#3 STUPIDITY

https://www.abc15.com/news/region-southeast-valley/mesa/family-says-they-were-stuck-in-mesa-rv-store-for-an-hour-after-it-closed

Yep thats the place..

(Camping World , Mesa, AZ: Google Images 2018)

COMPARTMENTALIZED THINKING

(Thinking in the box (google Images, 2018))

Having studied Psychology as a part of my Masters Degree,and later working in Behavioral Health alongside a Psychiatrist or two or three, I have come to know about this kind of thinking. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compartmentalization_(psychology), as a part of our own cognitive dissonance. I have had the opportunity to see individuals revert to this thinking and the behaviors it causes first hand and very often.
Why am I writing about this?  More often than not a person will live their whole lives within a structure of compartmentalized thinking, and I wanted to address this as an aspect of how business and government uses this to manipulate people to do their daily jobs, and react to situations.  This kind of thinking is often projected to us subtly in everything from the movies we watch to the foods we eat, and how we spend our money.
Examine your daily behaviors, do you behave routinely, do what is innate to you, react without thinking?  Examine the things you say, have you thought about why you say those things?

Just the other day I witnessed a man in a truck roll down the window of his vehicle and yell obscenities at a couple in the parking lot for supposedly cutting him off.   Why would he carrying the event which is basically part of the driving experience into something  abusive?  If he had hesitated for one moment and thought about it,"Hmm," perhaps he would have held his tongue.  Its a situation that caused him to feel uncomfortable and because of his sense of power, and who he thinks he is he reacted.  In reality he might get out of his truck and we would find he is maybe a little shorter than we thought he would be, kind of wimpy even.  However, it is the person he becomes when he gets into that 5,000 pound vehicle, that he thinks he is.  This behavior shocking as it may be is a part of this individuals compartmentalized thinking. His Behavior prompted by his sense of dissonance.

Therefore, when we have an election and a person is voted on to represent  us in a body of government that candidate picks a platform.  He/she appeals to a certain kind of person that they feel lives within the boundaries of the area they will represent.  As individuals we respond to those that seem to fit the way we think about things.  The candidate's play on our fears, the flaws of former officials, and appeal to the things that might appease a certain population.
As a kid I remember when politics started in grade school with the election of a  "Class President." I fondly remember as a 6th grader hearing a boy with horned rimmed glasses and a dress shirt and tie say,
"I will make sure that we have chocolate milk in our drinking fountains."    Of course that never happened but he did become our class president.   He found out right away, " give the people what they want... "I am sure he is out there someplace holding a public office.


However, I would like to address this issue of compartmentalized thinking further.  I would like to apply it to our everyday lives.  Lately I have thought,"if a tree falls in the forest does it make a sound." (a concept based on an experiment concerning perception), How do I want to be perceived?  If i just allow myself to be present and yet still and quiet will my presence be noted or am I an invisible type of personality?

Relating to my own compartmentalized thinking I have begun to question myself: "Are my thoughts valid? How am I being perceived by others? What am I meaning to accomplish by my statements that reveal my thinking?  Am I being too nice? Am I being too careful?  What is it that I want to achieve here?" "Do I care?"  After a while after watching, reviewing, and thinking, I realize it really doesn't matter as everyone around me is programmed into one dynamic or another and who I am is merely their perception based on who they think they are and what compartment they are filling.  If the tree falls in the forest it does make a sound.  The real question to ponder is what is that sound? 

(Fallen Tree in the Forest ( google Images 2018))

THE RV WORLD

The information contained in this blog are the expressed opinions of the author based on true experiences.  Photo "Disclaimer" is sourced via Google Images 2018

AND Therefore, not fact.  Ok, so it's the world we live in.  You've heard it all, "buyer beware, you get what you pay for, or Caveat Emptor"  of course everyone has the memorable experience of having to buy a new car.  Visiting the car lot and having the sales people swamp the car.(if not, be thankful)
 In our case, we drove by on a Saturday afternoon and saw them all standing out in front and because we did not have the courage to pull in, drove past.   People we do business with should carry a disclaimer as the one above, tacked to their fronts. Especially a certain company which I will not name here, Camping World, in this post due to the fact that my opinion may have some relevance to the future business dealings of this organization. NOT! business is booming. They must stay alive due to their Good Sam Camping Club and Insurances and the continual victimization of unsuspecting RV buyers like us.

  However, I will not just single out this organization for its shocking behaviors towards clients/employees and customers, I will also mention others like Cal Am Properties and Resorts.

