Hi All, We're unsubscribing from the two A/S lists during February and much of March while attending the WBCCI Hobo Rally in Blythe, CA (starts 5 February), then the WBCCI caravan "Exploring East & West of the Colorado River 2001" (3 weeks), plus visiting California relatives and later, returning to Colorado Springs for more playtime with #1 grand daughter. So far this Winter, our travels have been mostly in Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. We've parked on BLM land in Arizona and California, at campgrounds with hot mineral springs (we like them a lot), at the Slabs in Niland (too crowded for us), at an Airstreamer's home (delightful courtesy parking experience) and at other unusual places. Because silver and turquoise are abundant in the Southwest, we searched for a Silversmith to custom make a set of ear rings from stones we bought at an opal mine in Mexico. We found one in Deming, NM and while we looked on, he made them to our design and showed us what he was doing every step of the way. During subsequent visits, next year's Christmas shopping got off to an early start. This month, we're parked on 1/2 of a house lot in Foothills area of Yuma where thousands of other RVers are doing the exact same thing. The monthly rate for an RVer on a half lot with water, electric (8 cents a kilowatt), sewer and telephone hookup ranges from $100 to $200. As an aside, yesterday we learned of lot owners who want us to stay on their lot for free, if we will agree to look after their lot while they're away. Our cost would only be for electricity. Opportunity knocks again. Because Yuma is so close to Mexico, we've made several trips to Algodones, where we've bought new eye glasses, had dental work done and shopped for bargains. The number of RVers walking across the border every day is literally in the thousands. Sandie's electric rascal is a familiar sight in the village. Many vendors recognize us, greet us enthusiastically and show us variations of what we bought during our last visit. We enjoy the friendly chit chat. It's fun for us. We've even played the slot machines at the Quechan Indian Tribe Casino. Everyone who parks on Indian Tribe land at the border of Algodones, Mexico gets a parking coupon worth $2 in nickels to play in the slot machines when they come back across the border into California (10 miles from Yuma). The only way to win is to pocket the roll of nickels and walk out of the casino. We don't do that. Instead, we play the nickel slots, leave the $2 there and chalk it up to recreation. Some list members have asked if we ever use regular commercial campgrounds and RV parks. Yes, about half the time. But, all of them are part of our "membership system" subscription where full hookup RV sites cost either $5/6 per night or 1/2 the regular rate. By subscribing to various membership systems during the last 11 years, our per night costs continue to be exceptionally economical. The AT&T cell phone with 450 minutes a month (no long distance charge and no roaming fee) is one of our most desirable and useful pieces of equipment. It's great for keeping in touch with our son and DIL, our daughter and my mother without feeling like we're running up a big phone bill. It's also helpful for calling a service truck when our van decides it needs a little specialized attention while on the Interstate.<grin> Although we'll be off list for a month or so, we'll still be on line for email. After details of the VAC Rockies Rally firm up, let us know and we'll start publicizing it in the Blue Beret. There are three columns remaining before our tenure with the magazine is completed this year. Later, Terry mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe or to change to a daily Digest, please go to http://www.airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html If replying back to this message, please delete all the unnecessary original text from your reply.
