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The recreational vehicle lifestyle can fit almost
anyone
By Charles Bridwell
Syndicated Columnist
Published:
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 2:55 PM CDT
When we see a camper trailer, fifth wheel or motorhome going down
the road in south Arkansas, we usually associate it with folks going
fishing or headed to hunting camp. In most cases that’s probably
right. Today, though, people use RVs (recreational vehicles) for
everything from occasional weekend getaways to full-time life on
the road.
If you’ve seen the movie “RV” starring Robin
Williams, you’ve caught a taste of a family vacation in a
motorhome. For some, their first foray into the world of camping
in an RV evolves into a lifelong passion which may inspire them
to abandon their home for life on America’s highways.
For most Americans, RVs are used for a few weekends a year. They
take them to hunting camp, or use them for camping at the lake over
a holiday weekend. Those in fast-paced jobs cherish their “back-to-nature”
trips and feel the expense is worth it, even though their RV is
in storage most of the year.
There is another side of RVing, though. Folks from the cold northern
states often pack up their RVs and head south for the winter, earning
them the nickname of “snowbirds” in the lingo of RV
enthusiasts. Others may spend several months of the year traveling
the country, and retirees without jobs or obligations find it a
wonderful way to spend their golden years with their spouse. Some
travel with other couples, and always have friends nearby.
The diehard RV’er may become a “Full-Timer” because
they spend years on end with no home other than their RV, no responsibilities
except to plan their next horizon, and no home base other than a
relative’s house or a post office box.
Normal folks who live in houses are called “slabbers”
because they spend their lives bound to a house on a concrete slab.
The lure of the open road inspires a few diehards to sell all their
possessions, buy a motorhome, and begin a journey that may last
for years.
One twist among this group is to buy a nice lot, put in some improvements
like an outdoor kitchen, a pavilion, some nice landscaping, and
a concrete pad for their RV. When they’re at “home”
they simply park their RV in this spot which they own. When they
want to travel, they just crank up their “house” and
take it on the road. Some own sites in numerous states, and alternate
locations as it suits them.
There are some financial downsides. A permanent home appreciates
in value while an RV eventually depreciates. Motorhomes, campers,
and tow vehicles all depreciate, but buying a used unit helps slow
the rate of depreciation. Those who trade up regularly incur the
most cost, but also suffer fewer maintenance woes and less equipment
failure.
A surprising number of Americans ages 30-55 do their work while
traveling the country. With modern technology, it’s possible
to perform certain jobs from anywhere. Writers, photographers, secret
shoppers, consultants, computer technicians, engineers, and other
specialists can travel and work at the same time and make a good
living while living the RV lifestyle.
Retirees often perform some work to supplement their income and
help occupy their time while traveling. They may serve as a camp
director for large campgrounds, do some landscaping or yard work,
or provide entertainment for large groups at RV parks. Some jobs
only provide free camping space for their RV. Other jobs provide
actual income, and it’s kind of like working on a cruise ship
and seeing the world while getting paid.
Even if you use your RV only for occasional trips, it’s possible
to get a taste of what the gypsy lifestyle of a full-timer must
be like. Just imagine having the country wide open before you, no
one telling you when to go somewhere or what road you must take,
and having the freedom to stop and see the sights at your leisure.
It’s a great way to see America, a wonderful experience for
those brave enough to give it a try, and a possibility for anyone
willing to adequately plan for their retirement years. Best of all,
you can go RVing a little at a time. Begin with a few trips a year,
expand your horizons and trips as you can, and see if the lure of
the open road doesn’t tug at your heart and soul cause a wanderlust
that can only be fulfilled by seeing the world through a windshield.
AGFC to begin eradication of snakeheads in eastern Arkansas
Almost a year ago, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission fisheries
biologists confirmed a breeding population of northern snakehead,
an invasive species from Asia, near Brinkley. The population was
discovered when a farmer found an unusual fish wiggling along a
gravel farm road near a ditch and contacted the AGFC regional office
in Brinkley. Later this month, AGFC and U.S. Fish and Wildlife personnel
will begin a process to eradicate the invasive species from Piney
Creek and its watershed.
The goal is to prevent snakeheads from threatening native fish
populations in Arkansas and elsewhere in the lower Mississippi River
basin. An eradication plan originally scheduled for October last
year was postponed due to heavy rainfall associated with tropical
storm systems Gustav and Ike. The rainfall caused higher-than-normal
water flows in Piney Creek, limiting the AGFC’s ability to
effectively implement the eradication plan. Weather conditions also
delayed the rice harvest in many fields adjacent to Piney Creek,
another factor that hampered the eradication project.
The eradication process includes the use of helicopters, boats,
ground crews and amphibious track vehicles. The crews will be spreading
Rotenone, a chemical for fish eradications, which will kill out
all fish in the waters where it is placed. AGFC Chief of Fisheries
Mike Armstrong said that using the chemical is the only way to make
sure that snakeheads are removed from the area. “People are
going to see a lot of dead fish in these areas,” he said.
