4 million house and squaters ALL over the desert

[was thatguy]

I wonder if the desert dwellers gossip about the newer pile of shit campers that show up?
“Did you see that Alegro that showed up yesterday? High roller for sure. He dug a hot tub hole and built a full deck out of pallets overnight…”

 

[Sportin' Wood]

Perhaps the view of the nomadic poor should be a subtle reminder of how good we have it.

I've been through that area four times this season; it seems to be turning over consistent with the BLM rules. Save for one crappy camper I've seen on each trip, but it had a big yellow sticker on it a couple of weeks ago.

Today's RDP baller could be tomorrow's Desert Squatter. Many are seasonal workers trying to stay away from the snow or cold of the north, waiting to go back to low-paying service jobs, or trying to survive on social security.

It is pretty likely I will be one of "Those People." You may be also. You are one nasty divorce, a major medical event, or a lawsuit away from finding yourself in that exact spot if you are not young enough to rebound.

The OC is strong in this thread. Go further out into the desert before you peel out.

 

[was thatguy]

Perhaps the view of the nomadic poor should be a subtle reminder of how good we have it.

I've been through that area four times this season; it seems to be turning over consistent with the BLM rules. Save for one crappy camper I've seen on each trip, but it had a big yellow sticker on it a couple of weeks ago.

Today's RDP baller could be tomorrow's Desert Squatter. Many are seasonal workers trying to stay away from the snow or cold of the north, waiting to go back to low-paying service jobs, or trying to survive on social security.

It is pretty likely I will be one of "Those People." You may be also. You are one nasty divorce, a major medical event, or a lawsuit away from finding yourself in that exact spot if you are not young enough to rebound.

The OC is strong in this thread. Go further out into the desert before you peel out.

Man ain’t that the truth.

 

[AZLineman]

It's bad this year. Ridiculous amount of 'RVs" to the north of town
Going to bunker bar is like driving through homeless encampment.
Sure there's some average rigs, but also abandoned shit all over.
Then to the south, worse than years prior also

If the city doesn't figure this out soon its going to become a real problem.

Free country blah blah
Cali transplants blah blah
Government blah blah.

Just this honkys observation for discussion.

A weekish ago I noticed alot of this on the West side of the river coming into Parker as well

 

[Lunatic Fringe]

Guess you should have them all move in with you.

Sure there is the minority of unfortunate situations, most have and do make the decisions to be in their situations. It's harder to go to work and pay bills and be responsible thats what upsets most of us that do have have to deal with those that dont.

You missed my point I think.

I in no way feel I, or you, owe them anything that encourages or enables their chosen lifestyle.

My point was anyone who destroys the few remaining possessions of value that a homeless or nearly homeless person has, is an asshole.

 

[yuppie]

I thought I left Portland back up north. Seems like more and more people are withdrawing from society and living the nomadic lifestyle where they can just do drugs and live wherever they want, for free.

 

[brgrcru]

It's bad this year. Ridiculous amount of 'RVs" to the north of town
Going to bunker bar is like driving through homeless encampment.
Sure there's some average rigs, but also abandoned shit all over.
Then to the south, worse than years prior also

If the city doesn't figure this out soon its going to become a real problem.

Free country blah blah
Cali transplants blah blah
Government blah blah.

Just this honkys observation for discussion.

Sounds like LA

 

[was thatguy]

You missed my point I think.

I in no way feel I, or you, owe them anything that encourages or enables their chosen lifestyle.

My point was anyone who destroys the few remaining possessions of value that a homeless or nearly homeless person has, is an asshole.

“Hold on there mother Theresa! How am I supposed to utilize my matching his and hers $35k sxs (tricked out with another $20K each in accessories) when these desert dregs are blocking my 4 wheeler trail to the bar?
I didn’t spend half a million building out my 8 spot deep garage just to store toys that I have to detour around poor people to get to my destination with the other dozen similar minded friends who just want to have a beer with 200 other similar minded drivers. These animals are unseemly and unsightly in my desert dammit!
Someone needs to do something now!!”

Lol

 

[clarence]

There's a real difference between fuckups and the working poor.

Meet the CamperForce, Amazon's Nomadic Retiree Army

Inside the grueling, rootless lives of the RV dwellers who are spending their golden years working in the e-tail behemoth's warehouses.

www.wired.com

Although workampers' schedules can be grueling, they are quick to express appreciation for the community and sense of belonging that their migratory life offers them. The workers at Buckeye not only lived and worked together but formed close bonds and shared a fierce camaraderie. ...

