Which one - there are three in Jax ...
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If it was new paint, I'd say some moisture was between the paint the the drywall ceiling.

That kind of bubbling sometimes happens when the ceiling is wet or damp and gets painted over.

But definitely something to do with moisture ... if this is the slide ceiling, you might have some water leaking in under the roof and just penetrating the ceiling.

Hate to say that - because finding water intrusion is sometimes very tough.
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Federal MC rules on all bases require a military MC license as well as a helmet, boots, long sleeves, and a number of rules that all base bike riders must abide.

The military license is required regardless of a state MC license, and all base rules (federal rules) supersede state rules when a MC rider is on base.
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Guy finally answered the phone:

Okay guys - forget this one - closed for another year. AF found more ordnance in the exact area where MCG built a brand new campground. Lucky they didn't blow themselves up building it.

Might be open next year, might not - the guy was telling me how nice it is - new sites, new hook-ups, very excited - WHY so excited?? I don't know, if it's closed ...

And it requires a ordnance course, which you CAN take online, but it's not ready until next year - so you might as well not take it now (Okay, it's not online yet, so we'll wait?)

Anyway, he also said there are a few sites on-base where primitive camping is allowed, but it's hit and miss. If you show up and if you can find someone to let you in, you might get to camp, might not, depends - sometimes the guys's here, sometimes not, and there are no reservations ... his exact words.

So, I recommend all you guys at Ft Gordon rig up, travel to NH next week, and try to find the guy. Then maybe he'll let you in, maybe not, but it's a great campground when it opens, which we can't tell yet, but of course, the guy on the base knows, if you can find him once you get there. And watch out for bombs and grenades, and un-shot shots. Don't stub your toe.

If you can't find him when you get there - you can always go back to Ft Belvoir - they're chomping at the bit to serve us ... those sites are so great, and long and new, maybe you can double up on one and pay $30 each.

Where's the gangway, we need to get off this boat!! M44 & Genie
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Okay - will try to call the Air Base again today
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One MCG in New Hampshire - it once had some ordnance issues, and required a 'training course' before anyone can camp - does anyone know it this is still true?

The note here shows May 2012 - and no dates for new 'course' ... no one answers the phone, and no answering messages. Just rings, rings, rings.
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I've bought there a lot and always showed my ID at the counter, got the discount right there. Never registered, never done anything but show ID.
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You can post it as long as you say where it came from - and as long as you don't charge to read it.
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No shots at you John - just shots at what becomes the norm after it happens one place.

I can hear it now, all the MCGs will take a few sweeps of the broom, hose the old dirt off the patio, wash the rec room windows and call it a resort - then start milking the cow.

Trouble is, once it starts, it becomes a train-wreck - one MCG follows another.

Was talking to our Town Manager the other day at lunch, (that's kinda like the Mayor) and the town is in fiscal problems, as are towns all over. And this guy is pretty real, have know him since he was about ten - excellent town manager.

Anyway, recently the town (according to town policy) automatically put in for raises for the management level positions - it's kinda like congress when the raise comes in automatically unless congress actually votes to deny itself a raise. Well, the town does that kind of policy too.

So, I asked Charlie why the managers got raises when the exact guys that are getting these annual raises (like himself) are cutting services around town because the tax base is shrinking - AND, coincidentally to this MCG issue here, RAISING the fee for recreation teams in the town parks (like Little League, for example)

Charlie said, "A committee does a study and if the town managers in other towns are making more than here, we raise it to meet the other towns. You know, like equal pay for equal job title." (Wonder who pays for all these studies that show in this economy, everyone government position needs a raise?)

After we both stopped laughing, it hit me that's one of the reasons the budget is so out of whack, these kinds of automatic raises (like the unions, kind of thing that put Twinkies out of business last year) where everything jumps in price and the other guy says - "He did it, so I'm doing it." One MCG does it, so now the rest do it, and soon enough we have our MCG system at $50-$60 a night for a pad, power, water, and all MCGs sit half-full because the civilian parks are less or same price and it's no longer a benefit - it's just a spot to park our rigs.