“There is going to be an impact to the native fish population.
But, I want to make certain that people know these areas will recover
quickly. The AGFC will restock these areas with native gamefish
and with natural re-colonization the creek will be well on its way
to recovery by the end of summer with the stocking expected to provide
an improved fishery by next summer,” Armstrong added.
The species was banned in Arkansas in 2002 and placed under a federal
importation ban the same year because of its potential to cause
problems with native fish. However, biologists believe the species
may have been brought to Arkansas before these regulations were
passed. “The northern snakehead is used as a food species
in Asia, and we know some were brought to fish farms in the U.S.
before 2002,” said AGFC Assistant Chief of Fisheries Mark
Oliver. “Fish farmers in Arkansas realized the potential danger
the species posed and tried to eradicate them even before bans were
imposed.”
According to Armstrong, the largest fear biologists have concerning
the species is its impact on native fish such as largemouth bass,
bream and crappie. Snakeheads are very aggressive predators, attacking
food species as well as fish their own size. “If snakeheads
are not removed, there could be permanent damage to many of the
state’s fisheries in eastern Arkansas,” he says.
For more information on the planned project, please contact the
AGFC Regional Office in Brinkley, (877) 734-4581, or the Fisheries
Division in the Little Rock Office, (501) 223-6428. Commission regulations
prohibit the import, transport or possession of snakeheads in Arkansas,
however snakeheads caught may be immediately turned in to the AGFC.
(AGFC Press Services)
Archery program state tournament is Saturday
The Arkansas National Archery in the Schools Program – part
of the National Archery in the Schools Program – will hold
its state tournament on March 21 at Summit Arena in Hot Springs.
Over 900 kids from around the state are scheduled to compete.
The archery program involves students beginning in the fourth grade
continuing through their high school senior year. Students learn
archery skills, as well as an outdoor hobby they may enjoy for the
rest of their lives.
The tournament will be held in the arena’s halls C and D.
Registration will begin at 8 a.m. with the first flight starting
at 9 a.m. The second flight begins at 11 a.m. A third flight begins
at 1 p.m.
The top shooter shoot-off will be held at 4 p.m. with the awards
ceremony beginning shortly after. The top shooter shoot-off will
include the top three boys and top three girls in each division.
Scholarship money will be awarded to each contestant in the boys
and girls category. The top shooter gets $2,500, second place gets
$2,000 and third place gets $1,500 in the senior division only.
Archers will compete for trophies. A special edition Matthews Genesis
bow goes to each member of the top team in each division.
The schools that come in first place will also receive a banner
for their gym and a trophy for their trophy cases as well as individual
trophies for each team member. Second and third place teams will
receive individual trophies for each participant. Fourth and fifth
place teams will receive medals.
Some local schools competing include: Monticello Elementary and
Middle Schools, El Dorado Elementary School, Hamburg High School,
and Hope High School.
For more information on the archery program call Curtis Gray at
(870) 319-5136 or by e-mail at jcgray@agfc.state.ar.us. (AGFC Press
Services)
Dog owners happier, healthier
A recent study, conducted by Stanley Coren, author and professor
at the University of British Columbia, proves that humans with close
ties with a dog benefit in both their emotional and physical health
and well-being. He even goes so far as to say that dogs are better
than Prozac.
The published study asserted that association with a familiar,
friendly dog lowered blood pressure, slowed heart rates, and prompted
more relaxed muscles in humans, all signs of reduced stress.
These benefits occurred in five to 24 minutes, whereas medicines
took days or weeks to work on symptoms of stress and depression.
Coren said the effect was “actually better than having a loved
one next to you.”
Senior adults are proven to be more physically active and make
fewer doctor visits when they have a close relationship with a dog.
And, those who live with a dog are four times less likely to suffer
from depression than those who don’t have a dog.
Children who grow up with dogs are less likely to have animal-related
allergies later in their lives, and have a reduced incidence of
allergies to dust and pollen, as well as a reduced rate for developing
eczema as they mature.
An Australian study of 1,500 pet owners proved that they had lower
cholesterol and hypertension than those without pets, even when
both groups had similar risk factors like diet, health habits, and
smoking.
Another study at the University of Pennsylvania showed that men
who had their first heart attack were more likely to be alive four
years later if they had a companion dog.
Several studies showed that children from families with dogs were
more nurturing, empathetic, and socially competent, and even more
popular among their peers.
Our friendship with dogs goes back thousands of years, and medical
science continues to discover the very real health benefits for
humans who spend time regularly with dogs. Our canine companions
are not only man’s best friend, they’re also medicine
to our hearts, our minds, and even our overall health.
(The Outdoor Pressroom / Calgary Herald)
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