One thing you’ll notice besides all the pretty new RVs are the people at a rally. There are lots of them. And a whole big bunch of them are very nice.
Lindsey, along with all of the hardworking FMCA staff were literally everywhere all week, camera in hand. You could see a blue FMCA polo at any time without even looking for them. I bet they all collapsed Sunday and probably slept through until Tuesday. Same with the volunteers. As I’m sure you already know, volunteers certainly are the backbone of any rally. Security, parking, welcome bags, golf cart drivers and more were all handled by volunteers.
Just about everyone has a smile on their face, especially the shuttle drivers and volunteers in golf carts offering rides. As I walked to and from the main area, there was always someone asking if I wanted a ride. I walked, leaving rides for others and walked between 8 and 10 miles every day. Mark wants to be a golf cart driver at the next rally we attend. I hope his riders are ready for nonstop fun crammed into their little ride.
You don’t have to walk everywhere though, many people bring their own golf carts. Bikes are also a great way to get around. I’m not sure if this is new but there were lots of electric bikes zipping around.
But let’s get back to the people.
Dave & Dotti
They were parked behind us. They just sold their house and will be taking longer trips very soon. They aren’t sure if they’ll full-time yet but are excited about this new life adventure. This was their first rally and they were looking forward to everything, especially the entertainment and seminars. Each day was a HELLO there! and we shared our activities in the afternoons.
On Thursday, I took an Uber into downtown Perry to walk their historic downtown. When I returned, they were enjoying a drink on their grass patio. They asked how downtown Perry was and invited me over for a glass of wine. I quickly poured one, grabbed a chair and joined them. We talked, had appetizers and talked some more. I learned how they met, more about their son and stuff they want to do. I had planned on checking out some of the “Block Parties” that FMCA had lined up for the night but this was exactly where I wanted to be. Before I knew it, dinner time had passed and I didn’t want to mess up their dinner plans. I had tomato soup waiting for me. They wouldn’t have any of it, insisting that I stay for dinner, which was delicious by the way. At the concert Friday night, I ended up sitting pretty close to them. When the concert was over, they made sure I made it safely back to my RV. They took great care of me while my husband was busy talking garage doors non-stop at an industry event. What started as a simple hello turned into a warm friendship over the course of a few days. These are the kind of people you’ll meet at a rally.
Milo and Donna
Milo is a big Georgia football fan. Huge might be a better word. I met them at the Tiffin Lifestyle potluck on Wednesday night when I sat down next to them. He was proudly wearing a Georgia jacked and we joked about the Rose Bowl game where his Bulldogs beat my Sooners. They were both so very nice and made sure to find me and invite me to join them at activities. We laughed and talked during the morning donuts and at the ice cream social. Their daughter owns a sandwich shop in Breckenridge and we both love camping at Tiger Run. I hope we can be there at the same time on an upcoming trip. On Friday night, I wore my red OU shirt just for him, hoping I would be able to find them. As I walked in the arena and saw how full it was, I thought there was no way could I find them. I decided to just find a close seat and enjoy the show. I kid you not, I looked up and there they were, two rows in front of me. I jumped up and tapped him on the shoulder, telling him I wore this just for him. We all had a good laugh and they asked me to sit with them. These are the kind of people you’ll meet at a rally.
Danny and Karen
They have an exciting story leading up to the rally. They listed their house for sale on Tuesday and started their fulltime life that very day. They both have a military background, lucky ducks with their insurance taken care of, and hope to travel the US. We talked about fun places out west for them to explore. Their son is currently stationed in El Paso, TX so that’s going to be their first destination. They both commented on how much they learned in Thursday’s “Fulltiming RV Lifestyle” seminar. She wants to start a blog so we talked a lot about that. She’s been following my blog for a while and was quite shocked that I am the person she follows. Full disclosure, it was a great moment for me hearing directly from someone who enjoys my little blog. These are the kind of people you’ll meet at a rally.
Bill and Willemina Flowers
I feel like I already knew them. They started the Tiffin Lifestyles Facebook group last summer. The first official meeting and gathering for the group was in Perry. They want to promote the fun lifestyle part of RVing. They have even organized a summer trip up into eastern Canada this summer. Did you know he plays Santa during the Christmas season? I just had to bring cookies for Santa to the potluck.
These are the people you’ll meet at a rally. Adventurous and young at heart. So very nice and helpful. Never met a stranger kind of people who kept a smile on my face all week.
The next rally is in Minot, who’s in?
Thanks sharing your blog – great photo journalism and we look forward to seeing you in Minot.
Great blog post really giving a sense of what happens when you attend a FMCA National Convention. Hope to see you at the 100th convention in Minot, ND.