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Tour vintage trailers in Palm Springs

As part of Modernism Week in Palm Springs a number of vintage Airstream trailers will be on display and open for tour. The events for Modernism Week run from February 11 - 21. The vintage Airstreams other vintage trailers will be on display throughout the Ace Hotel Grounds, from Friday, 2/19 at 4 pm, until Sunday 2/ 21 at noon. There is no cost to view the exteriors; a $10 fee will include a tour of the interiors.

One of the Airstreams will be exhibited by Kristiana Spaulding. Ms. Spaulding has purchased and redecorated several Airstreams and now rents them out. In addition, she makes jewelry. She will have her 1962 Airstream Bambi 16-footer, named “Norma” on display. You can read Norma's story  and see photos at her Web site.

Check the Modernism Week for more events. For more of a description of the vintage trailer display, see this article. 

It sounds like a fun event. If we were RVing in the area, we'd stop by. It's always neat to see how people have decorated these vintage trailers. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Another city grapples with homeless encampments

RV Daily Report  today says that another California city is grappling with homeless encampments and deciding whether they should be allowed to continue and in what form. According to MercedStar.com, about half of the residents are registered sex offenders. A committee was appointed by the City Council to investigate this issue and is reporting tonight.

Probably because of all the laws in California, one element they are debating is whether to make the campgrounds, if continued, ADA handicapped accessible!

As one commenter pointed out, regular citizens have to pay their mortgages and for services and don't get help. While I have sympathy for those who have become homeless due to job loss and the economy, sometimes our actions encourage the role of the victim. In some cases, people are better off economically getting handouts than trying to find jobs and taking care of themselves. And, at the same time, some who really need a helping hand, and aren't looking for a career as a welfare recipient, don't receive it.

It is a positive that Merced is looking at the issue and apparently considering the long-term consequences of allowing campgrounds for homeless. RVs aren't mentioned so perhaps this is tent city or a combination of the two. We'll have to see what the council decides after their open meeting tonight. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

U.S. agency in Haiti says "No" to FEMA trailers

RV manufacturers and dealers have suggested that, instead of auctioning off thousands of RV trailers that FEMA bought for disasters, they send them to Haiti for shelters. All these trailers on the auction block are expected to reduce demand for the purchase of new RVs. Sending them to Haiti would be a good solution, in their opinion.

According to an article at CanadaEast.com, "The U.S. Agency for International Development, which is co-ordinating American assistance in Haiti, has expressed no interest in sending the trailers to the earthquake-stricken country. FEMA spokesman Clark Stevens declined to comment on the idea and said it was not FEMA's decision to make."

Several victims of formaldehyde poisoning spoke out against the move. "Just go ahead and sign their death certificate," said the son of a woman who contends his mother died from the fumes. A couple of the Haitians interviewed said they did not want them. However, Mississippi state Sen. Billy Hewes said, "If these trailers were good enough for Mississippians, I would think they were good enough for folks down in Haiti as well."

How much formaldehyde the trailers still contain is unknown. FEMA isn't testing them, only making buyers sign a statement that they will not be used for housing.

So, the controversy continues. What do you think? Should we send the trailers to Haiti? Auction them off? or what? Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Related posts

• Send FEMA trailers to Haiti
• Opinion piece in eTruth.com on pros and cons
• Refund on formaldehyde trailers

Yuma gouges RVers?

I came across an article on the RV Daily Report that Yuma is charging $3,100 to hook up electricity to RV lots. Whoa! That's incredible. The purchaser bought four lots in January 2008. She was not aware of any extra fees to hookup to electricity. She was then charged $3,101 per lot when it came time to do so. She appealed, asking for a refund for two lots and a waiver for the other two.

The council, fearing that more lot owners would seek refunds, denied her appeal.

This goes to show you two things: Jurisdictions are desperate for money. And, thoroughly research before you buy. In this case, the purchaser says that the fees were added after she purchased the lots. However, you may be able to find out about things like this in many cases prior to buying. Take time to investigate.

A number of RVers in one of the groups we belong to have purchased property or lots in the Yuma area. It is relatively inexpensive and makes a nice winter home. It has some amenities without the traffic and crowds of Phoenix or Tucson. However, fees of this magnitude could drive potential purchasers away. It will definitely make land prices go up. In this economy, it could make it more difficult to sell (or afford to buy) property. Buyer beware in Yuma. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Electromagnetic allergies: Wacky or real? RVers & Wi-Fi

Barbara sent me the link to this story in Santa Fe found in the Huffington Post that could have implications for RVers seeking a public Wi-Fi signal. Arthur Firstenberg is suing his neighbor because she refuses to turn off her computer, iPhone and other electronic devices. He claims he suffers from Electromagnetic Sensitivity, or EMS, which induces "nausea, vertigo, diarrhea, ringing in the ears, severe headaches and body aches, crippling joint pains, insomnia, impaired vision, impaired muscular control," as well as other potentially life-threatening ailments. As a result he is forced to live in his car; hotels also have wireless signals and electronic devices so he can't stay there.

Firstenberg is part of a group in Santa Fe suing to have all public Wi-Fi spots banned and are using the Americans with Disabilities Act as part of their suit. According to a related article at AllHeadlineNews, health officials are denying there is an impact and say "scientific studies have shown that people who claim to suffer from "electromagnetic sensitivity" are in fact suffering from psychosomatic disorders and are best treated by therapy or medication."

Many RVers rely on public Wi-Fi hotspots when traveling. It saves a monthly fee for an aircard or Internet satellite dish. Taken to an extreme, RVers could be prohibited from using these devices in public campgrounds. That would be even worse.

