Slab City Pictures

[sl1966]

It's not for everyone, but please don't condemn it until you've been there.

<br /><br />That sums it up perfectly right there.<br /><br />I've been out there twice and will return next year around RTR.<br /><br />

 

[VanTrekker]

Thanks for posting the pics...&nbsp; Man, that sounds so good right now.&nbsp; The arthritic pains in my shoulders are excruciating... <br /><br />Gimme that southern heat!<br /><br />V.T.

 

[Guest]

<span id="post_message_1275538384">I too was hesitant about going. &nbsp;Got caught up in the old "contempt before investigation" mindset. &nbsp;Once I was there, I was entranced by it all. &nbsp;Now it's the first place I head each winter. &nbsp;As a matter of fact I'm headed that way Nov. 1 !<br /><br />It's not for everyone, but please don't condemn it until you've been there. &nbsp;It's a place and a feeling that is difficult to describe. &nbsp;Last year I met the president of the Corvair Club and he was towing his pristine Corvair behind his converted 1953 Flxible bus.<br /></span>

<br /><br />I am certainly not condemning anything unless it is piles of trash....Marcos...I condemn the same thing in Mexico, I just know that Mexico does not have the infrastructure we have here.<br /><br />Only speaking for myself, I commented on Steve's photos and then said I didn't get it. I still don't and may or may not visit...no contempt involved...just a pretty neutral non-interest after all the photos I have seen. I actually have spent a lot of time watching youtubes about it including some very good flying trike vids of it from the air....and spent time on their site....I still don't see much that draws me. And according to a good friend wh almost died from the bad air there and in the Imperial valley, don't need that either...I have already had Valley Fever fungus in my lungs and my body beat it.<br /><br id="tinymce" class="mceContentBody " />I don't have a lot of interest in Burning Man or Rainbow Gatherings either. I don't condemn them or have contempt prior to investigation....for me it is old stuff...I have had a long and busy life my friend. <br /><br />I think I will just spend the time in Old Mexico...and let you all hang in the slabs...<br /><br />Peace,<br />Bri

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

I'm not condeming nor do I have contempt. I want to and will go there when able. If you live there or visit and complain about the trash or find it intolerable, then do something about it or don't do anything.&nbsp;I'm not saying you guys here are complaining about it either. <br />Mine is an&nbsp;armchair observation from from 2000 miles away seeing videos and blogs.

 

[Seraphim]

Again I agree with Bri - no condemnation, merely from all the photos I have seen and people discussing it, there is no attraction for me.&nbsp; Should I have a need for an inexpensive&nbsp;place to park for a long period of time, and I'm in that area, I'd probably check it out. To head that way just to see it is not on my agenda.

 

[Bodhi]

I am planning to go... wanting go... I am fascinated by the grid-free vandwellers.&nbsp; I may be more of a mountain and forest Campground Member camper, but to see that living comfortbly for almost free CAN be done... yeah... it is worth the trip for me.&nbsp; Besides, I really have to get out and AIR MYSELF OUT every now and then, and a good long drive with a purpose is great for just that!&nbsp; Gotta blow the corporate sink off me!&nbsp; <br /><br />Can someone tell me when the exact days for the RTR are?&nbsp; And, where will everyone be camping?&nbsp; Is there a map?&nbsp; I will have two tents and my truck... so I won't need much space.

 

[josephusminimus]

I too was hesitant about going. &nbsp;Got caught up in the old "contempt before investigation" mindset. &nbsp;Once I was there, I was entranced by it all. &nbsp;Now it's the first place I head each winter. &nbsp;As a matter of fact I'm headed that way Nov. 1 !<br /><br />It's not for everyone, but please don't condemn it until you've been there. &nbsp;It's a place and a feeling that is difficult to describe. &nbsp;Last year I met the president of the Corvair Club and he was towing his pristine Corvair behind his converted 1953 Flexible bus.<br /><br />

