your reading material by passing it on to someone else? Most RV parks have a place where guests can leave magazines and books they’ve finished reading, and pick up more that they haven’t read. This exchange shelf keeps our minds sharp by offering reading material that is sometimes not found at local newsstands, plus we get to recycle our onboard libraries.
Does every home in your neighborhood have an under-used swimming pool? Think of all the water that is wasted, the chemicals that are released into the environment, and if the pools are heated—well!!! We RVers usually find a nice, clean pool in the parks where we stay and can all swim or play to our heart’s content. And it only takes one set of chemicals to keep it fresh and clean.
What about the cleaning chemicals you use for your home? Again, RVers don’t have much storage space, so most learn to exist with only a couple of cleaning agents. Some even make our own cleaning solutions from natural products that we already have on hand—like vinegar and baking soda.
I don’t want this to sound critical of home owners. Certainly, I don’t mean to come across that way. Anyone anywhere can conserve energy and live a more “green” lifestyle, whether in a home, motorhome, or teepee. I know many house dwellers that go out of their way to help the environment, and I know some RVers who think nothing of littering, polluting, and otherwise damaging our atmosphere.
We RVers sometimes face rude comments when we pull into gas stations, especially when a vehicle pulls in just in time to see the total amount of gallons we’ve bought. However, they don’t realize that this may be a one-time fill-up before we park for several months.
Yes, RVs notoriously squander gas like it was flowing freely out of a gushing spring. However, the average RV is on the road for fewer than 6000 miles per year. People drive them for their vacation trip, or full-timers travel back and forth between a couple of favored spots. Neither of these types of RVers put a lot of miles on their rig. Very few of us drive our RVs daily! Who can afford to? And if you’ve ever driven a big rig, you know it’s not an experience most people would relish doing every day.
Sheer economics force RVers to conserve energy and travel fewer miles than if we had daily commutes to jobs, and limited storage space forces most of us to travel light and lean.
Some Americans have been environmentally aware for years, and others are now joining the movement, what with the new data on global climate change. It is possible to travel and enjoy your RV lifestyle and still keep your journey and home on the road “green.” It takes planning—just like at home—but it’s worth the effort if it helps protect our environment. When it comes down to it, it’s the only one we’ve got!
I know some of you are wondering, what is up with anyone who believes it’s possible to be a green RVer? Is she crazy?
No, I’m not (officially), and yes it is possible to be a nomad and still demonstrate concern for the environment. In fact as a group, we RVers are much more conscious of our natural world because we spend so much time in it. We appreciate the splendor that we see unfold beyond our windows as we travel, and many of us love to walk among newly fallen leaves, or take a hike when the leaves are just beginning to bud in the spring. Some of us even appreciate a fresh blanket of snow and frigid temperatures that nip at our noses. We tend to spend a lot of time outdoors enjoying nature’s beauty.
Few stick-house dwellers ever spend time just enjoying what nature has to offer unless it is during their too-short vacations. They’re too busy earning a living to pay for their homes, cars, and the kid’s piano, soccer, tennis, and cheerleading lessons, and then rushing them back and forth between home, work and classes/practice.While they may live in a gorgeous region of the country with beautiful mountains as a backdrop to their lovely homes, most don’t get much time to relish the view. I’d venture to say that most are just biding their time in unfulfilling jobs until retirement, when they plan to sit on the porch and suck in the view while they suck up cocktails. Some are even waiting for the day they can hit the road in their own RV.
Still, many of them are hesitant to dream of a life on the road because they think RVs waste fuel and pollute the air. They don’t want to be accused of contributing to the destruction of the environment. Frankly, I get r-e-a-l-l-y cranky when ALL RVers are accused of being polluting, fuel-wasting gas or diesel hogs. Sure, some can be accused of being mega-polluters, but so can everyone who drives a big SUV.