All this stuff is self-perpetuating, once it starts it never stops and spills over into the other aspects as well. We'd have a great legacy for out kids and grand kids if the bozos in charge looked at the real world instead of the fantasy world they live in before making these kinds of ridiculous decisions. BLAH !!!
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Guess you should write that campground a letter and tell them it's okay to charge $60 then John ... sure seems out of line to me, but is a sign of the times to come when what we expected as benefits as we signed on that line all those years ago disappear after we give our part. No taking those years back ...

As disabled vets, we can't change the conditions of our health in retrospect, but the operations of what we expected as benefits for our service can disappear just as fast as a scribbling a signature on a document.

SO, makes no sense to call that to anyone's attention? Right, just let it continue until there's nothing left.

Medical benefits = co-pays rising every year - MWR costing more than civilian recreation, commissary on the way out. Next thing will be we didn't really, really, really promise you retirement pay, we just told you that so you'd sign up ... is that next?

Well, I think I'll go camp somewhere while it's still affordable ... Hanscom AFB $18 a night ... nice showers, BBQ, concrete pads - water, elect, sewer, WIFI that works ... better go tell the hosts here it's too cheap, and we should up the price. Nice campground tho' ... and great hosts.

A sign of the times, the kids growing up today have the "pay for it and throw it away, it's junk' attitude, and it carries over to the world we all live in, and it doesn't matter how much it costs, we'll find the money somewhere even if we hock the futures of our grand kids to pay for it now, and raise the price until it squeals ... but the noise falls on deaf ears.

How would you feel if that lake spot you and Rick and the others enjoy each year at Ft Gordon jumped the price to $50 so the golfers could golf. That's the single most aggravating part - we pay higher fees to camp so the golfers can afford to golf. If the fees stayed in the MCG, that would be great, but it doesn't - and if you think for one second the golf course would raise it's rates to cover low revenues in MCG, I'd sell you a fine RV with bald tires and no warranty for 125% MSRP .... hehehhehehehe see ya !

But, if what you said is true - and I don't doubt it is - I'm done with this subject. And will camp MCGs as long as we can afford it. They won't change the price, and someone will stay there - probably DOD or BHA maybe ... won't be us tho'. NO DC and no Calif for us. Probably let civilians in eventually ... military retired won't be able to afford MCGs.

And, Genie says hello to you all, sorry we missed you guys on the way north this time.
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I've been on the road and taking care of some urgent family business, but this response seems to be almost the same one, reworded. But, if someone asked Larry to remove ICE and the info, it's definitely NOT a tickle that MCG is feeling.

I'd assume Larry responded with a NO to that request, if he bothered to respond at all.

WE need to keep at this, and continue expressing our feeling about this kind of benefit abuse - FC are NOT money makers for MWR - and we need to make them feel that pressure.

Once I get this family business finished - I'm writing a letter to my congressmen and senators, in both states where we own property and anyone else that wants to use it as a guide, or just copy it to your representatives - is welcome

the prices in FT Belvoir, and the escalating costs in California and other areas will continue to erode this benefit - we entered into a contract, and that contract seems to mean little now, as we already fulfilled our part. So, now what?
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I heard that ID cards are no longer renewed for spouse, and they are now permanent and don't expire.

Anyone know about this? Do we still have to renew ID cards for spouse?

T was said that all we need to do is re-enroll the spouse in DEERS, and the ID Card no longer needed as long as DEERS is updated every five years.
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We never make reservations, and normally stay in a area for a short visit and move on.

We've been traveling and using MCG for years, and never once have we been sent away - most facilities have over-flow for temporary overnights, or a few nights. So, when you arrive, you'll probably have some parking area, and at least the water and dump services.

Only complication would be length of stay, but if no reservations, my bet is that people stop in and leave regularly. We find if we arrive at a full MCG, we can usually get a site pretty quickly.

There are a few exceptions - in the southern warm winter states, the sites are often full for longer terms. And even those have a rotation system to accommodate most of us. A few 'abuse' the rules, but most MCGs operate with the Rv'ers in mind.
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ResQChief9 wrote:


Had to laugh at "active duty, and very quiet" and "ATV" in the same sentence.

We did ATV for a lot of years, but I never remember it as particularly quiet. Do we have new silent ATV's now - maybe a sound suppressor?
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You're probably right - but if so, then leave the MCG money in the MCG, not transferred to the golf courses.

