I have moved. I'm still in Elephant Butte, but I've been wanting to do more RV Park living with full hook-ups this year and this is the first time I've made a conscious decision to stay a month in an RV Park. I've spent three different months in parks in the last four years, but those times I had to for various reasons.
This time I plunked down the credit card for a month's stay because I wanted to. Because I have a plan.
A blogging buddy, John Hedges, left me a comment that he's here in Elephant Butte and to come by for a visit if I'm in his area. So I did. I wanted to meet John, and also check out where he was staying. We had a wonderful visit; John has been on the road full-timing for eight years now, and he has a lot of information to share. (Lately when I visit with other full-timers, I feel like I should bring a notebook with me, you know? After four years I'm doing very well, but there's so much more stuff I don't know - there is always something old I haven't heard yet, or some new tip that's really helpful.)
John gave me a tour of the park - and it's large, clean, and fits the budget. It has a kitchen, laundry, super clean restrooms with showers, library, very good free wi-fi, beautiful back patio with a bar-b-que, etc., all the usual RV Park amenities. And a very nice, helpful staff. No pool. No spa. No pickleball. That keeps the prices down, and I wouldn't use those facilities so I don't miss them.
After our visit I went back to my free (with annual pass) dry-camping site at Elephant Butte State Park, packed up and drove over to EB South Monticello Campground where Annie and The Furballs and her sister, Connie, were staying. I stayed there two days and caught up with Annie, met Connie and took some nice walks with them and Jake. Then I packed up again and drove to the RV Park.
I've been here almost a week now. The first few days I wasn't sure about this. Our sites are fairly large, but still, there are lots of RVs around me, out each window, and I'm not used to that. There are other sites I could move to that don't have as many neighbors, but I'm going to try to tough it out and see how I do. It's kind of like going from living in a house on a large lot to a condo, and I've done that before.
You all know I love dry-camping and it fits my frugal lifestyle. But I've been thinking for a long time about having a home base, even if it's just paying an annual fee at an RV park that I can live in and travel from. I'm just not sure that would suit my gypsy genes, so this is a baby step in that direction. Plus, if I decide to do that, I want to try out some different areas to see if I can find a location and an RV Park that would work for me.
I'll let you know how it's going. :)
Some Elephant Butte State Park critters - I love this first one:
There was a nest in the bush right in front of The Palms and the Curve-billed Thrashers would come and go all day long, first peeking out, then flying away.
Views of and from our EBSP campsite:
There was a beautiful full moon over the lake:
On Thursday night we had the worst (best?) thunderstorm we've been in so far. We were here in the RV Park, and it went on for a bit, then it was right overhead. When the thunder rolled, it just kept going. Then the lightening CRACKED! right overhead. WOW. If it wasn't raining so hard, and so windy outside, I would have gone out and unplugged the rig. I turned off everything electrical and unplugged the computer and TV from their outlets. I love storms, but jeez, this was a STORM!
When we've been here a bit longer I'll get some photos of the RV park and show you where we are.
That's about it for now - from me and Katie, have a great Saturday, everybody! :)
