Blogging in Aluminum

Ok, at the risk of going a little off topic I have been tossing around the subject of the economy and how it is already and may affect the future of Airstreaming and RVs. What got me thinking was the discussion on AirForums. It looks pretty bleak but it is a very small concern when you hold it up next to the bigger problems we all face.  I am not trying to whine about something so trivial as an Airstream when other people can’t pay their mortgage, people across the globe cannot afford rice and others are trying to struggle with the affects of war in their land.  But, I guess the relevance of Airstreams is this…  Isn’t it time we Americans start prioritizing our spending habits and perceptions of consumerism anyways.  I love Airstreams.  Absolutely adore them.  They are, for the most part, american made, they last forever and represent to me a way to connect with new people and places.  I realize, if I want to continue to go camping in the airsteam, adjustments will have to be made in the rest of life.  Any extra spending $ will have to be spent on maintaining the airstream, gas for towing and fees for campsites.   I think we all are going to have to get use to getting by without always having new cars, the latest cellphone and daily lattes… that’s not such a bad thing, I think.  The Airstream has been preparing me for a a pared down lifestyle already. 

Living in such a small and self contained space you learn conservation.  When "boondocking", or dry camping, you must use as little water as possible for tasks such as dishes and brushing your teeth.  Lights and electronics are used sparingly and you learn to think ahead before digging into precious resources.  Our airstream has solar which has led me to investigate getting solar for our home as well.  It is always amazing to me to see our battery level reach 100% by noon on a sunny day. Airstreaming has also introduced me to the (long over due) idea of using and getting by with less stuff.  Whenever we return home I am always astounded by how much stuff we have and how little need we have for it.  Our house begins to appear to be conspicuous and embarrassingly "BIG".

If you are the type that is re-evaluating your level of consumerism and consumption, try dry camping for a week.  I think you will be pleasantly surprised on how little you truly need to live comfortably.   If we can get over our ideas of more, more, more and start valuing the concept of conservation and human interaction perhaps all is not lost.

To any and all who keep trying to allow/revive this lame issue,

Please put this matter to rest, finally.  You have tried twice (valiantly?) and the members (who all own Airstreams) have said “Nay”.  Let it go and move on so we can spend time worrying about more important things like filliform and gaucho vs dinettes instead.

Oh, don’t you worry about declining membership (I know that this reason is part of your concern for allowing non-airstreamers into the club, lol), I plan on being a WBCCI member for a looooong time and I am pretty good at finding Airstream OWNERS to give the WBCCI a try. I try to make Wally proud, god rest his soul.  Now, I realize the old guard always has trouble passing the torch to the younger generation.  It is part of the human condition.  Someday, I too will be part of the older generation who may not see things in a reasonable and logical manner. :O  But, sometimes we have to put down our Bingo cards and really think about what is best for the club and not just our ideas of how we want it to be, right?

Well, struggle no more, I have a great idea! (albeit not a new one…)

If you want to be a member of an Airstream club… buy an Airstream.   If you do not want to buy an Airstream or you do not feel the quality is up to your standards or you would like a new motorhome (airstream no longer manufactures class A)… join a general rving club.  If your friends all have Airstreams and you would like to keep going to rallies with them, convince them to join another club with you, Good Sams for example.   If you email me I will be happy to send you a list of links to such clubs.  I will even help you fill out the registration forms.

If that doesn’t work for you and you really love the WBCCI , my boyfriend has a great idea that I think will make everyone happy!

DISCLAIMER – these views are my own and in no way have been condoned or endorsed by Airstream/Thor Industries, the WBCCI, SNU or any other sane persons.

It all started because we took my dad camping for a week in our ’75 Tradewind.  He had so much fun he decided he needed to look into this airstream thing a little more.  I had so much fun with him that I decided that I needed to help him "look into this".  Well, that meant, of course, I would have to start searching for an Airstream for dear ole’ pops.  Who better than me!  Whooooo-Hoooooo!  I had a sanctified and justifiable reason to spend HOURS diving into Airstream classifieds.  Yes!  Who could possibly argue that it wasn’t a noble reason to put off work and chores?  Who?  I mean come on, the man is 82 and needs to enrich his remaining years.  I NEEDED to help HIM.

