Chandler, AZ: Newt Wants RV Lifestyle Facts!

Today I drove up to Chandler, Arizona, which is about 35 minutes north of Casa Grande, to have lunch with Newt W. He was my boss when I retired from HP. HP has a number of very talented managers and over the years I was fortunate enough to work for several of them, including Newt.

He has always been inquisitive, asking 

lots of questions, and today he was especially interested in better understanding the RV lifestyle that Mary Lynn and I have been living. He had lots of questions for me, one of which was which states did we enjoy the most.

This is a question we get frequently and it is not an easy question to answer. Actually we have enjoyed all of the states we have visited in one way or another. 

So I usually tell people about the states that have surprised us the most. For instance, Arkansas. After spending time in Hot Springs, Arkansas, we travelled to Rogers, Arkansas, just outside Bentonville. The northwest corner of Arkansas is beautiful; large expanses of wilderness with scenic rivers and lakes, and a state park system that is well organized and reasonably priced. 

South Dakota was another state that surprised us. All I knew about SD previously was that Mt Rushmore was located there. Both of us wanted to see the massive carving of four presidents in solid granite, so off to SD we went, wondering if there was anything else worth seeing in SD.

 

Wow -- were we surprised. SD is unbelievably beautiful with a great history. Incredible wildlife, great roads for motorcycling, spectacular weather (at least while we were there during August), and lots of well preserved historical sites. Throw in the Badlands, Sturgis, and our first rattlesnake encounter, and viola -- another great travel memory, none of it expected. 

State after state has surprised us, some more than others, but each state has found a way to surprise and delight us.

This country is incredible, and the one thing common to each state we have visited so far has been that you could spend a month exploring even the smallest state still not see all there is to see. We are literally & figuratively "just scratching the surface". 

Newt & I discussed where we've been and what we plan to visit next. He wanted to know how it is to live in such a confined space and if we could see ourselves continuing to explore this country by RV.

The answer for me, and for MLA, is a resounding "Yes!". We want to continue this lifestyle. It gives you a level of flexibility and exposure to people and environments that you just don't get when you live in a 'normal neighborhood'. People go out of their way to introduce themselves and invite you to participate in happy hours, potlucks, etc.; whatever is going on you are made to feel welcome. 

It was great talking with Newt and after a terrific lunch, I headed south to Casa Grande. On the way back I needed gas for the CR-V so I jumped off at an exit I hadn't explored previously. Several miles down the road I found a gas station and, even better, a small suite of offices built around a small pond and waterfall. 

Better because there were a lot of birds around the pond, enjoying all of that cool refreshing water. Water in this part of Arizona is at a premium so birds flock to whatever source of water they can find. I took a few pictures and still made it back to Casa Grande to get in a few hours of water volleyball. 

After happy hour with the neighbors across the street I grilled a steak for dinner while MLA made a salad. Awesome: I am basking in the happy & contented glow of a carnivore. Plus there was enough steak left over for steak sandwiches tomorrow. Excellent!

See Ya!