Old Buzzards

Government
Proximity
Destination
Membership

I have come to understand that there are 4 basic kinds of RV parks. My favorite camps are those that are run by a government entity. These include county, state, city, or federal agencies such as the National Park Service. These parks are my favorite as they let anyone in, they are usually located near a special area like a beach or a mountain, and the prices are very reasonable. Nature is the draw. The campers are varied as there are singles, young families, and old people lumped together. The amenities are meager but the necessities are there, electricity, water, sewer, and a bathroom with a shower.

The proximity parks are those that are located near a busy highway. RVers pull off the road and usually stay in them for one night. The amenities are a step above the public parks as they usually include cable TV and wifi access. The prices are higher depending on the number and quality of the amenities. The parks are usually well maintained as the RV network is very connected and if it is a bad park, the word gets out and soon no one stops.

Destination parks are located near tourist centers (ie. Disney). They are vacation oriented and the amenities are numerous. Most center around swimming pools and spas. These parks tend to be the most expensive.

Membership parks are only open to subscribed members. We joined Thousand Trails. Peace River here in Wauchula is in the Thousand Trails system. These parks tend to be rural and are not located near any tourist or nature center. The reason they draw people is that members who belong to them can come and stay for free. They pay a joining fee when they purchase the membership and they pay a yearly fee. When you come and stay, you pay nothing. The secret then to getting your money's worth is to come and stay as much as you can. Many of the people in this park do just that. Members come for two weeks (the maximum time you can stay in one park) then go out for a week (one week mandatory separation) then return for another two weeks. At this time of the year, the membership parks in the south are filled with retirees. Barb and I are usually some of the youngest at these parks. However, these people stay busy. Daily activities are offered and the list is huge. Spanish classes, horseshoes, water exercise, model railroading, pool, fossil hunts, stained glass, shuffleboard, jam sessions, Bible study, Sunday worship, pickleball, crafts, art classes, computer classes, and choir are all offered on site. Trips off site are arranged for golf, bowling, or bike rides. You are probably surprised at fossil hunts. Florida was once covered by the ocean and the bottom of the Peace River that flows through the camp is littered with fossilized bones and fossilized shark’s teeth.

There is one interesting aspect of this camp that I find quite puzzling. I find myself reflecting on that classic movie scene where the man is lost and wandering in the desert. He is out of water and very fatigued and as he looks to the sky he sees the flock of buzzards flying above him. The symbolism is evident. The man is near death and somehow the buzzards know that and appear to be waiting for him to fall so that they can have their feast. Every day, as I ride my bike around this park, there are buzzards flying above us here. Do they really sense the age of these campers or is it coincidence?