To those who accuse all RVers of being guilty of harming the environment, I want to ask, “What have you done for the environment lately?” Do you keep your thermostat turned up to eighty in the summertime and down to 68 during the winter? Do you turn it off at bedtime? Do you use solar panels or wind power to heat and cool your home? Many RVers do one or all of the above.
How big is your home? If it’s the average-sized house, do you know how much energy it takes to heat it as compared to a 300-400 square-foot RV? Lots more, I can promise. Plus RVers are prone to head to sunnier climes if the weather gets cold and rainy, cutting heating costs even more. The same goes for when it gets steamy and hot. We usually rush to cooler locations to spend the dog days of summer. And as a group, we tend to leave the windows open to capture fresh breezes.
Do you know how much water you use when you take a shower? RVers do. We have small fresh water and holding tanks, and even tinier water heaters. We know not to stay in the shower one minute longer than necessary!
Do you help clean up the environment by picking up litter alongside your community’s roadsides? In many RV parks, you’ll find days set aside for just that duty. Even if there’s no special day, a lot of active RVers (meaning those young and flexible enough to hike and bend over, then manage to get back up without help, and those strong enough to tote heavy garbage bags) organize groups or go out on their own to pick up trash along highways.
How many loads of laundry do you wash and dry each day? RVers have to travel light, so many own lightweight clothes that they can hand wash and hang in the shower overnight to dry. Few of us enjoy spending $2.00 or more per load at the Laundromat, so we wait until we have a FULL load before heading over to drop our quarters into bottomless slot machines that never pay out. Somehow, a clean load of laundry doesn’t have quite the same impact as a big, noisy payout on a slot machine!
What about the magazines and books you read? Do you go to the library to read magazines and check out books, or do you recycle your reading material by passing it on to someone else? Most RV parks have a place where guests can leave magazines and books they’ve finished reading, and pick up more that they haven’t read. This exchange shelf keeps our minds sharp by offering reading material that is sometimes not found at local newsstands, plus we get to recycle our onboard libraries.
Does every home in your neighborhood have an under-used swimming pool? Think of all the water that is wasted, the chemicals that are released into the environment, and if the pools are heated—well!!! We RVers usually find a nice, clean pool in the parks where we stay and can all swim or play to our heart’s content. And it only takes one set of chemicals to keep it fresh and clean.
What about the cleaning chemicals you use for your home? Again, RVers don’t have much storage space, so most learn to exist with only a couple of cleaning agents. Some even make our own cleaning solutions from natural products that we already have on hand—like vinegar and baking soda.
I don’t want this to sound critical of home owners. Certainly, I don’t mean to come across that way. Anyone anywhere can conserve energy and live a more “green” lifestyle, whether in a home, motorhome, or teepee. I know many house dwellers that go out of their way to help the environment, and I know some RVers who think nothing of littering, polluting, and otherwise damaging our atmosphere.
We RVers sometimes face rude comments when we pull into gas stations, especially when a vehicle pulls in just in time to see the total amount of gallons we’ve bought. However, they don’t realize that this may be a one-time fill-up before we park for several months.
Yes, RVs notoriously squander gas like it was flowing freely out of a gushing spring. However, the average RV is on the road for fewer than 6000 miles per year. People drive them for their vacation trip, or full-timers travel back and forth between a couple of favored spots. Neither of these types of RVers put a lot of miles on their rig. Very few of us drive our RVs daily! Who can afford to? And if you’ve ever driven a big rig, you know it’s not an experience most people would relish doing every day.
Sheer economics force RVers to conserve energy and travel fewer miles than if we had daily commutes to jobs, and limited storage space forces most of us to travel light and lean.
Some Americans have been environmentally aware for years, and others are now joining the movement, what with the new data on global climate change. It is possible to travel and enjoy your RV lifestyle and still keep your journey and home on the road “green.” It takes planning—just like at home—but it’s worth the effort if it helps protect our environment. When it comes down to it, it’s the only one we’ve got!
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