[Jimandrod]

I'll start by saying... great thread Laura! I only hope that some of the WBCCI officrs are reading it.

I expect to take delivery of my first AS in a ouple of weeks. I thought that ALL new AS owners joined the WBCCI but I'm beginning to wonder.

I recently saw a thread on the Save Wally forum about the dress code at Bozeman. Quite frankly I wanted to barf. "Navy jacket, gray slacks, white shirt, red tie, blue beret, dark shoes & socks... ...Dressy casual street wear may be worn as an alternative (no shorts please)"

Give me a break! Is this what the WBCCI really like? I don't own a navy jacket or a red tie. As a matter of fact, I don't even own ANY ties! I wear jeans, sweat pants and tees. If I'm getting dressed up I wear clean jeans. If I'm really getting decked out I'll dust off my khakis. Dark shoes? Well, I do have a pair of black Birks - but then I don't think Birks are allowed at International rallys.

I guess, technically, I'm retired. I "retired" a couple of years ago at 50. I think I might be too yooung to be retired so usually I just say "I'm unemployed and I hope to stay that way forever!" However, the upcoming generation of reirees is a lot different. Dinner at 5? I don't think so. We'll uncork a bottle at around 6:00 and sip on some wine and watch the sunset. Then we will begin to think about dinner - which is rarely before 8:00.

I'm an aging boomer. I like classic rock (Mozart and Bach too), I live in blue jeans (well sometimes shorts), a fine dinner out is the Range Cafe. I lived my working career in Washington DC so I've had my fill of dressing up, politics and expensive restaurants. I'm in a different point in my life now. I'm kicking back.

With that in mind, I'll be looking for that same "kicked back" attitude with any organization that I'm a part of now - especially one related to camping! Camping... yes, hiking, fishing (but I don't fish yet), cycling, petanque, poker, pot lucks at rallys and FUN! Pompous, power hungry, blue-blazered caremonies aren't my idea of camping fun. They're not my idea of fun period!

Anyhow, if someone in their 50's feels this way, I can only imaging what someone in their 40s, 30s, or 20s must feel.So, now that I've said all that, I will still join the WBCCI. Why? Because to join the Four Corners Unit I have to join the International organization. It won't be because they offer cheap air evacuation insurance.

Jim