An Oasis:
Something that Provides Refuge, Relief, or Pleasant Contrast

I just looked it up. That's a dictionary definition for "Oasis". How fitting that, after a week of pleasant contrasts, we're camped at a popular desert oasis: a hot spring just east of Holtville, California.

On this trip we are purposely trying to "float" more than usual - to give our wanderlust free reign. In other words, we have no plan. And guess what! It's unfolding perfectly!

That's always been easy for Randy, who has never been keen on schedules and plans. I'm the opposite. I tend to believe that, without a goal and a plan to reach it, not much gets accomplished. In the past year I've come to recognize that my need to "be in control" is often not appreciated by others and, in fact, not always beneficial to me either. Sometimes at New Years I choose a word or phrase to focus on for the year. For 2015 I chose this mantra: "Let it be".

On our last three trips to the Southwest, I plotted our routes in advance - not mile by mile, but a general guideline. I always want to cover certain areas for my guides. But this trip, I promised Randy he could decide where we go, what we do, when to move on, and when to stay put. At least until mid-April and May, when we will retrace our New Mexico route. That guide is overdue for an update. But, until then, our itinerary is based on whims and weather.

Last week, when we left the Blythe Intaglios, we drove south without a real plan although we had a few options in mind. Our unplanned week soon filled with surpises and pleasant contrasts.

Pulling in to our favourite Ogilby Road boondocking spot for a quick overnight, we recognized a fellow blogger, full-time RVer and painter, PlienGuy. He had chosen this location based on my guides. We had met a couple of times previously but could finally spend time visiting and getting to know each other better. David told us about a campsite he had discovered on Mittry Lake that had great kayak access. We were already thinking of going there but that made the decision easy.

On the way to Mittry Lake, we took a slight detour - into another country - Mexico! We parked and walked across to spend the day in Algodones, Mexico. Why?...Why not!

I had a chance to practice my Spanish (trying to learn); we wandered through the colourful stalls and shops; and enjoyed live afternoon music in a courtyard cafe. Even the long line to clear customs to return to the USA was sort of entertaining.

On the way, Randy spotted a sign at a nearby casino and, since it happened to be Thursday, our non-plan took another twist.

We've now added some basic salsa steps to our dance knowledge. The instructor was great, there were about 20 students, no pressure to order food or drinks, and we enjoyed a totally unexpected, fun evening. We camped overnight in the casino's parking lot - with at least 50 other RVs!

And now, we're in this desert campsite just outside the Holtville Hot Springs LTVA.

This genuine oasis in the desert is designated as a Long Term Visitor Area (LTVA) and home to a large community of boondockers every winter, including many fellow Canadians; some buy a permit ($180.00 for the season) and spend the entire winter here.

There's always an interesting conversation taking place at the pools. Sometimes it's educational: the ins and outs of solar panels, politics, the state of the universe - you name it. We jokingly call it "hot tub wisdom". And, if the topic gets too heated, one can always jump into the cold pond (pictured at the top of this page). We've used the hot tubs on previous trips but this is the first year I swam in the cold pool. It offers exactly what an oasis should: a refreshing and pleasant contrast.

What's there to do here when not at the pools? Long walks. It's three miles to the pools and back from our site in the 14-day free camping zone. And we each have our hobbies. I read and write; Randy plays his guitar; and every night we count the stars and our blessings.

I've come to the conclusion that this "no plan" thing can be rather liberating. The other benefit is one I hadn't anticipated: with no plan for tomorrow, it's much easier to focus on today. To live in the present moment. Maybe I should let Randy "plan" all our trips from now on.

Days On The Road at time of writing: 30
Camping Costs To Date: $57.00

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