Re: [A/S] Newbie advice

[<lindner.1@xxxxxxx>]

Welcome!  Greetings returned from all over, including not a few whose 
addresses never are the same.

Of course, we all think you have made a wonderful choice, one that you and 
your family (including the four-legged children) will enjoy tremendously.  
And this is the place to hear the voices of experience.

>*traveling with children and/or a large dog (we have an 8 month old
>German Shepherd)

We are empty-nesters, but travel with a German Shepherd/collie mix (he is 
called a "medium-sized dog" when we register in a campground) and a 
husky.  They love it -- their favorite hobby is "ride", and we love to spoil 
them.  Others on the list will have to advise you about traveling with 
children. , 

>*the pros and cons of joining the local WBCCI chapter

Pros?  Reliable and very friendly comraderie and assistance, more voices of 
experience, courtesy parking, several very nice "Airstream only" parks 
around the country with remarkably inexpensive rentals.  They sponsor 
many rallies and caravans all over the continent the whole year around -- 
but if either of you are still employed in a "regular" job, the caravans are 
hard to make due to their duration.  

Cons?  The membership is drawn from a rather limited segment of society 
with rather uniform interests and tastes.  The limitations of regular 
employment and the prices of new a/s's mean that most members are 
retirees, commonly ex-military, ex-law enforcement, or ex-civil service.  
These limitations on membership result in a corallary restriction in the 
activities planned for rallies and caravans.  Some people from other 
segments of society have expressed discomfort with these restrictions, 
some not.  For example, people with children who are still employed 
sometimes have felt left out, but in all fairness, others in the same boat 
have remarked upon how warmly they were welcomed.  Probably depends 
partly upon the local chapter.

The fees may be considered a "pro" or a "con", depending upon your perspective.

>*equipment/accessories/trailer contents/books/magazines

Let others address these issues -- we tend to be parsimonious in the extreme.

>Would appreciate any and everything you seasoned Airstreamers would
>be willing to share.

You've come to the right place -- sharing is what we are about.

                    Welcome again!
                    -- Lew #4239

'72 Safari
bicycle