And, if Congress makes them self-supporting, then we need to abide by the rules too, and that means 'length of stay' and DOD and BHA can't save money and stay on MCG. If DOD wants to stay here, then reduce the allotment to what the MCG costs a month instead of in their wallet - and that should be determined and consistent.

IF we have to raise the MCG fees, raise the MCG fees, but don't put that raise in someone's pocket, or in the golf - raise the golf fees to take care of golf.

When you have one MCG at two weeks, and another at six months because the 'home group' decides it and wants friends with a 'gimme title', like "book monitor in the game room" to have a free site, then we need to review that in total, not with an 'excuse for me, phone call' and let it stay.

Most of these systems will self support if the manager runs it properly and if the rules are not abused. But JK is right, we're beating a dead horse because one person has no voice, and traditionally, the 'leaders and managers' will do what is best for them, and not what is best for the people that use the facilities. Next thing we know, we'll have a day use fee for the base gym.
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Absolutely - You need a passport to cross into Alaska and back into the CON-USA when you return, unless you fly from the states and land in Alaska.



And some info here, but another very good site for info about Canada, Alaska, and Mexico travel is RV.net - lots of very savvy guys there.
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We're leaving on a cross-country trip from Florida to Cape Cod, and then the west coast, and back through Texas as the weather drives south from the NW. We will photo and gather info about sites and prices and use, etc. THEN, we will make up a little document that explains what we find - and hope that information is good enough stimulation to make the veterans on here write each congressman and ask them to explain why this is a revenue generating business when it is listed as a AD and Retired benefit for our service. That's the question I want answered...

Genie and I have decided to do their research for them, and see how they compare to others in the $60 a night price bracket in MCGs ... IF we can find any.

We're also going to post on here a thread that will ask anyone in a MCG at that time to tell us briefly if the MCG is good, how managed, and whether or not DOD and BHA housing is being spent at that facility ... and whether the rules for long stays and for free sites to unnecessary 'buddies' of the hosts.

I suspect most are run well, and will be happy to supply that info - if not, that means what? Hiding? Who knows - but when another benefit -like our medical and BX turns into a cash cow for pharmacy and BX purchases, and our COLA stands at such a low rate, and we stand to lose commissary privileges while we send billions of aid across the country that usually gets to the politicians and dictators and not the folks its intended to assist with life, it begins to get my back hairs up ... So, watch for the thread in a few weeks - when we get in the road ... and you can post your observations - But we're first on our way up the Atlantic coast to find those jewel $60 campgrounds she compared her new MCG to when she priced it. Can't wait to see those babies ...

Have no intention of staying overnight though, will try to find a Wal-mart parking lot instead. HAHAHAHAHA

The interesting thing I always discover when a person truly has no clue, they always shoot themselves in the foot with a dumb comment "We're a revenue-generating business" that to them sounds fine, but to the veterans that served and earned it sounds more like in insult.
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Also, because we let them, it's not legal for any one to stay long term, and not legal to allow DOD or BHA to live there on the tax dollars either.
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Maybe I'm over-reacting, but the price at Ft Belvoir definitely pushed my button. Been watching our health care, our commissary, our pharmacy, now even our MWR benefits erode to nothing of value, while our COLA hits a whooping 1.7% and campgrounds raise the prices anywhere from 10% to 20% and now this new one plugs into the 'milking trough' at $60 a night for a concrete pad and $5 worth of electricity - yeah, I know, the facilities might be nice, but at $1800 we can rent/buy a fine home with a concrete pad beside it.

SO, here's what I wrote to ICE and the response, and my response to it back again.