Many workampers I met in Coffeyville were not just holding on but living with a very particular sort of alacrity, an almost aggressive good cheer that was frankly hard for me to reconcile with the apparent difficulty of their financial realities. ...

Unfailingly, workampers refer to permanent homes as "stick-and-brick" houses. They say it almost as a slur. After a few days at Buckeye, I began to realize that this phrase refers not to the physical structures themselves, or even the stationary lifestyle, but to the entire orders of value that workampers have left behind.

On the Road with the 'Workampers,' Amazon’s Retirement-Age Mobile Workforce

These workers travel the country, sightseeing and staying overnight in RV parks while laboring in low-wage temp jobs—and at least some of them love the lifestyle.

www.vice.com

They call themselves workampers, travelers, nomads, and gypsies...

... there was a pervasive feeling of pride. ...

Unprompted, many workampers told me how happy they were. How free. What an adventure it was. That everything had happened for a reason.

...

f the workampers' relentless optimism is a collective lie, it is a sort of fiction that most everyone can relate to. It is a scaffold of meaning built to make sense of things, or, in the case of workampers, explain a lifestyle that so brilliantly conforms to the demands of America's new temp economy.

The End of Retirement, by Jessica Bruder

When you can’t afford to stop working

harpers.org

 

[Outdrive1]

Pretty sad movie, and quite the eye opener.

 

[DRYHEAT]

So much for the Kumbaya holiday spirit of RDP. I thought this was a place where Eliminators, DCB, MTI’s and Nordic’s could peacefully coexist with Bayliner’s and other lowly production boats.

 

[was thatguy]

So much for the Kumbaya holiday spirit of RDP. I thought this was a place where Eliminators, DCB, MTI’s and Nordic’s could peacefully coexist with Bayliner’s and other lowly production boats.

Ha!
I’m not even allowed to post in those threads, being a jet bote driver.

 

[Racey]

I thought I left Portland back up north. Seems like more and more people are withdrawing from society and living the nomadic lifestyle where they can just do drugs and live wherever they want, for free.

When you look at what has happened to rental prices over the last 10-15 years, the consolidation of the rental biz by large wallstreet funds, it's not surprising more and more people have just packed up to live out of their vehicles

 

[angiebaby]

They are the uncounted homeless of today. The movie posted above was quite an eye-opener. Many of these folks are just trying to get by. Are some addicts? Absolutely. Personally, I'd rather them be out in the desert than on the streets of town as I'm trying to get into a restaurant or store.

I told Jeff last year that at some point, the BLM would shut it down. But if they do, where would these people go? I think it's pretty arrogant to assume they will ever be in a position to get an apartment or house with the housing struggles the nation is facing, especially here in the West. Maybe they don't want that anyway. One thing I learned about those in poverty is that they have different priorities than middle-class people. It is difficult for most of us to imagine that people may not want or feel the need for a secure roof over their head. They prefer the freedom of movement. You don't want them in your towns, you don't want them in the desert, where do they go? Why do they need to conform to your set of ideals? Because they offend you?

BLM and USFS land offers free camping for 14 days, more if you don't get called out. I don't see anything the city or county can do about it. Perhaps if we were willing to pay more taxes for more rangers to enforce the rules . . . but then other rules get enforced for everyone. It would be a different experience if we saw rangers every few miles, I think. I'm not sure I would like it as much.

I'm just grateful I'm not in that position. There is a lot of desert out there. If I have to pass through some people living out there to get to the open area, so be it.

 

[Taboma]

So much for the Kumbaya holiday spirit of RDP. I thought this was a place where Eliminators, DCB, MTI’s and Nordic’s could peacefully coexist with Bayliner’s and other lowly production boats.

Oh geeze, now you've done it, now we'll get a " I grew up a poor black child" justification story for spending a $ million for a lake boat.

 

[Sportin' Wood]

I thought I left Portland back up north. Seems like more and more people are withdrawing from society and living the nomadic lifestyle where they can just do drugs and live wherever they want, for free.

I'm nomadic and don't do drugs.

 

[DRYHEAT]

I'm nomadic and don't do drugs.

That’s the irritating thing is all the assumption as to why people live the way they do.

 

[Bobby V]

Like the school busses with the guy driving it with dreadlocks?

@Mini Kat

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

That’s the irritating thing is all the assumption as to why people live the way they do.

It is also pretty easy to just go where they aren't. It is a wide open desert and you are supposedly in a 4WD UTV that can drive over or through anything. If you don't drive 200' from the paved road to get to Bunker Bar.. you don't have to see any of them.

 

[Tank]

Well, now ya’ll pulling at my heart strings. I guess I should be more grateful for having the life I have. And I am. But then again. I’ve worked my ass off for what I have and have had a job since I was 11.

