theboondork's RV blog

Utter, total, and complete disappointment

12/30/2020

Please click the pics it might make me feel better.

Pima County Fairgrounds boondocking Picture

The place is right, the time is right, but everything else is wrong.

Utter, total, and complete disappointment does not even begin to express my misfortune.

When I arrived at the Pima County Fairgrounds and signed in at the office, paying for a week of boondocking and making sure I could re-up as much as I wanted. I asked the host if she had a current list of the events taking place here at the Fairgrounds, at which point she informed me because of this accursed Bat flu, all the events have been canceled until March!!! Excuse me? says I, I just looked on the Internet last night, and it listed four or five events that were taking place this month, including the Rodeo. And the host said she would remind her boss to bring the website up to date.

It seems like every time I make plans, and I have been planning on going to the Rodeo since last spring. Often as not, I end up sorry, and swearing I'm never going to make plans again, and just live day by day, enjoying the present and not deciding on what to do in the future until the day I feel like going somewhere. That, of course, wouldn't make the Rodeo come back, but its loss wouldn't be near as heartbreaking as planning on it for months.

So here I sit with literally the only reason I came here completely gone, no rodeo, no horse shows, no dog shows, no drag-racing, no motorcycle racing.... Nothing. But as I've said before, I am, if nothing else, adaptable and enjoy a challenge. And in my opinion, If one is to be a happy and successful boondocker, it does pay to be adaptable and have the ability to deal with adversity.

So, I've got a week to enjoy being in Tucson, Arizona, and it shouldn't be all that hard; after all, Tucson is a tourist town. And the fact that it's not cold and it's not snowing right off the bat makes it an excellent place to be. I've got a Walmart 3 or 4 miles down the road. I've got the Air and Space Museum 5 or 6 miles away. The Saguaro National Park is only about 10 miles north of me, and next to Walmart there's a Popeyes chicken place, one of my favorites. So I will find things to keep me happy and somewhat busy, and if nothing else, I'm always happy relaxing.

theboondork

Ajo sunset

Sunrise at the rodeo arena.

Roadrunner.

10 Comments

Frank Souze

12/30/2020 06:10:31 pm

Yeah the dynamics of Covid,in conjunction with inconsistencies with federal/state/county and local protocols create a fluid battle ground.
Tom, you nailed it when you suggested your ability to adapt and freedom to improvise allows you to see the alternatives allowing you to enjoy another day despite the speed bumps.
Also in this current environment, its probably not a great idea to depend on websites for timely and accurate information as many of the techs and resources managing websites for small business have been impacted by furloughs.

Tom

12/30/2020 07:16:20 pm

Yeah Frank, the Covid world changes quickly, and it's hard for an old geezer like me to keep up with it. And us old dogs are not noted for our new tricks, but if I want to enjoy my life I've got to find ways to be happy with whatever comes my way, and since happiness is in the mind not in the location, in less of course it's snowing, and then happiness is definitely not in my mind, I just need to look on the bright side of every event, find a little good in whatever happens, and take solace in the fact that I'm free to pack up and leave anytime I want no matter where I'm at.

And you're right about not trusting websites, especially now days. I think this has taught me that for important things I need to make a phone call and make sure of what's going on before charging ahead and assuming there's an IT person on staff constantly updating and revising everybody's websites.

OFM

12/30/2020 06:30:00 pm

Sounds like the situation is an opportunity to check out everything else in the area and not worry about missing anything at the rodeo grounds. And yes I HATE out of date Internet sites. Have fun and I will be reading the updates on the area.

I am running into some BS here in Rockport that has me deciding about ever coming back here. More info when the info gets more firm.

12/30/2020 07:17:16 pm

Well that's a shame, Rockport seems like it has a lot of the things you like, and a lot of things you like to do. Don't tell me they're going to close the Rockport Whataburger???

But sometimes when a place gets too comfortable we can become complacent and need a kick in the butt to make us get out and do something different, which may be even better than what we had before. Texas has an awful lot of coastline, there must be a town there somewhere that has a Whataburger, and a few not so bright Trout swimming nearby

And you're right about checking out different things. I get in a rut and go to the same places over and over, so having the rug pulled out from under me this time, gives me the free time and the opportunity to see a few things in Tucson I've never seen before.

Tom

Judith

12/30/2020 07:35:58 pm

Well. OK then. Glad you have a roadrunner in your view. As for me, I am looking forward to the possibility of snow here tomorrow. And I truly am. It is beautiful.
Enjoy your sunshine.

12/30/2020 09:03:16 pm

I do like roadrunners, my only complaint is they kill and eat snakes, and I also happen to like snakes.

Yes snow is beautiful especially on the first morning when it covers the ground and the sun hits it causing it to shimmer like diamonds.

By the third morning your getting tired of shoveling it off the driveway.

By the end of the week a lot of it has packed down and turned into ice and you have to avoid stepping on it or you're in for an instantaneous fall, which is funny as a kid, annoying as an adult, and life threatening as an old geezer.

After a few more days new snow covers the ice so it's no longer visible and instantaneous face plants become a way of life.

Three months later you never want to see a snowflake again for the rest of your life.

And yes I truly am.... Enjoying the sunshine.

Tom

Linda

12/31/2020 02:23:01 pm

Your analysis of snow is spot on! I am fortunate in that I don't have to go outside at all except if there's a medical emergency so I can sit here in my comfy chair enjoying the view through our big windows while singing Let it snow, let is snow, let it snow. It's a good thing my Dave is more sure footed than I am, though, since he still goes out to buy groceries.

12/31/2020 04:33:06 pm

I used to like the snow when I was younger, I looked at dealing with it as a challenge. But the older I got the less challenges I wanted and snow was something I could live without. I haven't noticed too many retirees rushing to live in the Colorado Rockies in the winter, so I assume I'm not the only old geezer with an aversion to snow.

My daughter has all her groceries delivered. She started doing that sometimes because she was working at home, and taking care of the kids so having it delivered was convenient. Then the Bat flu arrived and having groceries delivered was not only convenient but looking pretty smart. Now it's winter with snowy, icy, roads, now it's convenient, smart, and safe.

Tom

12/31/2020 07:35:05 pm

I didn't mention that snow here lasts only two days at most. At most. Though I once did live where it lasted 4 months, but I was a renter and didn't have to shovel or anything like that.

12/31/2020 08:33:32 pm

Well that doesn't sound too bad, even I can deal with it for a couple of days. I was hoping when I became a full-timer I would never see snow again, but between getting back to Denver a little too early, and leaving a little too late, I've hit snow on the way there, while I was there, and on the way back to someplace warm. I guess with better timing this wouldn't be happening, but I'm always anxious to see my family, and hesitant to leave.

And that place where the snow lasted for four months, if I were you I wouldn't go back there anymore.

Tom

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Utter, total, and complete disappointment

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