One of our unit’s stable forces, Diane Leipper, suggested that we help my dad find a B-Van.  It was her and Brian’s solution as their parents started to get to the age where towing their own trailer was getting risky.  So, Brian would tow his and Diane’s trailer with their parents B-Van.  Great solution if you ask me.  Only one tow vehicle and two living quarters. 

Thanks to Craigslist I found one in about two days of continuous and ARDUOUS searching.  It was located in Kennewick Washington and owned by a nice man named Chuck.  About two days later, dad decided to pull the trigger and Roman negotiated the purchase of a very nice 1994 Airstream B-Van.  We had it shipped down via UShip (kind of like an ebay for transporting things) and it arrived, as luck would have it… in time for Dad’s first WBCCI Airstream Rally!!!!!!!  More on that later…..

Does this allow me to call myself a second generation Airstreamer? 

I have a little ritual that I do in the mornings.  After staring hazily into the front yard looking at the Airstreams (btw, I occasionally hear that James Blunt Song as I gaze, seriously cheesy I know, but I really can’t help it) I peruse all the Airstream classifieds known to modern man.  I know them ALL.  I have a whole section of AS bookmarks and folders dedicated to this "hobby". 

Sidenote: Rome doesn’t do anything to discourage this practice.  He may make fun of me all he wants, but he is a codependent partner. 

A favourite place to check all these sites is of course from the safe little harbour of an airstream… of course.  I cruise through the pages most looking for 70′s Tradewinds.  Don’t know why, but these are my poison.  25 footers seem to always catch my eye.  The creamy colored vinyl walls, the gentle slope of the endcaps, the tacky 70′s walnut brown of the veneer and tambour and the beloved formica that comes in sunflower yellow, avaocado green and pumpkin orange.  Love it.   Of course it doesn’t stop there.  If there are not any suitable Tradewinds to be found, I move on into deeper territory.  I start searching for Bubbles, Globetrotters and Caravelles.  What is wrong with me?  I mean I – CAN’T – STOP!  The truth is I can be in a wretchedly foul mood and all I have to do is find one little sparkle, one twinkling bit of almost perfect wonderfulness and the smile is back and the spring in my step returns. 

Case in point: last Sunday…. I found one.  I found a 1968 Globetrotter.  We went and visited this little round gem last week and I was smitten.  Having never been inside a Globetrotter it was a fun new experience and an education as well.  We pretty much have only investigated the 70′s models and so a 1968 Globetrotter was a treat.  The skin is in near perfect condition, the electrical all works and the only real modifications I saw were a bed replaced the center gaucho (a much better sleeping situation) and a fishing pole rack installed over it (I  think Roman like that one!)

Once I sell the 1975…. I think this might be my next project!

If you read the previous post, you will see TWO airstreams in our front yard.  (Let me admit this outright: I did everything I could outside of incantations and live sacrifice to make this happen.)  Anyways, in order to be able to fit two, one had to be re-parked.  Well, what an opportunity for a novice tow-er to practice.  I plopped myself in the driver’s seat of the F250, backed it up to the airstream as Rome guided me to the hitch.  I was really surprised how fast it happened. I thought I would have to move forward and back up a few times to get the hitch and ball lined up.  It took one try and we had alignment!  Chocks were removed, and I was ready to do my first real backing in attempt.  A reader, Roger, gave me a very useful suggestion "Put your hand at the bottom of the wheel, move your hand in the direction you want the end of your trailer to go." and it worked like a charm.  As luck would have it though, a truck pulling a boat came up the street… talk about adding an element of stress and having to hurry.  I know the guy pulling the boat must have been bummed at having such luck too.  All he wanted to do was get by and I am sure it was blaringly obvious that I was a novice.  I’m sure he was thinking "Great, a girl learning to back up a trailer… this is going to take all day."  Determined to not be rushed and make a mistake it only took about 3 attempts at moving forward then back before the trailer was where we wanted it.  Safely tucked in the lot without a ding, dent or scratch the airstream had survived my lesson.  For the record… it was alot of fun and I am considering going to rallies without the Rome-Dawg now. ))))))