Snowbirds!

Well. Here it is. January 2008. A new year and the same old annoyances. Time again for Snowbirds to make their way south and settle into the desert for a few months.

Actually there have been a considerable number of northerners down here since late October, but January is when they come in full force. Heading to Quartzsite to socialize, buy junk, sell junk and camp out in the desert.

For those that don't know, "Snowbird" is a term for retired folks from the northern climes (Oregon, Idaho, Washington, Montana, Canada, etc) that head south at the first hint of a falling leaf. They leave the cold and seek warmer weather, much like their namesake geese, ducks, and assorted waterfowl.

They come in every imaginable Recreational Vehicle. Motorhomes, ranging in size from 20 feet to 50 feet. Towing monstrous 5th wheel and standard trailers. Converted busses. Converted vans. Driving cars. Towing cars. Bearing ATVs. Trailers full of junk to sell at swap meets. etc.

With thousands upon thousands of them converging on our deserts, our grocery stores, Post Offices, restaurants, and roads get a little more crowded. No. They get a lot more crowded. You can't even negotiate the aisles in the grocery stores, because they seem to think that's the best place to stop and converse with their friends and acquaintances. And if you happen to need the catsup that they're standing in front of, forget it. When asked to move, or a polite "excuse me", you're answered with a dirty look, complete ignorance, or a tart, "You can wait till we're done".

Try and drive somewhere and you take your life in your hands. I notice the following things occurring here on a daily basis:

1. Driving down the center turn lanes for blocks on end. Here's a clue, folks. That is not a driving lane. It's a two-way turn lane. Either turn, or merge into the proper traffic lane.

2. Driving 45 miles an hour in a 65 MPH zone. Here's another clue. Pull over and let other people pass. I also own and drive an RV. It's a 34 foot class A. I can sympathize with you driving slow, either from lack of power to keep up, or wanting to stretch fuel mileage. But there are numerous places to pull over and let the 32 cars behind you pass. Going substantially slower than the speed limit is unsafe and illegal. If forces people to try and take chances to get around you, and can lead to head-on collisions. So pull over and let faster traffic go by. It's not like you're in any real hurry to get anywhere, anyway.

3. Making left (or right) turns from the wrong lane. Our intersections have left turn lanes. This is for traffic that wants to turn left. You're not supposed to turn left from any other lane except the left turn lane. Even if there's an arrow to signify that it's OK to turn left. The arrow is for the vehicles in the left turn lane. Not the center lane. If you're in the center lane, you're supposed to go straight ahead.

4. Changing lanes without signaling (or looking). Nobody cares that your rig is 65 feet long (with trailer or towed vehicle) and you feel you have a right to any lane you want and everybody else can just get out of your way. Signal your intent, and change lanes only when it's clear. And while we're on the subject of turn signals. TURN YOURS OFF! If you're hard of hearing, get special turn signal flashers that are louder than stock. They only cost a few dollars, and your fellow travelers (and your wife) will thank you for it.

5. Not pulling over for emergency vehicles. That police car, fire engine, or ambulance behind you with the flashing lights and siren is probably going to something important. Like maybe to save a life or some other mundane task. Pull safely to the right and let them pass. You'd want someone to do that if those emergency vehicles were coming to help you, right?

Just treat people with a little common courtesy. No one owes you anything, because of how long you've been walking the planet, or how big of a trailer you can afford. No one cares how it's done back home. You're here now, and you need to abide by our laws, rules, regulations and customs. We realize that you're retired and have nothing better to do than stand around in stores and Post Offices, BSing with someone you're going to see at the RV park in hour, anyway. We realize that you're retired and have nothing better to do than sit in restaurants and drink water and coffee for hours on end. We realize that you're retired and have nothing better to do than snail along the highway at 20 MPH below the speed limit.

But there are others who do have something better to do than wait until you're good and ready to move out of the way for a minute so they can get on with their lives.

Now before you go and condemn me for my comments, let me say that there are a good many of our winter visitors who are kind, courteous and pleasant. For those who fall into this category, the above does not apply to you. I thank you for being respectful to the natives.

But you must realize that the ones who are the subject of this entry give the rest of you a bad rap.

Spammers Suck!

I hate Spammers. They are the scourge of the earth. They try and hawk their snake-oil cure-alls, penis enlargers, generic Viagra, porn, overseas drugs, and a million other products that nobody really wants or needs.

But as long as Internet morons keep buying this stuff, they will continue to use their spam-bots to flood websites, message boards, guest books and blogs with their trash.

I'm just one man, who can't really do a whole lot about it, except delete their bullshit before it gets posted. So if anyone doesn't see their comments posted right away, thank the scum that think that other people's property are their own personal billboards.

Why a Blog?

You ask?

I reply, Why Not?

Here I can say whatever I want, whenever I want. From Politics to Racing to Boating to VWs to Idiots to whatever. I can post pictures, write rants, show cartoons, or do just about anything I want.

And there's nothing you or anyone else can do about it. Here, the only free speech is mine. You can reply if you want. Agree or disagree. But either way, if you don't like what I have to say here, then don't read it. If I don't like what you have to say here, then I'll delete it.

So sit back and enjoy the ride. You might just be surprised what you see.

BoatCop

DISCLAIMER! What you read here is my opinion only. The opinions expressed here do not reflect the policies or opinions of any other person, agency, organization or thing. So don't go writing any stupid letters or making stupid phone calls to complain about anything you read.

BoatCop's Blog

Snowbirds!

Spammers Suck!

Why a Blog?