However! I’ve personally dealt first hand with vagrancy and homelessness (there’s a difference) directly for over 25 years. I have little to zero patience or sympathy for vagrancy nor the laws passed that enable them. Vagrancy, drugs and mental illness all go hand in hand and is a plague on society.

Again, choosing to live in your baller RV (I’ve seen those out there too), being situationally homeless (life altering event caused the situation) and being a vagrant (the dirty crazy addicts) are all very different situations. I don’t really understand why true snowbirds living out off the highway in their nice RV’s can’t find a nice rv park to stay at during the winter in Parker, needles, havasu, phoenix, etc. situational homelessness can be resolved with the EEEEEENDLESS services offered - you 100% don’t need to be homeless if you don’t want to be. Just got to put in a little work. But vagrancy? Fuck vagrants. Plague on society and they’re overwhelmingly multiplying because of lax theft and narcotic laws.

The trash illegal dumping of grey and black water and the criminal element vagrancy brings (guess where they’re going to steal mail, and catalytic converters and shop lift? Town) is unacceptable. Turn a blind eye, feel sorry for them, make excuses whatever. It looks like shit, it’s getting worse every year and sooner than later it’ll be a true problem and people will start paying attention but it may be too late (San Francisco / Los Angeles). But then again Arizona is already purple. Guess havasu is turning that direction too. Broken window theory. You let that shit fly it’s only going to get worse, as it has!

 

[SkyDirtWaterguy]

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Well, now ya’ll pulling at my heart strings. I guess I should be more grateful for having the life I have. And I am. But then again. I’ve worked my ass off for what I have and have had a job since I was 11.

However! I’ve personally dealt first hand with vagrancy and homelessness (there’s a difference) directly for over 25 years. I have little to zero patience or sympathy for vagrancy nor the laws passed that enable them. Vagrancy, drugs and mental illness all go hand in hand and is a plague on society.

Again, choosing to live in your baller RV (I’ve seen those out there too), being situationally homeless (life altering event caused the situation) and being a vagrant (the dirty crazy addicts) are all very different situations. I don’t really understand why true snowbirds living out off the highway in their nice RV’s can’t find a nice rv park to stay at during the winter in Parker, needles, havasu, phoenix, etc. situational homelessness can be resolved with the EEEEEENDLESS services offered - you 100% don’t need to be homeless if you don’t want to be. Just got to put in a little work. But vagrancy? Fuck vagrants. Plague on society and they’re overwhelmingly multiplying because of lax theft and narcotic laws.

The trash illegal dumping of grey and black water and the criminal element vagrancy brings (guess where they’re going to steal mail, and catalytic converters and shop lift? Town) is unacceptable. Turn a blind eye, feel sorry for them, make excuses whatever. It looks like shit, it’s getting worse every year and sooner than later it’ll be a true problem and people will start paying attention but it may be too late (San Francisco / Los Angeles).

There is certainly all 3 types out there. The best that can be realistically be done is to enforce laws on the books and crackdown on the illegal dumping. That means a lot more patrols out there pinching you for driving your SXS over the limit after leaving the bar..

Of course the RDP solution is to roll in with a Howitzer, level all of the camps and ask questions later.

The true snowbirds that just camp on the side of the road are just cheap

 

[DWC]

I got pulled over by Ranger going through the wash just north of airport headed to bunker last weekend. He was super cool and gave me a warning. Guess you cant go 35-45mph through homeless camp. I didn't feel at all. Was my 1st trip out to bunker.

Ranger . Where at?

 

[Taboma]

That’s the irritating thing is all the assumption as to why people live the way they do.

Some of us base this on more than assumptions, often it's stereotyping garnered from bad experiences.

In the late 60's had a very talented close friend move his wife and young boy into a motorhome. As he put it, they were dropping out of the man's system. Cool, except the reality that soon followed had them living off the generosity of their friends, while using their driveways to drop out in. Didn't take long and he'd ran out of friends.

More recently, my brother in law announced that his early retirement plan was very similar. When he got to, "Oh you've got a nice driveway with a RV receptacle and sewer dump". He seemed offended when my wife and I informed him that was not going to happen.

Then he planned on moving up north on the property his sister's son owns, we laughed and laughed.
You see, my wife's brother is the only liberal in her entire family and it just so happens that property up north, is occupied by those family members with a cult-like following of "Q". Oh God, I was so hoping he'd do that, the stories would have been friggin priceless.
He's since reconsidered that option as well.

He's decided that remaining shacked up with this disabled girlfriend while receiving an income from the state and cheap health insurance as her so called "Care Giver" isn't such a bad scam after all.