COPY BEGINS:
NOTE TO ICE:

We are retired military and travel extensively with our RV and stay often in Military campgrounds, a benefit I earned through service - am also a 100% Disabled vet.
Must say we're completely disappointed with the price for a single night of camping $60 - this is camping - not a hotel. Although it's great to see new MCG's it's not so great when the price is this outrageous. You do sit in first place in one category - probably the highest price of any campground in the country, and we've been from border to border and coast to coast.
You say in one response to another retired brother that you did research. I believe you should have done research to compare your price to other military campgrounds in the nation, not to find the highest price of any. You're even above the "resort" style private campgrounds.
SO, first, can you explain why this price is so high? And, can you explain why we should consider this a "benefit" and not a cash cow for the MRW ... seems that's what it may be, at least that is, if you can find anyone retired that can afford it.
What if you open, and no one comes? That would certainly teach a lesson in pricing. Well, maybe campers will come, but we won't be in the group, that's for sure.
Do we sound a little annoyed, yes, we certainly are. You exist on our military base with no overhead, no profit, no advertising, and mostly volunteers to run it - and we consider this an insult to the AD and retired military community that spent our careers defending the land you sit on right now.

SO, maybe to assist with your research, in coast to coast military campgrounds - and deleting California and a few in the DC area - the prices run between $12 and $20 a night, generally. SO, $60 a night it more than double, we expected benefits for our service, not a milking of our retired pay.

NOTE TO Forum: In her reply below, she calls me “sir” instead of a name, implies a ‘canned response’ … and similar if not identical to the others so far. We’re probably beating a dead horse, generally figuring this will soon enough fill with DOD using our taxpayer Per Diem to pay for it because housing is so expensive in that area – stick the rest in the wallet - another screw the taxpayer coup for abusers of the system.

MWR Reply:

Sir,
Thank you for your comment card, all comments and concerns are how we evaluate improve our services. DFMWR at Fort Belvoir spent a lot of time doing research and time developing the plan for our Travel Camp. The price is $60.00 per night and we are sorry that is not within your travel budget.

We hope that you considered giving us an opportunity to show you our Travel Camp even if you are not an overnight guest. The Travel Camp has 52 sites each are fully loaded with water, electric, sewer, cable TV, wifi, a picnic table and fire ring. Each site has a great view of the Potomac River and is located between two fishing piers that turn out great catches year round. The site of your choice will be 40 foot in length and 20 feet wide with a 10 foot by 10 foot extension where your picnic table will sit. There is also extra space for RVs longer than 40ft on both ends of the pull thru sites of about 12ft, the back in sites have an extra space of just 12ft. The Travel Camp also has a community pavilion and fire pit for group gatherings.
We hope that you will make time to give us a try or visit and let us know how your experience compares to other comparable campgrounds. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Again thank you for your comment and sorry for the disappointment in our pricing but we hope you see the value in our Travel Camp when you visit us.

Hope you have a great day and safe travels!
Brianna
Brianna M. Kipper
Outdoor Recreation Director
Family & Morale, Welfare & Recreation

My reply to her note: I notice in her response, nothing in that MCG that others don’t have too, so nothing extra for the ‘supposed’ higher price we spend. Bragging about concrete pad, water, sewer, and power?? For $60 ?? Give us a break!!

MY REPLY TO HER RESPONSE:

ICE system is designed to communicate between the users of MWR and staff, not simply to accept compliments you can copy and stick on the walk for a job well done.

Looks like your sending out a 'canned reply' to anyone that asks about this pricing - it's not about "within our travel budget", our travel budget it fine and healthy on it's own, it's about overpricing a benefit we earned as US military veterans defending this country.

IF you truly did research, you'd have asked the people that use military campgrounds, not the people that want to milk the RV guys for an overpriced campground.

If we take the time to write you a comment, we deserve the respect of a reply that answers our questions, not a 'canned comment' that shows us how much you all care, or maybe don't care.

Tell you the truth, I sincerely hope all my military brothers skip your campground altogether ...
________________________________________
END REPLY

RV Forum Guys: I sure hope this is not a harbinger of things to come in the RV world of MCGs … just when we got old enough to enjoy the RV lifestyle, the price climbs out of reach. And the trouble is, once one does it, all do it – we really need to ICE this one, all of us, and a note to our Congressman is probably a good thing too. OMG, Monkey is freaking out !!! Calm him down with a nice can of Coors, maybe we can buy one at Ft Belvoir for $20 to go with our $60 site. Might even get a 16 oz instead of a 12 oz for that price ...
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Based on the responses so far, it seems this MCG cares little about the pricing. If we exclude California, this it more than twice as much as many campgrounds and three times a much as most. Even King's Bay and it new and very well kept grounds is only $20 ...

