If you’ve ever wondered what life looks like inside one of those 55+ resort-style communities, let me tell you—it’s like summer camp, but with better wine and no mean councilors.
Laurie and Jeff live in the Robson community near Picacho Peak, where the sun shines, the pickleball paddles never rest, and there’s a social event for every night of the week. We love visiting friends and getting a glimpse into their daily lives—how they spend their time, what they do for fun, and, in this case, how many ways one can fill a day and night with pickleball, trivia, karaoke, and dancing. We jumped right in, trying it all.
For our first two nights, we stayed at a campground right off Highway 10. Imagine falling asleep to the soothing sounds of…semi-trucks and freight trains. It was like a white noise machine set to “construction zone.” The trains even rattled our camper, which added a free amusement park ride to the experience.
Thankfully, we relocated up the hill to Picacho Peak State Park for the next three nights. The sites were gorgeous, with wide-open desert views and stunning sunsets. One minor hitch—no fresh water. Luckily, we had the foresight to fill our tank before heading up, so we didn’t have to resort to rationing coffee (a true survival situation avoided).
In what has now become a recurring theme, the truck needed another repair—this time, an emergency brake fix. Enter Jeff and Laurie, who loaned us their BMW for the duration. We’d like to report that we handled the upgrade with maturity, but let’s be honest: David did need to test the neck snapping acceleration of 0 to 70 mph on the entrance ramp - it was impressive!
One of the main attractions at Robson is pickleball, and we were eager to jump in. Turns out, five months on the road is enough time for all previously acquired skills to evaporate. Our first games were a comedy of errors—missed shots, bad serves, and general confusion over how we ever managed to play this sport before. But after a few days of court time, we shook off the rust and started making fewer rookie mistakes. Progress!
Our visit wrapped up with a beautiful hike at Picacho Peak State Park, followed by a cozy dinner in the camper and a campfire under the stars. There’s something about good friends, good food, and a crackling fire that makes everything feel just right.
Robson felt like summer camp for grown-ups, and honestly? We wouldn’t mind signing up for another session. Just maybe with a little more pickleball practice before we show up next time.
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