THE STORY: Mom and I were Workampers planning a trip someplace south for the winter of 2017/18.    The old Class C had seen its best years and therefore prompted us to look for another rig.  Finding a rig that fits one's needs is a huge undertaking.  Very much like buying a house the process has an added element of dealing with RV salespeople and lots of competition between organizations.  They all promise something.  Most of it is lies.
Having exhausted our local facilities we broadened our search and upon calling a Camping World in Oregon was told; "We have several newer/used units that your financial situation could accommodate."

Upon arrival, the saleswoman whom I made an appointment with could not be found, having gone to lunch already. We were exactly on time, I'd have understood had we been late, going to lunch.. finally, she showed up as we were about to leave, walking to our car she came out to greet us,"hi guys,"  We loaded up into a golf cart.  Thank God that my Senior citizen mother was in the front as the quick turns and fast stops, made by our saleswoman would have spilled her out, a potential catastrophe to be sure;  after viewing the first NEW! RV, she chose to walk.
We asked,"where are the older models you told us about?" Having driven for 4 hours to see a potential "Awesome Used RV" we were quite disappointed when the crazed saleswoman stated, "oh, I don't have much." zipping to a curbside beside a hybrid I inquired about.  "you can have this unit at our cost"  "How much does it weigh as we can only pull under 3,800 lbs." The bargaining began.  We ended up buying a NEW! RV that in theory we could pull but in reality could not.  We parted to drive home with a promise for a phone call tomorrow to let us know if our financing went through.

The call never came.  We called and never got anyone who could help us.  Getting a little aggravated by this time as we had left money down on the rig.  Someone should be communicating with us. Another day later, after waiting for calls all day for managers, and disconnected calls, and put on hold calls.  Once we were routed to the store section of the facility and speaking to a merchandise person we hung up.  2 days later we called again. My mother hung on the phone for some time before another salesperson came on to tell us our speed racer sales lady could not be found and was probably out on the lot with another client."  Did we want her to call us back? as he would take a message. My mother asked for a manager.   This kind of attitude persisted for another 2 weeks.
Why we did not just cancel the check I have no idea. Perhaps we could not find anything else at the time. I had done extensive research into what we could haul, tongue weights, water capacities, warranties, hitches and sway bars.  Looking back, We should have just asked for our money back and moved on.

To our credit or our stupidity, we hung in there until we had our new RV sitting in the drive.  I was on the lot to see it be driven out by contracted delivery people after a quick run through on operations by a toothless logger and a shop guy that smelled of alcohol.  Lighting the propane?

In the back of my mind as we were rushed out of there(our saleslady already with a new client, ignoring my waves goodbye,) a scene from,"Casino Royal," Woody Allen in front of a firing squad having his last smoke.  "SO LONG SUCKERS" https://youtu.be/67GncCLOBVE" playing while I watched our NEW! RV head out on its maiden 4-hour journey to its hook up in our drive.
I wish I could say "these suckers" were done with those peddlers, making that experience a character building memory.  Yet we could not. The sale was mismanaged and the paperwork was not correctly expedited.  The loan package compiled without permission of the lender and on and on, even the names were not correct.
on one occasion after we had called to discuss this, she said," I don't know why your unhappy, you got such a good deal why don't you run an ad on Craig's list and sell it ?" Wow!  where did that come from? obviously, someone eating too much lunch and racing around flipping senior citizens out of golf carts.. IDK

The RV was too heavy weighing in at 3,600 lbs loaded. Our Grand Caravan with a factory installed tow package was straining to pull us to Arizona. We gave up and bought a truck.

One would think that was the end of it.  However, when we got to Arizona the Workamper job at Cal Am their Val Vista Resort, where we had been hired, forgot to tell us that we had to have a camper that was over 22' long.

So, there we were with our new Jayco Jayflight BH17. One of the most negative experiences in my life began.

It wasn't the residents who were mostly retirees, snowbirds, and locals living the RV life, that were a problem; they were just normal folks who wanted to have a good time.   It was the management of the resort that needed lessons on how not to behave as criminals.  They practiced lying and opportunistic business practices.  To explain better; Its a sort of vulture approach. Use everyone else's money, don't pay your bills and do not fulfill your contracted promises to your business partners, utilizing manipulation and control.  Say one thing and do another.

