Region 2

I wear my heritage on my sleeve. A proud daughter of the Great State of New Jersey (the real Jersey Shore- Absecon, just outside of Atlantic City)- I learned how to walk while dodging waves on Brigantine Beach. The middle child of two school teachers, our small town offered a simple life, full of friends that I still hang with to this day. My mother is responsible for my acquired love of camping. Our first trip in 1968 across the country in our little Apache Pop-Up instilled the bug to keep it going. I always lived outdoors; anybody my age will tell you that we were sent outside and told to come home only when the street lights came on- but that wasn’t a problem for me! That’s when I saw my first Airstream. I think I was 12 or so, sitting in the back of our family station wagon when one drove by in the opposite direction. I instinctively knew that one day, the dream would be fulfilled. Life took me to Ursinus College, where I secured a degree in Psychology in 1977- then off to a 31-year career in federal law enforcement, 25 of those with ATF as a special agent. I have safely relegated all of that to the past. I am grateful for having a great education and wonderful career, but resting on those laurels oftentimes keeps me stuck there. Married and divorced, I seem to have carved out a life blessed with tons of friends and living and traveling alone. I used to be self-conscious about that state of affairs, but at the ripe old age of 70, honestly, I don’t dwell on any of that anymore! What I call the third act is hopefully filled with using the silver machine until I can’t. This club has been like an extension of college to me. Losing my mother in 2005 put in me in a tailspin, when my father passed in 2013 I knew I had to do something bold. And I bought my first Airstream. 18 months later, I decided I needed a bigger one, and today, schlep around in a 25- foot Flying Cloud that has been largely customized over the years to fit my bohemian lifestyle. I had no intention of joining the club, and had heard about it while chatting it up with Streamers while out on the road, but feared it would be too structured. Until fate intervened. While In Lubec, Maine, a bunch of vintage trailers rolled in from the New England Unit. We connected, and within 15 minutes their leader decided that I would be a great fit with the Washington DC Unit (WDCU), because, according to her (Pam Bleakney), I would love WDCU member Linda Moore. We called Linda on the spot, and to this day, she’s one of my best friends in the club. She and her husband Wayne are like family to me, and I am fiercely loyal to my Unit. I love those guys! Now living in Northern Virginia over the last 25 years, I do spend quite a bit of time in the Capital City. I came up through the ranks in the WDCU, eventually serving as president, and have repeated that pattern in Region 2. My happy place is Walnut Hills Campground in the Shenandoah Valley on the cusp of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Staunton, VA. The place is deeply spiritual for me. The main drag in town is Beverley Street (same name and spelling of my mom), and while going through some boxes, found out that she and my father had camped out there many decades earlier. I deeply feel their presence when I’m wandering around. When it all comes down to it, I simply see myself as a worker among workers, a team player who just wants to do my part. That fierce loyalty assigned to the WDCU now includes many new members, the 13 clubs that are part of this family called Region 2. I look forward to serving on the IBT and representing you, the members of Region 2!