Wednesday, March 09, 2011

WORLD OF THE WASTELANDS-----PART THREE

THE LURE OF LOW LIVING Meet Tim (tiny tim?) a refugee from the winter chill of Colorado---loves it here on the bank of the All American Canal---will stay all winter. Rent for this spot --or any spot along the canal--or on Indian land is $65 for 6 months--cheap enough.
He proudly shows off the interior of his tiny trailer---said he rid himself of a big motor home because it was waay too much trouble and expense.
He has enough money to live wherever he chooses---but prefers it here because he has the time to do the small things he enjoys----he showed me how he sculpted his landscape---trimming and raking , reading and riding his tiny bike. He built steps to the bottomland below and told me his hobby of "earning" about $70 a week from the nearby Casino by playing with the money they give vets three times weekly. Note the $150,000 rig behind him---they also choose to live in the wastelands. For such as these---it's not about the money.
The bottomlands----many upscale campers live down there---so what's the big draw? If they could be anywhere they choose---why would they opt to live in those bushes? I'll go down and find out.
Tent campers nesting in their own private Shangri-la---been there since early December---Said they like the peace and quiet---protection from the winds and proximity to Algodones for dental work.
Another cozy nook----sheltering a $100,000 rig, satellite dish and a steel shipping container---He's settled in for the season. Didn't get to quiz him (or her). The question that begs to be answered is: WHY HERE----in the bottomlands?
A cluster of rigs---friends and family. Said they come every year---love the peace and quiet. They gave me directions to my friends grave.
She's buried somewhere here---I will find her resting place.
I found it: Diana's little Westhighland Terrier--Molly. For 10 years I shared the pleasure of their company----a small poem flashed into my mind:
Rest easy pretty girl:
Wherever your spirit be:
Know that I loved you
As much as you loved me!
RANDY PHILOSOPHIZES: I've learned something here in this wasteland---but I haven't the will to express it just now. Perhaps tomorrow---when I show you an entirely different wasteland ---with occupants PUSHED into it.











6 comments:

Michael said...

Great post. Lots of story in here! : )

Rob said...

I'm glad you found her resting spot, ten years is a long time.

john patrick said...

Great. Thanks, Randy!

Rustedgranny said...

Really appreciated Tim's story. Liked that he keeps the area around him clean and tidy.

kaBLOOnie Boonster said...

"Another cozy nook----sheltering a $100,000 rig... : WHY HERE----in the bottomlands?"

I'll bet you know the answer: even people who like modern comforts in an expensive rig still yearn for some feeling of adventure, and you just don't get that in an RV park or even a national forest campground.

By and large, the so-called RV Adventure is a farce, as long as you are "camping" in RV parks, and your bush people have come to admit that.

Randy said...

Thanks Boonie-----And yes, I did know the answer---intuitively---I was fishing for such as you who might state the answer better than I could-----And you did! precisely! RV parks are comfortable and safe---even sociable---but there is no adventure in them.