All Valley RV and Outdoor Show exhibit sign
All Valley RV and Outdoor Show exhibit sign

Bonnie and I finished working a booth at the All Valley RV & Outdoor Show, Mercedes, TX, today. It was an interesting, educational and tiring 3-day show where we handed out 1200+ packages and RV travel guides for the Texas Association of Campground Owners (TACO).  These guides are wonderful resources for those RV’ing in Texas. This geographical area, known as “The Valley,” is popular with Winter Texans/Snowbirds, RV’ers/people who migrate south for the winter.

Handing out TACO Guides
Handing out TACO Guides

The attendees at the show appeared to be mostly elderly and caucasian.  Bonnie and I often discuss the lack of diversity in the RV population and if this RV show was any indication, our assumptions are correct. We had several conversations with other exhibitors at this show and many are predicting the next generation of full-time RV’ers will not/does not exist in the same form as the current snowbirds.

Exhibit hall and show attendees
Exhibit hall and show attendees

We travel tomorrow to Rockport, TX, to begin our first park job. It should be a fairly easy 185-mile drive and they are calling for good weather. If the weather is like today we won’t travel.  There are  gale force warnings with constant winds of 20-30mph and gusts up to 50mph — enough to tip a trailer over in the right circumstances.

Some of the RV's on exhibit
RV’s on exhibit

 

12 Comments

  1. Sounds like you’re really finding your way as full-time nomads. Best of luck, and happy trails.

    • Hi pj, Good to hear from you again…hope you’re well. Yes, we’re finding our way…although our thoughts of it and it’s meaning often change.

  2. Cedric Canard

    The prediction regarding the next generation of nomads is an interesting one. You don’t say what this particular generation might consist of but lately I have come across a number of blogs and other web sites which talk about younger people who can’t afford, or refuse to have, big mortgages and choose instead a more mobile lifestyle which these days is enabled by the fact that many jobs simply require Internet access. The choice of home seems to be between RVs and so called tiny homes which are built on the back of trailers. Either way, I see this as an encouraging sign that the up-and-coming generations aren’t completely lost to consumerism or the live-to-work mentality that we are sometimes led to believe.

    • Cedric, what we are finding in our RV journey and what you described are perhaps some of the early signs of changes of this particular generations but where it may go eventually is hard to say. But there is agreement in the RV community that the next RV’ers will be of a different breed than that or our parents. I’ve often wondered how the Internet with its virtual friendships and virtual social structures might manifest in actual social changes and while there may be no direct relationship our discussion of a mobile trend it can’t be totally discounted. I also see the less of a need for consumerism and live-to-work as positive change. Of course, when oil and gas prices are this low it encourages many to take to the road. If gas prices go back up to where they were a few years ago there will be a huge market of used RV’s available. :-)

  3. I think like Cedric (I know that’s dangerous) on what the next generation may look like. There already are many who live a variety of nomadic lifestyles. I have a nomadic and simple spirit inside of me and one reason the lifestyle of a flight attendant worked for me. And, as you and Bonnie have seen the variety of living in RV’s is amazing. I read a short e-book by a lady full-timing in a pop-up camper with three dogs.

    Travel safe and waiting for your next update.

    • Your walking pretty far out the limb, Monte…thinking like Cedric. :-) It will certainly be interesting observing where all of this goes. Thanks!

      • Cedric Canard

        Damnit Monte, Brooks is right, save yourself man. What are you doing letting yourself think like a crazy dude?

  4. Brooks. Although I lived in Texas for 20 years, obviously, I didn’t travel the entire state. I was thinking … where the heck is Rockport?!! Then, had a look. I’ve actually been close to there, Port Aransas. We actually had a pretty nice vacation there. As you’ll be on the coast, perhaps you can get your RV fitted for a sail … save on some gas money. :)

    • Yelp, Port Aransas…about 18 miles southwest of us…just down the road. Hey, after our close call with a couple of tornados last month in TN we’re not looking for sails or wings but maybe a heavy boat anchor might work. The fuel money is doing okay…filled up today at $1.65/gal for diesel…who would have believed that a year ago.

      • Cedric Canard

        I filled up my car this morning and I paid about $US6.50 per gallon. This is probably why RVs are not so popular down-under :)