The very first day I was on the job the manager came in and browbeat the other Workampers for apparently making a paycheck.  "You know corporate doesn't like that," he said.  He did not look at me, however, I felt he was sending a message to those of us who had just come in.

We had come to the job with the assurance that if we worked over our rent and utilities we would be given a paycheck.  That was disappointing as I had passed up other offers to come to this location.   Other fiasco's were: losing our paperwork, not even bothering to employ my mother who had come all the way to Arizona having been hired just like myself, moving us to another part of the park, (I'm sure due to the size of our rig)  not answering emails and now making me chase my tax information. Yikes! Since we are members of Workamper News and we were recruited from their classifieds, I feel obligated to warn others of our experiences.  Cal Am was dishonest and much of my mother's stress which caused her to have a stroke while we were there can be attributed to that experience.

AND yes, "Caveat Emptor" which should completely apply to Camping World.  We had been warned and now so have you.

Part #3 will usher in the next chapter of this escapade, A visit to the same company where we purchased our unit in Arizona, its entitled, "Stupidity."

WORKAMPING

Part 1:


Yes, that's how it is spelled, "Workamping" a term fashioned by an organization called "Workamper News" which has pioneered the now burgeoning movement to live in ones RV and work while traveling.https://www.workamper.com/, Which I did since October 2017.
It's a long and disappointing story punctuated with many negative experiences. Highs and lows but mostly lows.

I Workamped in Mesa Arizona at an RV Resort.  It was nothing to write home about but the people were nice.
I made some friends and had a few laughs thank you Mr. Hilariousness, part of the terrific duo,  The funny one paired with his very gentle and sometimes candid British Ex-pat wife. had me in stitches most of the time.

The poor people of Mesa and perhaps Arizona, in general, have terrible air quality, the worst drivers in the world aside from Florida and the speed demons of Detroit and not to forget the careless Oregonian drivers.  Even when the wind is not blowing, there is this unseen dust in the air. It gets in your ears and I could feel myself breathe it in. It settled on my tongue and then my sinuses clogged up as it spread to my chest. I had a constant heaviness as my breath struggled to find a clear airway.
It was only after we made the Oregon State line on our return trip home, did I start to feel as if I could breathe again. I am to this day and it is February still a little clogged.
That was only one negative connected to living in the real "Wild West."  I won't say anymore so as not to tempt those sweet Arizonians to a better climate for their health.  SEATTLE!!! oops, didn't say that...

However, I must speak to you carnivores at this point in time, BEEF! cheap!! and delicious! I ate steak almost a couple times a week!  The beauty of the meat was amazing and inexpensive as well. 

What occurred was we made it to our lovely Workamper campsite, one day from what I realized was a monthly event: "A Patio Sale."   I was exhausted from the journey, a few days of breakneck traveling to be there for the deadline to begin working. As it turned out we needn't have traveled so fast as they did not put us to work for 2 weeks! My first bleary-eyed Saturday found me sitting in my new camp chair, gazing at a sea of Class A motorhomes across from us, beside us and behind us.  No sunshine, just gray overcast sky and the sounds of cars whizzing by on the highway behind us.  I fought my disappointment.  However, something was occurring.
 People in golf carts were slowly passing by loaded down with lamps, hoses, various treasures grasped as they drove one handed down the narrow lanes.  I noticed my neighbor whom I came to know as, "Pastor Bill," put out one thing.  A grill. I sat and contemplated this little grill; it wasn't a Hibachi, which I was in the market for.  It wasn't a junk kettle barbecue, which I had the non-junk version at home.  It Was a Weber, hmm... a known name for quality in the grilling business.  I was afraid to leave my chair for a closer look as I hadn't even met these people yet, and my hair was standing up: I knew this as I could feel the soft breezes whip at my strays.
 However, I was dressed and had shoes on. As I stood up the neighbor to the right, Mr. Hilariousness came over and said, "you need that. grill"  At that point in our relationship, I was not able to decipher whether he was serious or joking.  I thought, "yes I do." yet at the same time talking myself out of it.
My mind churning about money issues, not even knowing where my credit card charges were due to the journey and charging campsites and fuel.  Always hoping to catch up with my 'New job."(which never happened.) 

