The "Q" Housing Market 2010

"To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else." Emily Dickinson

January of 2009 was our first visit to the little town of Quartzsite that hosts the largest collection of "snowbirds" and RVs ever assembled in one place. We were totally shocked by how many RVs could actually be together in one place. The town bursts at the seams with all the visitors. It's a huge financial gain for the merchants but tempers do get short.

Folks from all walks of life live together in peace for up to six months at a time. Well, that's kind of an exaggerated statement because we have no idea how peaceful all the folks in the RVs are with each other. What we do see are all types of living accommodations. I posted a whole bunch of pictures then and am doing the same of some of the 2010 crowd. Not much has changed. Some are parked in the same place they parked last year and others found spots they like better.



We actually much prefer our current location than that of January 2009. The road is paved from the entrance for a little over a mile into the BLM. After that it becomes a dirt road. Last year we had traveled down the dirt road to another dirt road and selected a place that backed to another dirt road that was busy with ATV's running their blueboys back and forth to the dump. Needless to say, we felt we were pretty much on the other side of the tracks. Maybe that's because we really were.

This year we're right close to the trash bins and the dump but only had one exit road from the paved one to our location. All in all, we're living at the dump. It's great and our spaces are huge. Well, you know how spaces go. We can make them as big or as little as we want depending on the number in the group.

Those that visit this area of the BLM land can pay $40 for two weeks or $180 for six months. The fee basically provides trash bins, water and dump fees. It is definitely quite a deal and many people stay the full six months. We don't. Those that plan on staying that long come pretty well equipped with extra shelter, tarps and patios. What started out with just an RV turns into a lot of living space by the time all the little add-ons are added.

All walks of life are represented ... from those living in tents to those living in Prevosts. The biggest difference is that the tents are probably paid for and the Prevosts aren't. It's a very diverse group of people. Actually we have discovered what their "home" is hardly represents who they really are. Who they are is inside them. As the old saying goes .. you can't judge a book by the cover. Do we care? No.

The reasons for why they are here are numerous. The most important is that they are here along with thousands others and all seem to co-exist regardless of the background. It's no different than other places in the world. Some folks get along and others don't. People with common interests seem to find each other. Great friendships find their beginnings here.

It certainly is an interesting group of people who have assembled in the western desert of Arizona. We are so lucky to be a part of this. Why do we say this? Of all people who care about us, our daughter-in-law has expressed a concern about us meeting strangers out here. If she only knew! Some are real characters. We even have a lady with us that has even been arrested before!! That certainly doesn't make her a bad guy. It's a funny story and we'll share sometime ... maybe.

The folks we have met traveling over the last two years are no different than those we have met elsewhere. We will plan to meet some of these people down the road over and over. Others we may escape from if we're close (That's a joke!). Nothing has changed. There are bad guys everywhere. We promise not to knowingly travel with them!

Life is good.