Quartzsite Crowds

Quartzsite, Arizona

• located in La Paz county, 68 miles N of Yuma and 125 miles W of Phoenix. 
• population is about 3,500.
• About 69% of adults are married
• Most of the citizens are male and most are senior citizens
• Most are republican. The sign right outside town on 95 has JOHN McCAIN something, something printed on it.

• Medium family income in 2000 was $26,382
• There is very low property crime and low violent crime rate compared to the rest of the state. (I am not sure how hard it is to claim that. This is Arizona) 

Roughly 500,000 winter visitors come to Quartzsite every year. RV's cover the desert 10 miles in every direction.  Strangely, it does not feel crowded, as long as you are not driving.

The world's largest swap meet is held in Quartzsite during the winter months. 

I found the longest lines on Highway 95. The carbon footprint of this swap meet has to be huge!! 

The longest lines inside the swap meet were at
the ice cream booth and at the Adult Care Beer Garden. No, I did not step inside either one of them.

One vendor said he once sold gold but now sells only lower dollar items like key chains and earrings because of the economy.  Looking around I believe it. How can people, who I think live in their RV's, buy so much STUFF?!

None the less, I was dressed up and I was "Going to the show!!" One of these is possibly The Real Me!

                                                         Whatever.

I really couldn't find much I was interested in. I plan on researching adding another solar panel while I am here. There are several businesses in town and one at the show.

I gathered info on The American Association for Nude Recreation and on seasonal camping and working for Amazon.com, and for www.journalinabox.com, a mother and daughter team selling ready made journals with check lists and fill in the blanks.

I did find a pair of gorgeous earrings at the gem show made out of jade, shaped like long leaves with little veins carved in them. You could see the light through them. I may go back for those.

I also found a group called Harvest Hosts where for a $30.00 yearly membership fee you can park free at  numerous host vintners and farmers and visit their vineyards, farms and orchards. The web site is www.HarvestHosts.com in case you are interested. 

I did buy something from Earth Friendly Products for your RV, Home and Boat - Nature Zyme. They are a one tablet waste water treatment that is 100% biodegradeable and non-toxic. $30.00 for a years supply. I really feel great about this because for 2 years I have been using chemicals, not much but some, and I would really rather not.

I will go back for toilet paper and a sewer hose and maybe some barbacue but that is about all that interests me.

I would rather stay 'home' with Luney and my books and watch the world, or at least Highway 95(which is bumper to bumper traffic until noon, even a mile from city center), pass me by.