This is the latest in an occasional series of blog posts commenting on impending retirement.
MESA, Ariz. — I want to introduce you to Jonathan.
He’s retired from the Army; he’s from San Antonio. He and his wife are hauling across the country a gigantic fifth wheel. They are parked next to my wife and me at an RV park in Mesa.
This morning they demonstrated what I had heard about RV users, which is that they are helpful beyond belief.
The toilet in our 28-foot fifth wheel backed up this morning. I scratched my head wondering how to unplug it. Then I started walking down the street to where my sister and brother-in-law — who are much more experienced at RV travel — are encamped.
Jonathan was standing next to his monstrous RV. “Hey, good morning. How’s it going?” he asked. “Not so good,” I said. “My toilet is backed up.”
“Do you have a ‘twirler,'” he asked. I said no. “Well, use mine,” he said.
A twirler is a device that serves as sort of a flusher. You hook it to your water supply, stick the device into your commode, turn the water on full blast and — presto! — you’re good.
Jonathan then proceeded to explain several helpful hints about how to prevent this kind of thing from happening. What to buy. How to use it. Where to install it. The whole nine yards, man. We got a serious — but good-natured — lecture on the joys and occasional trials of RV living.
We had heard many times about the friendliness and cooperativeness of RV campers. Until today we hadn’t actually had a need to solicit help. Actually, the help we got today came mostly unsolicited, but we appreciated it more than either of us can express.
So I’m doing so right here.
We wish Jonathan and his wife safe travels as they head toward South Dakota on their next adventure.
My wife and me? We’re heading home very soon. We both are a good bit wiser about traveling with our recreational vehicle.