<br /><br />The place is a source of fascination for me, though I'm not certain why.&nbsp; I've&nbsp; exchanged emails with some people who go there every year and love it.&nbsp; Maybe the magnetism's contagious, and part of it is probably the juxtaposition of so many wildly different types of people who go there.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.slabcity.org/images/trash-express.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />But the <a href="http://www.slabcity.org/about.asp">http://www.slabcity.org/about.asp</a>&nbsp;website and all the lip-service whining about the other people using the place seemed to me to reveal a side of things I've already seen too much of this lifetime.<br /><br />

"<em>Take a good look at the photo on the right, and keep in mind that the same people who stuff trash into any empty bus, are the same ones who are against our efforts to clean up the area. We don't ever get complaints about our website from folks who haul away their own trash, but instead, we get complaints from people like <a class="pagenav" href="http://kimstringfellow.photoshelter.com/image/I0000UekGw1OP0tg" target="New"><span style="color: #663300;">this guy</span></a> (who once had a GeoCities page where he boasted about pointing his gun at poeple and looking at them through the sights - pretending to kill them) or the <a class="pagenav" href="http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=191753927591992&amp;id=191134480987270" target="New"><span style="color: #663300;">well known drug abuser and woman-beater</span></a> named Wayne Schulz (aka <a class="pagenav" href="http://www.facebook.com/hiyer.gilbran" target="New"><span style="color: #663300;">Hiyer Gilbran</span></a>). It doensn't take a rocket scientist to determine who's behind all the illegal dumping. Those pathetic litter bugs are too lazy to change their bad ways, they'd rather make excuses than pick up after themselves. This bus didn't get full of garbage on its own, it was put there by the same people who wish our website would go away. Think about it, it's much easier to dump trash than haul it away. Which group do YOU want to assiciate with? Next time you hear someone like Solar Mike complain about our organization, ask them what they are doing to solve the trash problem. Many of the "regulars" who frequent Slab City each year were present when most of the dumping took place. Instead of embracing the idea of change, they view this organization as "butting into their business". Business of what, dumping garbage? Too many stubborn people are set in their OLD ways, and they don't want anyone coming along, telling them what to do. Unfortunately, that type of mentality is what created the problem in the first place. A new generation of "responsible" RV owners are joining this organization to show that the ignorant behavior, by those with no regard for the environment, is not welcome at Slab City anymore. The people who join together with us understand where we're coming from, it's only the rednecks that seem to have a problem with putting an end to the dumping. Everyone else seems to be on board with our plans. If you look at the picture of this bus and don't see a problem with it, then you have some serious issues. Those of you who continue to send complaints about our website are either in denial, or you just don't care.</em>

<br /><br />For my personal choices I agree with Bri that a few million acres of USFS and BLM land are out there as free to squat on as the slabs and without the temptation to get treble-hooked into a matrix of social competition and strife people go there to get away from.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

 

[Moby T]

Ahh, to each his own. &nbsp;Isn't life wonderful ? &nbsp;Have a great day !!

 

[wesmagyar]

I have looked into it and it looks like it has potential to be fairly cool and potentially fairly awful as well. My hope is that it is&nbsp;similar&nbsp;to Rainbow gatherings. I went to the one in 2001 in Montana and it was one of the best&nbsp;experiences&nbsp;of my life. I remember it to this day! there was&nbsp;a lot&nbsp;of happy people there, There was no stress or Drama.&nbsp;A Lot&nbsp;of people helped me out. and i wanted for nothing. One person helped me rebuild the engine on my car and even helped me buy parts.&nbsp;<br /><br />From what ive heard alot of those same people are at the slabs.&nbsp;<br />I can&nbsp;definitely&nbsp;understand the draw for people that are totally down and out. You can set up there for months if not years at a time live&nbsp;relatively&nbsp;comfortably and not have to pay lot fee's. The closest town for supplies is only 3 miles away and they have cell phone and internet coverage&nbsp;available&nbsp;there. Sure there are the occasional assholes and junkies around but i&nbsp;don't&nbsp;condemn all of Seattle&nbsp;because&nbsp;of the crackheads that infest pioneer square!&nbsp;