RE: "Advise" versus "Advice" Just Another Rant
The fact that amateurs get it wrong in the grammar department is one thing.....people just don't care about language skills any longer. What is worse, however, are the "professional writers" in the print media that can't seem to get it right either.
RE: Thinking of becoming seasonal?
We've been "Snowbirding around" for the last few years, but DW's health is causing us to rethink that. She just can't ride for long stretches any more. So, we are thinking of either renting a site year round down south somewhere, and leaving the TT on site, or buying a site with a park model on it. Our main concern is the cost or availability of insurance, especially if we do this in Florida.
RE: Not to beat a dead horse, but...Resort Membership Question
We had one for about five years and sold it. The biggest problem with ANY paid membership program is that you feel that you have to use the membership as much as possible to justify the purchase. Therefore, you may stay at a membership park when there is a nicer park nearby. A membership will make you lean towards their campgrounds whether you want to stay there or not. Also, the memberships are pretty pricey (initial cost, yearly maintenance fee that typically increases yearly, hidden "extras", special assessments, a resale fee when you want to sell it, etc.), and if you check out your expected usage over time, you may find that it costs you a lot more to camp each time than if you just pay as you go. Keep in mind, memberships don't offer "free" camping like they say. You are merely paying in advance. Also, many of the memberships require you to renew your membership card with a new photo every year or two that they have to take (like a drivers licence photo). At the same time, they try to get you to "upgrade" your membership to include time shares, specialty resorts, etc. You can say no, of course, but it's a hassle to have to go through that just to get your membership card renewed. As to Coast to Coast, we gave ours up after one year due to having such a hard time finding places to use it. Each campground only has a certain number of C2C spaces available, and these always seemed to be filled. However, they had plenty of the full-priced sites available! Just make sure you know EXACTLY what you are getting into, and what is required of you. READ ALL THE FINE PRINT, and don't sign anything until you understand it all. It's a contract, and you're stuck with it once you sign.
RE: Waycross Georgia Laura S Walker SP
One of the nicest we found. We went for two days enroute to Florida, and stayed an additional week. FYI, this was three years ago, and they had those huge fires since then, so you may want to just call and make sure there was not a lot of damage to the park. If not, go for it.....it was very nice.
RE: Melamine gets around in China
Not just with Chinese products, but products in general. One example would be the case of listeria with Maple Leaf meat. Don't fall into the halo effect for North American companies. Just because a product is made in North America, doesn't mean it is a safe, quality product.
This just brought something else to mind: I've noticed lately that when you buy chicken or other frozen meats, the packaging now says "CA, US, or MEX", which is apparently a way of telling the consumer "We won't tell you where it came from precisely, but it came from somewhere in north America". I'm not liking this at all, so I may have to stop buying frozen meats altogether! I don't like vague answers, or guessing games as to where my food came from!
RE: Campgrounds in west central Fl.
We didn't stay at Quail Run but we visited there. Seemed very nice and clean. If you like to fish, you could try Lake Rousseau RV park. World class fishing there. Also, Rock Crusher Canyon in Crystal River (under a new name now). We stayed there a couple of months, and loved it.
RE: RGV Pet Question
You could also talk with Dr. De Bruyn (below). She took care of one of our terminally ill pets last winter, and was fantastic.
Dian De Bruyn, DVM - Mission Veterinary Hospital
Address: 2012 E Business Highway 83, Mission, TX 78572
Phone: (956) 585-1656
RE: Melamine gets around in China
Well, Doug4.7, this has been enlightening. I guess the phrase "you get what you pay for" has to be taken VERY LITERALLY concerning Chinese products. It should certainly give those who buy products based on price alone something to think about. In fact, I'm more determined than ever to buy things that aren't made in China. It will just take me a lot more time researching to find them.
RE: Melamine gets around in China
It would seem to me that common sense, even among the Chinese, would allow for the customer to at least SURVIVE the use of the product!Not necessarily. If you want that, then you must pay extra for it (that is just about a verbatim quote from the Chinese moderator on that show I saw when the US trade representative made a similar argument).
I am not saying there is not greed, but there is also a whole cultural gap thing going on here. They do not look at life the same way we do.