 

[was thatguy]

Some of us base this on more than assumptions, often it's stereotyping garnered from bad experiences.

In the late 60's had a very talented close friend move his wife and young boy into a motorhome. As he put it, they were dropping out of the man's system. Cool, except the reality that soon followed had them living off the generosity of their friends, while using their driveways to drop out in. Didn't take long and he'd ran out of friends.

More recently, my brother in law announced that his early retirement plan was very similar. When he got to, "Oh you've got a nice driveway with a RV receptacle and sewer dump". He seemed offended when my wife and I informed him that was not going to happen.

Then he planned on moving up north on the property his sister's son owns, we laughed and laughed.
You see, my wife's brother is the only liberal in her entire family and it just so happens that property up north, is occupied by those family members with a cult-like following of "Q". Oh God, I was so hoping he'd do that, the stories would have been friggin priceless.
He's since reconsidered that option as well.

He's decided that remaining shacked up with this disabled girlfriend while receiving an income from the state and cheap health insurance as her so called "Care Giver" isn't such a bad scam after all.

 

[Lunatic Fringe]

I'm nomadic and don't do drugs.

Wait!
What!?
You're saying one isn't prerequisite to the other?

 

[RiverDave]

What’s Mayor RD’s take on this?

RD for Mayor!

I'd always error on the side of freedom..

I understand the idea of not wanting tweaker rigs all over the desert.. But I enjoy taking my RV out and camping where I want and not having to fill out permits to do so.. Where do you draw the line between what is acceptable and what isn't?

RD

 

[H20 Toie]

I think a lot of you are fooling yourselves. If you don’t think this shit is going on everywhere in every state in the country, you just don’t notice it because it’s not out in the open like it is in the desert.

i beg to differ
North Dakota doesn't have a homeless problem
now the fact that it was -21 degrees last week might have something to do with that

 

[DRYHEAT]

i beg to differ
North Dakota doesn't have a homeless problem
now the fact that it was -21 degrees last week might have something to do with that

You’re not hanging out in the right places or maybe that’s the wrong places.

 

[stephenkatsea]

Wait a second, 37 posts in and no one has blamed Biden and democrats?

I blame Biden and the democrats!

 

[Englewood]

Careful what you wish for. More rules for them means more rules for us. We have enough government oversight already.

 

[angiebaby]

My concern is that they are emptying their black tanks on public land. I'm confident that happens. That is what I think will shut it down eventually.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Careful what you wish for. More rules for them means more rules for us. We have enough government oversight already.

This.

 

[stephenkatsea]

Saw many outside of Parker also. There’s definitely 3 categories. Seniors in nice RVs dry camping to save $$. Weekend off roaders with nice RVs. Then there’s the homeless. Imagine neither gets along well with the others. If each would carry out their trash, it would certainly improve the situation.

 

[westair]

I always tell my wife be thankful we have the 115+ season .... it takes care of alot of things!

 

[Outdrive1]

None of you have driven through Quartzite in the winter apparently. There’s 1000 times as many squatters in the desert south of the 10 than there are in Havasu. It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen.

 

[RVR SWPR]

Pretty sure the past few years LHC has attempted to move out all overnight encampments at North City limits ( London Bridge Road area north and west of Walmart). Otherwise that area would be the location instead of what going on now.

 

[stephenkatsea]

None have you have driven through Quartzite in the winter apparently. There’s 1000 times as many squatters in the desert south of the 10 than there are in Havasu. It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen.

Yes. Quartzite is a different world in the winter. They even camp in “Special Interest” groups. Swingers, singers, nudists, etc etc etc. There’s some videos on YouTube about that unique gathering.

 

[Gonefishin5555]

I’m sure I’d be pissed off about this if I owned a sxs. My vote is to round them all up once a week and give them a shower and a hot meal. Make them do trash cleanup for 3 or 4 hours. And give them $50 in food for the week and send them on their way until another 7 days go by. I think a little minimal direct assistance is better than paying all these govt employees 100k a year and giving them fancy titles and pretending like we are trying to solve the problem

 

[Englewood]

Honest question...Are these people causing problems or is it just an eye sore?

 

[rivermobster]

They are the uncounted homeless of today. The movie posted above was quite an eye-opener. Many of these folks are just trying to get by. Are some addicts? Absolutely. Personally, I'd rather them be out in the desert than on the streets of town as I'm trying to get into a restaurant or store.