What do you think? Could this lawsuit be successful and then spread to other locations? What do you think? Have you experienced any ill-effects from electronic devices? Or is this a wacky lawsuit that will be dismissed? Would this ruling affect your RV lifestyle? Add your comments below. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Update on strange Tonopah RV

Reader Judie Ashford recognized the strange RV spotted in Tonopah, AZ and sent me a link. This is a boatorhome! It was manufactured in Ontario, Canada  by Highwave and made its debut at the 1996 Miami International Boat Show. It's a combination motor home cruiser. A hatch in the bow allows passengers to move between tow vehicle section or Hauler, which is a Ford Econoline Super Van with front wheel drive, and the 31-foot "Cruiser." The tires are eight Goodyear Wrangler Aquatreds. You can see some other designs at their Web site. 

While you are at it, you might also want to take a look at a converted Bluebird International school bus done by two fellows in Austin. I saw that article mentioned on RV Daily News. It's unique- it can run on vegetable oil, has a "penthouse," made of a bolted-down shell of a 1979 Volkswagen camper bus that piggybacks on top of the Bluebird.That opens up to a picket-fenced yard on the back half of the roof. Read their story and watch a video here.

Diversity and creativity are alive and well in the RV world!  Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Original post on strange RV

 

Send FEMA trailers to Haiti

Greg Gerber, editor of RV Daily Report, had an excellent idea: instead of auctioning off the FEMA trailers, send them to Haiti to use as emergency shelters. FEMA is selling the trailers off in large lots. One lot, of 15,000 units, has received a high bid of $106.84 per unit, according to his report. That is a giveaway that will flood the market with cheap trailers.

The earthquake is a real tragedy. I like Greg's suggestion. You'll have to read his opinion piece for his reasoning and how it would help not only Haiti but the RV industry as well. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

2010 census- will you be counted?

An article on The Daily News Online discusses the difficulty officials are anticipating this year in taking the census. It begins with "Where will you be on Census Day — living in your RV, couch surfing at your friends', squatting in your parents' basement?" Since there are so many people who have lost their homes, this year will present special challenges.

Census-takers will be looking in some unusual places for people including under bridges, along river banks - and for the first time - people living in cars. It sounds like they will be looking in RVs for the homeless too. I imagine that census takers in places like Venice, CA and other cities that have homeless populations will be knocking on RV doors.

According to the article, people will be counted wherever they are "living" on April 1, 2010 (January 25 if you are in Alaska). This could present challenges for RVers. Full-time RVers should receive their census form by mail by the first of April even if forwarded. I haven't seen the form, but I would think that we could put our domicile address down even if we are not there. Our domicile state will want to count us as their citizens. It will affect the dollars they receive from the federal government. If a census-taker knocks on the door of your RV, it should be enough to say you've already mailed your form in.

I'm sure it is a challenge to count all the people living in the United States, since some people want to stay under the radar. But I don't like the idea that the press makes it seem like those who live in RVs are there because they lost their homes without acknowledging that many of us live in RVs by choice. What do you think? Add your comment below. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Related posts:

• Venice aka "Muscle Beach" does not want RVers
• RVs for the homeless in affluent Santa Barbara
• RVs: the full range - from the homeless to millionaires

Dumping on public lands- RVers can help

An article at SeattlePI.com outlines the growing problem of dumping trash, appliances and even hazardous waste on public lands. Hardest hit are the BLM lands in the West. BLM manages millions of acres, making it impossible to patrol it all.

As an example, near Las Vegas, the article says:

BLM officials there [Las Vegas] say that over the last year, they've cleaned up more than 100 illegal dumps sites outside Las Vegas. Another 100 are scheduled for cleanup and about 35 are perpetual problems that may never be remediated.

Agencies have a difficult time catching people in the act of illegal dumping. In some cases, they have dug through the trash to find names and addresses and tracked people down that way. According to Chuck Ward, former BLM staff ranger who led efforts to clean up a site popular with target shooters near Billings, MT:

"The only thing I've seen work is the way we did it: a clean slate after the cleanup and a physical presence there hard and heavy for 18 to 24 months."

RVers who boondock on public land can act as a deterrent to illegal dumpers by their presence and by noting license numbers of anyone they see dumping. Many RV friends who do boondock regularly pickup trash they find near their area or on walks. Trash is a magnet for more trash.

BLM plans to craft a campaign to bring public awareness to this problem. Let's hope it helps. Countries like Canada and Australia that have strict litter laws and enforce them have much cleaner countries. It appears that their citizens have more pride in their country than U.S. citizens. Have you observed that too? Do you have any suggestions for keeping our public lands clean? Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Photos:

Top right- gold claim on BLM east of Quartzsite that George and I and our partners are cleaning up, removing trash and mining debris.

Lower left: boondocking on BLM land at Quartzsite.

Glamping- will it hit the U.S.?

Glamping or camping in luxury is of growing interest in Australia. Instead of old-fashioned, leaky canvas tents, people can now purchase or rent elaborate tents with luxury appointments. Apparently it is more appealing to rent a luxury tent than a luxury RV, which would provide even more amenities, though not the atmosphere. Pictured is the Seregeti tent available at CanvasandTent.com. Some of these tents are huge - certainly more room than an RV.

Glamping doesn't come cheap. According to the article at TheAge.com,

"Two nights in a luxury tent in the Kata Tjuta National Park, in the Northern Territory, costs $4040 a couple including meals and tours. The tents boast reverse cycle air-conditioning and marble bathroom. Guests can watch the sunrise over Uluru by flicking a bedside switch to open the blinds."

Maybe those with money just need a different experience. It does have the romantic appeal of a safari, especially if you are staying in a national park and will see wildlife. However, if you have to pack all that elaborate equipment in a vehicle or small trailer plus all the assorted paraphernalia that goes along with it  (see the list of optional accessories you can purchase for your luxury tent), you would need to hire a crew to set it up. An RV sounds simpler. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak