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November 7, 2003
Snowbird watching in Pahrump
That same day, I was stuck behind a timid motorist for what seemed like an eternity, waiting to pull onto Highway 160 at Wilson Road. It suddenly dawned on me: The winter visitors are back. Let's see, was that a Bounder, a Fleetwood, an Ambassador or a Pace Arrow? Was that an Oregon license plate with the fir tree, an Alberta plate from Wild Rose Country or a Wyoming plate with the cowboy? While Pahrump residents eagerly await the return of cooler weather after the scorching hot summer, the driving speed seems to drop about 20 mph this time of year. Sometimes I'm afraid I'm going to stumble over someone taking their time walking slowly through one of the local casinos. Actually while I'm outwardly impatient, secretly I'm very jealous. The visiting retirees have a luxury more precious than a cabin cruiser, furs or jewelry: time. While many of us working stiffs are busy running around in our daily lives, wondering where all the years have gone, the retirees have time to take a walk, smell the flowers and chat with the store clerk. It must be wonderful to spend the summer in someplace like the beautiful Pacific Northwest, then when the winter rains come, head for the warm sunshine of the desert southwest. They can enjoy the best of both worlds. I can recall my first visit down south as a college student in Wisconsin in January 1975. After traveling through Chicago, my friend and I left the ice and snow behind. We stopped in Kentucky to tour Mammoth Cave, visited the nightlife at Atlanta Underground then had a real treat walking outside in our shirtsleeves while stopping to eat on a warm afternoon in Valdosta, Ga., near the Florida border. Right then and there I got hooked on the warm winters. After moving down south, I invited my mother from Wisconsin to visit me in January in the warm Rio Grande Valley of Texas. She commented how friendly all the retirees there seemed to be. And why not be happy? Everybody is on vacation and they're away from the cold winters, the ice and snow back home. Many of our retired visitors should feel very fortunate if both spouses are healthy and they have a good financial nest egg to enjoy their golden years. How lucky they are. Perhaps with continuing medical improvements more of us will be able to live long, healthy lives. But then I don't know if there will be any money left in Medicare or Social Security when I retire. I often think of my deceased parents when I walk through a Pahrump casino. If my mother was alive today to visit me in Nevada I imagine she might enjoy a game of cards, although the minimum bets would be too high. If my dad were alive he might want to get in the poker game; he always enjoyed his Friday night poker club. For those of you return visitors who might have just arrived back in Pahrump, here are a few bits of news. You might have noticed a big blank spot on Calvada Boulevard and Pahrump Valley Boulevard - about the time you probably parked your rig back home in Oregon last spring, our Mountain View Casino burned down. It was one of the favored places in town for bowling and buffet dinners, but everyone is hopeful it will be rebuilt soon. While the Lake View Executive Golf Course, a popular spot for a short game of links, is now closed, the Mountain Falls golf course is about to expand to 18 holes. There's a giant new Wal-Mart store now in Pahrump that should reduce the number of shopping trips required to Las Vegas. Unfortunately, there's still no hospital. Rural Health Management Corporation pledges they'll build a hospital, they have until the end of this month to get their financing together. Until then, if there's any medical emergency, I hope you have insurance to cover the air ambulance flight to Las Vegas. I can see why the Pahrump area is attractive to winter visitors. The climate is pleasant this time of year, the scenery of the surrounding mountains is a nice contrast with the desert below and the prices are sure reasonable. It's still possible to play a round of golf for $30 or enjoy a $4.95 prime rib dinner. While interviewing winter visitors for my annual tourism story this week, I jokingly asked some of them if we could trade places. I could retire and they could write stories for a local newspaper. Unfortunately, I didn't have any takers. I'd have to do my time in the working world like they did for 40 years. It wouldn't be hard to make the transition to retirement. Looking at the list of activities at Preferred RV Resort for example, I could enjoy the potluck social, the eight ball tournament or even the beginner's line dancing. I already know how to play cribbage, sheep's head and poker, so I could fit right in at the card table. Until then, do us a favor and kindly pull over on the highway and let us pass. And just smile, knowing you won't have to worry about going anywhere in a hurry. Write to Mark Waite at mwaite@pvtimes.com. |
