FMCA Tucson 2022: the convention

After the RV driving classes, we moved to our campsite for the FMCA “Sunsets + Saguaros” annual convention.

Here’s a satellite image of the Pima County Fairgrounds, with our dry camping location marked by a grey pin on the left of the map, and our convention site marked by the same pin on the right of the map:

Here’s our coach, as I was following Jenn to our site:

The goatheads were just as prevalent over this side, including sticking in the tires:

We really lucked out with our site, on the end of the row, so nobody next to us on the door side:

Sunset:

This site had 50 amp electricity, but no water or sewer. So since we’d already been dry camping for four days by this point, we signed up for the septic pumping and water refill service for a couple of days later:

Our site again (with a Tiffin Allegro Open Road behind us, and a Tiffin Phaeton next to our Tiffin Allegro Bus, and another Tiffin Allegro Bus further down; there were a lot of Tiffins nearby, among others:

Looking down the row of RVs:

The Phaeton next to our coach:

Someone put a note warning of some ground-nesting baby birds:

We attended the session for first time attendees:

I attended a “Don’t Call a Tech” talk on easy RV fixes:

FMCA offered mail service, and we got several deliveries:

On the appointed day, we put out the septic and water signs:

We didn’t really need it, since we still had 20% water, and our waste tanks weren’t very full, but it was more comfortable not having to worry about it:

The truck turned up late that evening; here’s our coach, with the ceiling accent lights visible through the Magne Shade, and the blue ground effect lights and under-slide lights on:

The septic truck:

Septic pumping:

They filled our water tank via the gravity fill port:

Happy gauges:

A cute tiny trailer behind a scooter:

We attended a talk about emotions and “positive intelligence” with RVing:

Gyros food truck:

Gyro and Greek fries:

A long line for the ice cream social (which we didn’t bother with):

A talk on boondocking (by podcasters I listen to, StressLess Camping); before the talk, they complimented my beard, and I complimented their podcast:

A bunch of exhibits (I didn’t take any photos inside):

Mariachi band:

They held a “Mr Whiskers” contest for beards and mustaches, which I stayed away from, since I don’t like public attention… and I clearly would have won, so nice of me to let some lesser beard have a chance:

Finally, an aerial photo published by FMCA, showing the hundreds of attending RVs (we were over on the right side; see the map above):

Having attended two rallies so far (Xscapers and FMCA), we are coming to the conclusion that rallies aren’t for us. We’re not into the socializing or partying, and the talks are generally low value. It is nice to have easy access to a bunch of vendors, though, and to look through RVs from multiple dealers.

We have another couple of rallies coming up this year: a Tiffin rally in June, and the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta in October. So we’ll see how those go. Next year, we might not bother with rallies, or might go in with different expectations and goals.