Life on the road requires a home base every once in awhile. For the next several days, we will be in Camp Verde, Arizona at the Verde River RV Resort. We have rented a small campsite with grass and an outdoor table. This is definitely not a beautiful, spacious site. But the RV is roomy on the inside and this campground is loaded with amenities.

After our brief set up, we head over to Cottonwood to walk around and see the sights. It is only a short drive away and I need some time away from the rv. The town is decorated for Halloween in a big way. We walk the main drag, do some window shopping and sit down for a cold drink. Our company on the outdoor patio is a suspicious cast of characters that look like they may have been here a bit too long.

There are some lovely shops in Cottonwood. I have a great time roaming a local antiques market. Unfortunately, the things I really like are either too expensive or too large to take home. So I walk away with nothing but memories.

Before heading back to the rv, we take a walk along the river. The evening turns cool. But the sky is vibrant as the clouds cast shadows on the river bank. Children ride bikes and laugh around us. It makes me smile to be outdoors among the trees. There haven’t been very many in the desert.

Back at camp, I walk over to the pool. I decide to soak in the hot tub after I attempted to swim laps. The pool was too cold in the evening chill. The hot tub is just right. I think this may be a new favorite spot. Especially if I have it to myself every night.

As I walk back to the rv, I notice that the campsites are almost all decorated for Halloween. It seems that Arizona goes all out with decorations . I guess I will have to find some candy at some point. It seems we may have a trick or treat situation on our hands.

I already feel at home here. So far we have been invited to a pancake breakfast, a hamburger cookout, and a meatloaf dinner all this week. While I could never be a person who comes to the same place year after year, I get the snowbird appeal. It seems we have infiltrated a community that is willing to take us in, even if it is only for a few days.