I told Jeff last year that at some point, the BLM would shut it down. But if they do, where would these people go? I think it's pretty arrogant to assume they will ever be in a position to get an apartment or house with the housing struggles the nation is facing, especially here in the West. Maybe they don't want that anyway. One thing I learned about those in poverty is that they have different priorities than middle-class people. It is difficult for most of us to imagine that people may not want or feel the need for a secure roof over their head. They prefer the freedom of movement. You don't want them in your towns, you don't want them in the desert, where do they go? Why do they need to conform to your set of ideals? Because they offend you?

BLM and USFS land offers free camping for 14 days, more if you don't get called out. I don't see anything the city or county can do about it. Perhaps if we were willing to pay more taxes for more rangers to enforce the rules . . . but then other rules get enforced for everyone. It would be a different experience if we saw rangers every few miles, I think. I'm not sure I would like it as much.

I'm just grateful I'm not in that position. There is a lot of desert out there. If I have to pass through some people living out there to get to the open area, so be it.

Willing to pay MORE taxes???

Did you Seriously type that out loud???



This country give away BILLIONS of dollars annually to fix other countries problems. I sure as Fuck didn't vote for THAT!

How about we get elected officials to do the jobs that need to be done??

Fuck paying more in taxes. You gotta be kidding me?!?!?!

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Willing to pay MORE taxes???

Did you Seriously type that out loud???



This country give away BILLIONS of dollars annually to fix other countries problems. I sure as Fuck didn't vote for THAT!

How about we get elected officials to do the jobs that need to be done??

Fuck paying more in taxes. You gotta be kidding me?!?!?!

Says the guy living with 12 inches of sunshine this morning in CA.

You'll pay more next year...

 

[DRYHEAT]

I’m sure I’d be pissed off about this if I owned a sxs. My vote is to round them all up once a week and give them a shower and a hot meal. Make them do trash cleanup for 3 or 4 hours. And give them $50 in food for the week and send them on their way until another 7 days go by. I think a little minimal direct assistance is better than paying all these govt employees 100k a year and giving them fancy titles and pretending like we are trying to solve the problem

Are you talking about the side-by-side owners or the homeless?

 

[rivermobster]

Says the guy living with 12 inches of sunshine this morning in CA.

You'll pay more next year...

Sure as Fuck not willingly.

 

[Havasu blue label]

Sounds like LA

La county it’s a shit box all over la

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

My concern is that they are emptying their black tanks on public land. I'm confident that happens. That is what I think will shut it down eventually.

If you did it yes. If a vagrant does it, no.

 

[DarkJuJu]

We have/had the same problem last year in North Phoenix, shitboxes just falling apart on the side of the road off the 74 on your way to Lake Pleasant and Wickenburg. Half of them homeless encampments, the other half snowbirds and iron workers from the south working on the TSMC plant. Maricopa Sheriff is a liberal, the BLM doesn't have the staff or seem to care, it gets worst every year.

 

[Sportin' Wood]

Again, choosing to live in your baller RV (I’ve seen those out there too), being situationally homeless (life altering event caused the situation) and being a vagrant (the dirty crazy addicts) are all very different situations. I don’t really understand why true snowbirds living out off the highway in their nice RV’s can’t find a nice rv park to stay at during the winter in Parker, needles, havasu, phoenix, etc.

I can't assume this is the case for all, but with a fixed income, free camping makes it work for some, even if it is only a portion of the time. Some of the snowbirds are camp hosts in the north all summer, providing free rent.

We feel lucky to find a spot in a nice RV park. I want to stay through April, and the Islander will not commit to allowing me to book a reservation right now even if I agree to move every week, so I might be out in the desert this spring waiting for the weather back home in Montana to turn. Apparently, the Islander likes to say they like whichever seasonal visitor is not currently in the park as the more desirable visitor.


I'm learning daily that my mindset is not aligned with many people here at RDP. I have zero problems with people camping long-term in the desert as long as they don't leave trash. Contrary to what my wife thinks, I also have a little problem digging a hole to dump my grey tank via a slow drip. Hell, I would rather just shower outside.

 

[Outdrive1]

I’m sure I’d be pissed off about this if I owned a sxs. My vote is to round them all up once a week and give them a shower and a hot meal. Make them do trash cleanup for 3 or 4 hours. And give them $50 in food for the week and send them on their way until another 7 days go by. I think a little minimal direct assistance is better than paying all these govt employees 100k a year and giving them fancy titles and pretending like we are trying to solve the problem

Is rounding them up voluntary or by force? And is showering like they did on MASH or in a circle with a fire hose? I vote for the fire hose.

 

[TPC]

Many of those squatters have YouTube channels. Monetized so they get a few bucks from it. They absofuckinlutely hate off road vehicles. Even if they own one they hate camping where OHV's congregate.