RVing and Snowbird culture

Cousin Reggie*

I have tried to maintain a high intellectual level for this blog but to do so would ignore the real world. The RVing world is a diverse as any hobby/lifestyle. I have yet to see an anthropological study dealing with the RV society/culture. There are many "Twenty years on the road" sort of memoirs which serve the spectrum of self-help to humorously showing a mad mad mad world. These will provide insights and are often counterpoint to the marketing/sales hoopla from the "Industry."

There are, I think, sub-cultures. Campers head out to government parks or other Federal or State land and often live with no access to utilities. Travelers tend toward RV parks that have water, sewer, and electric hook-ups and often cable TV, and wifi. They use their towing vehicle, or if a motorized RV a towed vehicle, to see the local sights. Usually, they stay in one location for several days or even a couple of weeks. Full-timers are a variation on Travelers. They use there RV 365 days a year and may stay months in one location. Then there are mobile workers, usually construction, who are easily identified by starting their diesel pickup before dawn. Also, related and unrelated interest in specific activities such as NASCAR or historical locations are a purpose for RVing.

Then there are obscure things, traditions and such. Airstreamers (those who travel in the iconic silver bullets) have a tradition of decorating their area with Flamingos. That where cousin Reggie comes in. Our neighbors Tim and Linda once had an Airstream. From that relationship cousin Reggie appeared. He may well dwarf all other Flamingos and certainly has better taste. As you can see I have not drifted too far from the blog's high intellectual level.

*The photo of Cousin Reggie appears with the permission of Ms Linda P.F.A.N.A. (Professional Flamingo Artists of North America