After the rains ended I traveled to San Antonio for the RVing Women Annual Convention. RVW is a national nonprofit organization. As their vision statement says, they are
"A large welcoming community of women supporting one another in the safe enjoyment of the RV lifestyle." As a first-year RVW member going to my first convention, I didn't know what to expect. What I found when I walked into my first meeting was amazing.
My mom grew up with five sisters. I remember, when I was a child, whenever they got together as a group, the room was filled with an almost overwhelming sense of warmth, fun and love. The house would fill with the sounds of their voices and laughter. The kids would hang around, soaking in the fun, while the men tended to migrate outdoors or around a sports game on tv. When I walked into my first meeting at the convention I experienced the same feeling of warmth, fun and love, as well as a shared spirit of adventure and curiosity.
I belonged with these women. I had found my tribe.
During my week at the convention I joined
Solos, a group of women who travel on their own. Imagine 100 self-assured, independent, "
like to do things their way" women together in one room... fascinating! Imagine them all trying to come to a consensus... mind-boggling!
During the convention I learned how to perform basic maintenance on my van, took classes in Texas Hold-em, played in a poker tournament, went to a wine and cheese tasting, and made a new friend.
Linda, also traveling solo, was parked just down the road from me. One gray afternoon we toured the King William district, one of San Antonio's historic neighborhoods. Afterwards we went out to Paloma Blanca, in Alamo Heights, for fantastic Mexican food. She also invited me over a couple of times, once to share a bottle of wine and conversation, and another time for a meal of beanie weenies and brownies in the comfort of her large class A motorhome.
I had a lot of fun at the convention and would recommend RVing Women to any woman interested in the RVing lifestyle. I'm looking forward to attending the 2010 convention in Mesa, Arizona.
Like Sun Tzu, the ancient Chinese general, Don Glass is a master of the art of war, or at least the art of Risk. Don is the winner of the 2009 Wander Woman Annual Thanksgiving Risk Tournament! With his encyclopedic knowledge of the wisdom of Sun Tzu and his masterful control of the board, Don quickly dispatched all other contenders to become a serial winner and current holder of the title... "Master Of The Universe." 