So, I sent a little ICE note, and in addition have an appointment to speak directly to my Congressman in person (his staff, of course) next month on another matter, but will bring this up as a personal issue during that meeting.

The idea that we have this camping benefit all these years at a reasonable price, and suddenly the thought occurs to someone - wow, these guys like this camping / RV thing, maybe we should start charging like a business kinda churns my stomach a little - no matter what happens in our lives, as soon as someone realizes it can 'get milked' it gets milked.

Believe me, we have bigger problems in this economy that a new MCG ripping off the RV and camping community of the retired. It's not a requirement that MCG charges as much as possible just because they can ... I hope no one goes - and I do know one thing, we will never show up there.

I'll post my note and the response when I get it, and will let you all know what my Congressman thinks about this as well. He's very in-tune with his constituents and down-to-earth, and has helped us directly and successfully in the past on other issues. SO, we'll ask and see ... BD
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We agree 100% with Larry and others. ICE a good idea.

Will make one comment though - I'd take a 'soft approach' to any notes you write. Most often, if a manager/commander gets a complaining angry response, it will achieve the status of a rant, which is usually the circular file.

But, think it out, compare briefly to other MCGs in the country, prices but for a few are $16-$20 a night, and ask him to explain why this one is so high, and where the money goes from it.

You'll get a "we had to build it" probably response, and a "compare with others in DC area", which are too high as well.

I know, we're military, and uses to giving and taking orders, so that's why the 'gentle' approach might carry more weight. It's unusual.

And a reminder the commander that this is supposed to be recreation for AD and retired, not a cash producer. I believe this will gain more notice with a soft approach tho' ... major ranting complainers aren't given much credibility.

Course, as commander, he might toss all of it ...

That's just my take - and a follow up note to your own congressman might be good too. I plan to do both, and will copy the note here and the response if I get one.
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Wonder what would happen if a MCG opened (at $55 a night) and no one came?

Some parks charge a little more or a little less, but usually somewhere around $20 or under, depending on where, but I hope this doesn't make all the other MCGs think the fees can go that high.

Gonna start pricing like the civilian parks - and run another benefit into the ground.
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Thanks, it's getting there. Off crutches, and just needs strengthening now. Surgeon took a buncha 'stuff' out, chips and a little arthritis, and had two tears in the meniscus. Was worth it, looks like. Sucks getting old, except for the alternative.
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Not all MCG exclude tents ... we're been to plenty that have one section for tents.

Can't remember all, but MacDill, and Hanscom come to mind, and Air Force Academy (Colorado), and Westover ANG. Blanding ANG... Monks Corners ?, Ft Benning (I think) a quite few others as well.

Don't know why a MCG primarily with RV pads (concrete) and no grass and camping sites would be desired by a tent camper. But, I certainly would never advocate excluding anyone that wanted to tent camp. We RV'ers need to remember these MCGs are for vacations and recreation, and tents sure fit in that category.

Like Larry and Connie, we always take a tent and the truck when we want a 'true camping experience'. Now, with the Truck Camper on our 4x4, that gives us the best of both worlds.

And we carry a tent as an emergency home if we need to put truck or TC in the repair shop ... we still have a 'roof'.

We like the back-country areas more than the settled parks, and each time we look at the more modern and up-fitted rigs, we insist we look all we want, but then never 'put deposit' until we think about it at least a week. Well, we're still trucking around with the 4x4 and TC after eleven years.
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Must admit, I stole this off RV.net, but it made me laugh.

A couple at the rv park, was kept up most of the night with a barking dog in the yard next to them.
It has been in the backyard barking for hours & hours.

The woman jumps up out of bed and says,
"I've had enough of this". She goes outside.

The woman finally comes back up to bed
and her husband says, "The dog is still barking,
what have you been doing?"

The blonde says,"I got the dog and put it in our yard,let's see how THEY like it!"
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Far as I'm concerned, Canadian military, or even Canadian citizens are welcome at my fire.

But, if I found one that had 35-50% full, I'd wonder why, and ask about it. Could be a joint operation with us for a week, who knows.

