“Stop trying to calm the storm. Calm yourself, the storm will pass. ”
— Lyn Banghart, Easton, Md
I decided on Sunday night that I had to leave Quartzsite. It happens every year, and I always forget when it starts and how bad it gets, but the migration of “Snowbirds” (Or as my friend suggested, “Snow VULTURES”) has started in full force. It’s subtle at first. I noticed that not everybody I pass coming in and out of LaPosa South waves. The more often that happens (lack of a friendly greeting as you pass) the more shocking it becomes. From October through much of December, EVERYONE waved or flashed the peace sign. We are all neighbors. We are mostly nomads. But rather suddenly, we are NOT all nomads. Half of us are entitled white people from the north, fleeing the cold and snow and bringing with them all the things most nomads have fled. They all think they are the head of their own HOA here in LTVA land. They complain. They call the police on someone whose music they feel is too loud. They make rude comments on the Facebook page about the homeless and how to get rid of them. They are mean to the one checker at the dollar stores because they can’t keep the line moving fast enough for all the Karens who have just moved in.
I told Matt I was leaving and he said “Yeah. It’s time. The city folk are coming and making it unpleasant for everyone.” He said he wanted to come with me and so we both agreed on finding a spot in KOFA Wildlife Refuge, about a half hour south of Quartzsite. We ran errands together on Monday morning and I finished my packing and left first. I found an amazing spot and Matt joined me about an hour later.
We were camping off Palm Canyon Road, and although we had some heavy winds and rains for a couple of days, we also had an amazing rainbow and gorgeous sunrises and sunsets.
On Christmas day, the storms let up and Matt and I went up to palm canyon (so named because there are palm trees growing in the canyon). We hiked much farther than I’m used to hiking, and some of it felt more like mountain climbing than hiking, but it was worth it for the views up on top of the canyon. And we actually got to see some palm trees growing on the side of the canyon wall.
I found myself taking dozens of photos as the sky and the light on the nearby mountains changed minute by minute.
Unfortunately, I had several issues this week. The high winds blew over my solar suitcase, and it crashed into the rocky ground, leaving bullet-hole-like cracks in the glass. It still works, but I’m not confident that the cracked glass will hold up when I travel. Also, on Christmas Eve, my Verizon service gave out. No phone, no internet. I logged onto Matt’s internet which was also sporadic, and managed to get some texts and e-mails. I’m not happy with Verizon. I had major issues earlier this month, and after hours on the phone with no resolution, the “customer service” (that’s an oxymoron) rep promised that they would compensate me on my next bill. One of the e-mails I was able to receive was their latest bill: $15 MORE than previous months. I’m seriously considering switching after being with Verizon for nearly 25 years. I’m not sure anyone else is any better.
Friday morning neither Matt nor I had cell or internet. The wind was howling and spirits were low. We’d spent several days this week in our vans, and we both longed for the 70⁰ days with plentiful sunshine. I decided I needed at least SOME cell and internet service and told Matt I was moving down the road until I found a signal. I started packing up and he said he was staying. As I finished packing and went over to say goodbye, I saw he too was packing up. He decided to go back to Quartzsite. I settled in about 2 miles down the dirt road, nearer the REAL road and had cell and internet service. I called Verizon and after 2 hours of being chatting and being put on hold over and over again, we resolved my bill AND got a $50 rebate on last month’s bill for all the trouble I’d had.
It was quite bittersweet to see Matt drive past me and head back to Quartzsite. We had a very nice two months together. I’ll miss him immensely, but I also feel a sense of going back to “my real life” whatever that is. I do very well alone. When I’m with someone I like, I tend to defer to what they want. That’s fine for awhile, but sooner or later I long to be independent and do whatever I want without conferring with anyone else. I suspect our paths will cross again, but not sure where or when.
Lessons From The Road: Life is beautiful. Out here in the desert, there are sometimes high winds, torrential rains, and dark skies during the day. But there are also beautiful sunrises and sunsets, amazing rainbows and once in a while, good friends to share those things with.
The trick (for me) is learning how to let the not so fun things pass quietly and sink my teeth into all the beauty when it is offered. Where I put my attention is where I spend my life. I’m learning to focus on the beautiful.
Happy New Year. I hope yours is filled with sweet surprises, loving friends and family, and maybe just a touch of crazy wild celebration.