A SLICE OF LIFE AT BOOMERVILLE – QUARTZSITE, ARIZONA

Yesterday morning, while Odel helped with the trash run (a couple pickup loads of trash taken from Boomerville to the Quartzsite transfer station), I took a shower.  Camped here in the desert for seven days with a 100 gallon supply of fresh water, H2O is not to be wasted! 

See this?  About 1/4 gallon of water – clean, fresh water – that ran out of the shower head while I awaited the arrival of the warm stuff.  Captured in this gallon jug, it will be used to make tea, brush our teeth, or wash our faces.

When Odel and I first contemplated boondocking, Odel dreamed up an experiment.  While I took a “navy shower” – get wet, turn off the water, lather up, turn on the water, rinse off – he timed me (we do such romantic things together).  I ran the water for about a minute each time I turned it on. 

He then got out an empty kitty litter bucket and we marked a line at each gallon measurement.  Odel ran the shower water into the bucket for two minutes (don’t believe him when he tries to tell you that I am the obsessive planner), and doubled that amount, determining that the two of us can shower in about 5 gallons of water between us.  Not bad, eh?  So now, when I stand in the shower, I’m counting to myself one one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thousand… :)

Shower over, Odel returned and we headed off to town to peruse the vendors.  We found two out of the three things we wanted (an LED light to replace a little hot-burning halogen bulb and a refrigerator bar, but no new bathroom door doorknob), getting most of our walking done in the process.

Back home, we walked over to the campfire circle for a seminar with “Mac the Fire Guy”, discussing RV fires and how to best handle them.  We first saw Mac’s presentation several years ago, and his advice made sense to me: instead of carrying a big extinguisher to try to put out the fire (unlikely to impossible) and save the rig, carry several small, convenient extinguishers and plan to GET OUT!   The four small extinguishers we carry in strategic locations (one by the front door, one in the bedroom by the escape window, and two in the kitchen) have one purpose, to let us get out of the rig no matter where the fire starts.  With Mac’s assurance that these small foam extinguishers are still viable, we feel prepared.

Next, we walked over for a quick visit with our friends Mary and Elaine, who rolled in while we listened to Mac, then it was time for the daily 4 pm happy hour, with introductions and recognition of new Boomers and new arrivals.  Odel was swamped selling Boomer decals; he came home with dollar bills hanging out all of his pockets.

Following a quick dinner at home, Odel cleaned up the day’s dishes, saving the once-used water  (photo above) for it’s next assignment: toilet flushing.  While boondocking, we turn off the water supply to the toilet, using “gray water” (water already used once) for flushing.  I wonder if (more likely, when) the day will come when this is considered a normal way of life for urban dwellers?  When clean water is more valuable than fossil fuel?

We finished up just in time to head to Ken and Sue’s place for Movie Night.  Ken and Sue went to Burning Man in 2010, and put together a photo presentation on the experience.  While Sue projected the photos on the outside wall of their motorhome, Ken narrated for the 40-50 Boomers in attendance.  Great show!  We shoulda’ brought popcorn.

The full moon was high when the Burning Man presentation ended, so Odel and I followed our shadows down “main street” to visit Mike and Marilyn around their little campfire circle, and snagged an invitation inside their motorhome to see the renovations they have made over the years.  They’ve done a beautiful job with fabric and paint… painted walls might be in our future, too.

Finally, we were back home and sung in our bed, listening to the breeze ruffling the awnings. 

Up again at 7:30 am, dressed and ready to join the 9 am walking group (here we are with Beth and Sally).  Another day begins in Boomerville!