And I'd not like to see it that percent, as we need the sites too. But, we would certainly appreciate sharing a few evenings here or in Canada ...

We're heading out across country in a few weeks, and we'll watch for that, and report back. As much as we've been in MCGs tho', I'm betting we only see a few, and to me those few are welcome.
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I bet he buys his players with a discount too.

Oppps ... Sorry to all you Browns fans.
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Frank:

We have Verizon hotspot (5GB) for years and have never gone over the allowance. Cost $50 a month.

We don't have ISP at home, we use the hotspot on the road and at home.

The only issue: We don't watch or download movies because it uses too much of the allowance ... if you watch movies, it runs into an overcharge of about $10 per movie ... otherwise, it gives us all the web service we need. Any time you watch videos (news or other videos on the web) it uses more allowance than regular web browsing, so a lot of 'news video watching' can run over too. But you can read a many as a million pages, if you just read it.

We have Sprint cell, so you don't need the same cell as WIFI ...

We've been in some very rural and back-country areas and still get service, although there have been occasions where we got no service if distant from any towns, but not often and it's usually fairly close if you drive around and find it.

We've been camping in remote areas where we had no service for days at a time, because we were remote, not because the service failed.

You can get some better deals, but I would stay with one of the major servers ... Sprint - Verizon, as you never know how long some "deals" will last if the company folds ... Get the 4G level of service, even if it's not available where you are, it will be soon as the systems upgrade nationwide.
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Well, a few days ago, sitting across from Sarge and the Kings Bay Gang sucking down a cold one. Or is it the Ft Gordon Gang, or the Mayport Gang. Can't hardly keep up with you all.

I'm not telling anyone about your rug, Sarge.

Nice new Rig tho, Rich too. Me 'n Genie still hanging out in the TC ... saving our bucks for fuel this summer and the west coast.
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Stayed at MacDill a few times int he RV when it wasn't overloaded with 'long-term' - Which it is most of the winter, and with the same RV that reserve the same sites winter after winter, like they own them.

MacDill is one of the largest and most abused MCG ...
But, when the sites are full, we stayed several times in the tent area - no big deal, nice sites. We just parked and use the water, and camped in the RV instead of setting up a tent.

Now, here's the weird part - security came by and said, "You can't RV here, you can only tent." Even tho I was parking in the park space and not on the grass.

So, because Monkey sometimes goes in to NP areas where we hike in a overnight camp, we whipped out our tent, set the tent up in three minutes, and viola, have our tent site. Then climbed back in the RV.

Security stood around for a few minutes, scratching his head, and so I said, "It's a tent, it's set up, what else?" He got in his truck and left and we never saw him again for three days and we checked out. Go figure !!
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larryf wrote:


You tried that once Larry - and we're having none of it, remember?

If Alfred goes, we all go with him, and no one will click on your site.
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Maybe we can bring Hawthorn back and give each of the campers that abuse our benefits a nice big Scarlet C on their backs ... sew it into the special T shirt we can give them, call it "Cheapo Camper" or maybe follow hawthorn a little closer and use either A for abuser (another term comes to mind for the A too) and a big old J for Jerk.

Course, most of the time we don't want to meet or know those kind anyway, so we don't miss nothing when we don't meet them.
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Hoke Brady -

Beyond the fact that 'long-term' stays fill sites that AD and Retired traveler might want to use for recreation and not housing ... it's cost US money for those folks abusing it. And eventually, like many of our other benefits will deteriorate due to abuse of a few.

But many long-term RV sites end up a mess - and in addition, many long-term RV's will spend campsite fees instead of BAH funds (Which we taxpayers pay) and save that allowance and allotment into their own bank accounts - that's cheating.

SO, do you want your money paying for BAH, then filling that guys saving account? Good enough, but I don't ... and, in addition, many DOD workers get paid housing allotments as well, when located out of their home areas. Do you think it's okay for a DOD employee that's receiving housing paid for by us taxpayers to stay in a campground - filling a spot a camper might like - and saving that money in his bank account too.

Look up the regulations - these sites are recreation, not housing and most have length of stay guidelines. When it's abused, it's abused, whether you stay long term personally or not, it's still abuse of taxpayer money and will eventually impact our (your) recreation activities - might take a while, but it will happen. A few abuse a benefit, and the end result impacts all of us who don't.