The man on site, was in front of one of the nicest "A class'" I'd ever seen. From here on known as "Pastor Bill, " came out immediately with his hand extended for a shake.  I sheepishly shook his hand being uncertain about myself and my place in this Snowbird world.  "I'm Bill from Colorado," he said. I should mention we all wore name tags, plastic dealies with our names and states on them.  (cautioned not to let anyone see us without it being employees, I immediately discarded mine, attaching it to my work shirt.  ) "Pastor Bill" began to explain the life of the grill and for some reason, I heard nothing.  I think it's my nature upon meeting people to see only what is apparent; mannerisms, appearance, gestures.  "Pastor Bill" was not unique in looks, his balding head glowed as did his smile which by the way was rare.  His handshake was firm and confident. After I wrote him a check for $25.00 which I sensed he was hesitant to take, (which I credit to my haggard appearance), he said,"if you need me to come by and show you how to operate it let me know, anytime."  His wife came out and handed me a grill mat to which the two of them conversed about whether I needed or not and if there was even one left in the package."Cindy"  replied that there was one in the package and even if there wasn't that I would probably like to know what they were.  I responded,"yeah Id like to use those." not knowing at all what they were talking about.  "Pastor Bill" carried the grill to my site placing it out of tripping range. 

Then Mr. Hilarious began hawking his wares, model airplane parts(the real ones that actually fly), I saw the Mrs, Ex-pat, put out some plates, glass plates.  Normal dining, not the red plastic, "Dollar Store," made in China plates that my food often slid off of onto the ground.  Then she looked at me and said with her confusing, British, Canadian, English,"Free." I rushed over.  "Keep the birds from Shi__ting on your roof," Mr. Hilarious called to the passing golf carts, showing off his plastic owl for $5.00.
I indicated I wanted the "free" China. "it would be so nice to eat on real plates," I said.  Thus began our daily check-ins with some of the kindest and gracious people I'd ever met. 

It wasn't until much later did I use the grill. Probably would not have used it at all had Mr. Hilariousnesst pushed me past my hesitation, becoming a go-between, Finally, Pastor Bill came over and said,"I heard you needed me to help you light the grill." Bewildered I stammered, "Oh sure, how about tomorrow evening?" he said,"Ok, just come and get me."  I later realized it was Mr. Hilariousness who initiated this.
Now I'm a pretty easy going person and therefore the manipulation didn't bother me so much. Pastor Bill became a familiar person to me, especially after I scorched him the first time we lit the grill.   
I made a special trip to Albertsons for steaks but came home with ribs and I still did not go and get the pastor to help me. The little grill sat on the ground beside the door, its black plastic cover stating it was a "WEBER" blaring at me each time I went in or came out.  Finally... I went over after I tried to light it.   My fear, unveiled as propane tank trepidation, plastic lighters, and fire,, vivid memories of a former life when I opened a grill and poof gone were my eyebrows! Besides I had someone to help me overcome my fears of fire and he was as close to God as they come being a Pastor.  How could I not get this done? 
I walked the 20 feet to the door of the big RV and knocked, the screen was shut but the door was open and I could see some feet in a recliner, as my eyes adjusted I saw Pastor Bill with his eyes closed in that recliner. His wife Cindy's feet appeared as she descended the few stairs to the door. I said quietly,"light the grill?"  She smiled and called to him, he quickly answered,"I'll be right over." 
He talked me through it, Of course, I heard nothing and he hit the electronic ignitor;  POOF!! he jumped back as the flame jumped high into the air sending the grill mat flying.  "Crap!" I said, apologizing profusely realizing the fire had scorched the hair on his arm.  Of course, I had stupidly fiddled with it all before I went for help and left the gas on.  He quickly denied any harm done and schooled me on lighting the damn thing and made a fast exit. 
My guilt plagued me, each day. I went out of my way to greet this man anytime I saw him at the Post Office where I worked or in passing.  I met Cindy, his wife, in the laundry mat and we spoke of her life and I poured out mine easily just because I knew it was her job to listen.  Hoping I could be some kind of a friend rather than just another needy church person searching for wisdom or prestige from a pastor's wife. 
(Having been the best friend of a pastors wife, therefore, I was privy to her unique position.)

Last night I watched a VLOG I follow called "Long ,Long, Honeymoon. "http://longlonghoneymoon.com/ and learned the value my Patio Sale treasure.   My $25.00 grill, "that I needed," has taken up residence off my deck in my side yard, on a plastic table. Its name "Weber" proudly announcing the many steaks and ribs and chicken grills we have enjoyed.  Each time it "poofs "sending its 3rd grill matt into the air slightly, I remember with reluctance the day I almost killed myself and a man of God... I pray that incident will be merely a vague memory of his if he ever remembers me at all. 

"Holy Grill"