Well, if that's true, and I have to expect to pay more if I don't want the Chinese products to kill me, then that's even a GREATER incentive to buy products made somewhere other than China. They may not value my life very much, but I sure do, so I'll pay the extra couple of bucks to see "Made in USA" stamped on the product!
RE: Rockport in Dec Jan and Feb.
We spent last January in Rockport, and February in Mission in the RGV. Personally, we liked the Rockport area MUCH more than the valley. Granted, it was cooler,wetter, and foggier, but the valley was too hot, too dusty, and MUCH more congested than Rockport. Also, there is a really nice beach right in Rockport, along with two fishing piers. One of our biggest complaints about the valley was the lack of woods, water, and other natural attractions. There is one state park near Mission, but that's it. The rest of the valley consisted of either city, or barren farmland. I think the Rockport area is much prettier to look at and explore. There are many nice restaurants in the Rockport-Fulton area, although not nearly as many as the valley. We stayed at Lagoons, but would not recommend that park to anyone....for several reasons. However, there are many nice parks nearby, and a quick check of RVparkreviews.com will let you pick out the one with the amenities and price you're looking for.
RE: Melamine gets around in China
Well, Doug4.7, that's a good explanation, and it might even answer some questions. However, it doesn't explain how a country would poison its own babies and children with tainted milk and milk products. I don't think any of that can be blamed on "cultural differences" or misunderstanding, since the perpertrators and victims are all from the same culture. All countries have certain things that are considered to be "malum in se", or "evil in itself", where it is just UNDERSTOOD that the act is wrong without the population being informed of this in advance (i.e. murder, theft, etc.), and this concept crosses cultural barriers. Therefore, I have a hard time believing that the Chinese feel that we don't care if the people who buy their products are injured or die as a result of using them. It would seem to me that common sense, even among the Chinese, would allow for the customer to at least SURVIVE the use of the product!
RE: Melamine gets around in China
I have seen several recalls, Eggs, Chickens, Milk, pet food, Valve Stems (Ford is involved in one just now) tires, Toys.. The list goes on and on and on "Made in China" is starting to = LOOK OUT!
Oh, I forgot to mention products made with eggs, milk, meat, and.. Well you get the picture
Exactly right. The problem is systemic. It's not a problem with melamine, it's a problem with a complete and total disregard for the safety of the customer. This is a country that has an interest in making money, and nothing else. Even now, their government talks a good talk about fixing the problem, and even arrests a corporate CEO or two, just for show. But the problems continue day after day, and even seem to be expanding as more Chinese goods are scrutinized, and I don't see an end in sight in our lifetime. Their profits are just too great to be concerned with consumer safety. In the '50's and '60's, Japan was the up and coming source, but their products were just annoyingly cheap and short lived. Now it's China, but as opposed to Japan's products, China's are downright dangerous!
RE: Melamine gets around in China
Yep, the Chinese seem to have a real lack of concern with the safety of their products. They like all of the American business that they get, because they make a ton of money with their low, low labor costs. They don't want to be burdened with spending any of those huge profits on quality control, however. I've started paying a LOT MORE attention to the country of origin of products that I buy, and although it's difficult, things made in the U.S., (or Canada and Europe) can still be found if you look for them. The biggest problem is finding products where NONE of the components come from China such as in the post from ro_sie above.
RE: MI to FL via I-75 where do you stop for the night?
Here is one we stayed at just off I-75, south of I-71, in Walton, which is just inside of Kentucky. It's not fancy, but it's open year round. http://www.oakcreekcampground.com/
RE: Has anyone used a 'SHAMWOW!!!"
I won't buy a Shamwow, however. It's my personal quest to never buy from a company that puts out stupid commercials.
Especially ANYTHING Billy Mays promotes!
Boy, you are right on about that jerk, Billy Mays! As soon as I hear his screaching, annoying voice, I change the station.....I don't even give him time to mention what his "snake oil of the day" is.
RE: What a waste of taxpayers money...
The dimwit should be forced to pay damages for wasting everyones time. And shame on the appellate court for even agreeing to hear his arguement!