When a DOD or an AD receives a housing allowance for a legitimate reason, fine, they deserve it. But when a guy receives $1200 - $2000 a month, pays a $400 camp fee and puts $1000 or more in his pocket, and we get a 1.7% pay increase because the budget sucks, you bet it gets me hot.

And for the AD or retired guys that use it as housing, and make a mess or use the facilities all year, and fill sites that all should share, that's a little lower on the PO'd scale, but not any less abusive to all military personnel, and will eventually erode that benefit as well.
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It's always easy for however reads it to respond and then do nothing. And, so there you have a meaningless response.

Once, I got a return phone call from Fourth Cliff, we had a chat, but nothing changed. SO, in some cases, when you send it, it's supposed to go to Base Command, not sure it does. But if you requested a response directly from base command, it might get a better result.

I'm just guessing, but if ICE goes to the right people and is reasonable (that's important, a reasonable comment) the it may get more action. No commander wants his base labeled as 'out of order'.
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Right about part of it - the frig and fence, and kids all over unattended, and the dogs.

But OP's forgetting one thing - MCGs were originally and still built and maintained for AD first, and retired second. But the purpose is recreation, not housing and not retirement, not so us retired can segregate ourselves from the AD and socialize amongst ourselves.

So, OP makes some good points, but your reasoning is really out in left field and behind the foul line. These are recreation parks for all types of RVs and the men and women who paid their dues - and the AD who are paying it now.
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IU is not the same as 100% SC ... and the rules are different.

If you are rated IU, you have an earnings limit, but now am not sure what amount - I always thought you could earn poverty level income, same as SSDI and SSI, but maybe Vets is different.

Right, IU means you are SC combined less than 100% but that you cannot achieve gainful employment, but can earn a minimum income, and can work some.

It would be good not know that number, but when I asked the rating officer at my hearing, he said, "The amount depends on a lot of things, and each one could be different depending on the type of work and how many hours, etc."

For example if you could only work 2 hours a day, and he pay was $50 an hour ($500 a week), it would be different if you worked 30 hours a week and only made $10 an hour ($300 a week). So it's based on a combination of work hours and income.

IF you could work thirty hours, in this example, then you'd really not fit the IU category, right? Even if your pay was low. That's why I think the VA rules are different ...
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Based on Traffic, Orlando is probably two hours, maybe less.

ONE THING, when you come down Rte301, LOTS of heavy duty traffic stops with Sheriff, if you see 40 mph, do it, if it says 55 mph do it, they have heavy speed enforcement all along that highway and in the small towns, especially Waldo - believe it !!!

BTW: Blanding for shopping has a Walmart for groceries and fuel ... it's right on Rte-301...

You'll like that MCG tho, it's kinda out of the way jewel ...
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The reason I say $6k is too low, is I've made more than that with no penalty in some years.

If you are termed IU, it comes into play at some amount, but I thought it was same rate as the poverty level. Which would be $11,000 this year.

IF you are 100% SC, there is no earning level to disqualify you.

That's what I believe - Now, please don't do anything just because I said it and lose it. I could be wrong. But, it makes sense to have a VSO tell you and show you the law just so your absolutely correct before you make a move and jeopardize your pension.

State veterans officers do not always know federal law as well, the generally know state law for state veterans benefits.
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Blanding is a nice place to hang out and re-group - not much around it, except Gainesville college town an hour away. Lots there w/UF ...

Pond, boats, gym, no commissary, not fuel, nothing much at the base but a relaxing time. We've been a few times - and will stop anytime we're in the area.
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Personally, I think it no one's business whether you full-time or not.

And even if you full-time, you need an address for license, voting, mail etc. So, just use that one.
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Can you explain where you know 100% DAV can only earn $6k a year?

I know 100% DAV on IU can't earn over a certain amount - but I think the earning is same amount as the poverty level income, which this year is $11,000 for family of two.

But, 100% SC rating does not have an income level ceiling, as best I know.

So am very interested in your source - I know several vets that this will apply to, so would sure like to know so I can tell them if it's accurate ... thanks.
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