Checklist for New Towns

The repairs on the RV are within sight of being wrapped up (knocking furiously on anything resembling wood, rhyming with wood, or reminding me of wood in any way), and so my mind has begun to turn to where to go next. We've been afforded a wonderful spot in front of a friend's house in Tempe for the last few weeks and a hookup to electric for twenty dollars (thank you friends!) but the focus is on self-containment and so although we've still got a ways to go to get there, I'd like the plan of action firmly in place for the big kickoff. So I've assembled a checklist of what to do upon entering each new town. Some of these steps will be skipped (for instance when we are not setting up an art project, or when we are staying with friends) but having the checklist will ensure we never forget something important. Some fo these may be done before entering the new town, but they all should be in place soon after.

Checklist for New Towns

Quickly find local free campgrounds or bookdocking here:
http://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+find+free+campgrounds&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=&oe=

http://www.freecampgrounds.com/

http://freecampsites.net/

Settle on a couple and meet up with the people staying there, or ownders/ managers where applicable and make sure that boondocking there is really ok. If possible, offer some small exchange - ask what you can do to help, etc. I think it's important to always keep in mind that this is not an effort to take advantage - just a way of bypassing the quid pro quo system of exchange. Giving is always at the forefront of my thinking on this.

Since Free Campsites often do not have ammenities, you need to find free or cheap dump and fill sites soon after:

http://www.sanidumps.com/

Here are a couple good reminders about maintanance on holding tanks, of which I am becoming somewhat more aware than I had hoped.

http://www.camping.com/rv-stuff/rv-articles-a-information/1756


Find Local Library - interview Librarian about local resources, history, sights

Find Closest Hospital , 911 system, Police, Ambulance- add to emergency list on fridge
Find Free Newspapers - best source of free stuff to do.
Find a few discount RV supply stores and hardware/ auto supply stores so there's no panic if something goes wrong.
Find Chamber of Commerce
Find out permiting requirements for art project from City Hall - usually Treasury Dept (I have no idea why).
Send emails to network looking for waylays, land to occupy, businesses that need watching, remember references.
Check craigslist site (and papers and yellow pages) for free food, items needed, supplies, gigs etc.
Check local camp grounds for jobs
Post gigs wanted on craigslist and check gigs sections.
At library check out local edibles and medicinal and calendar of availability
Make list of Free and educational events
Check out local hiking and other sights to see.
Make a loose calendar of events and day-trips
Check out local flea markets and find craft and art shows
Check out local museums and galleries, find free days.
Meeting people - mailing lists, on the road groups, etc. Get to know people, meet up with friends in the area.
Register with temp agencies
Go to local food banks and food kitchens - offer volunteer for dinner each day.
Figure out best deals fast - ask around.
Fresh and Easy in AZ - has deep discount deals on foods about to go bad. One store usually has meat on manager's special or eggs on discount - where they gather all those left when a carton breaks. There are restaurant supply places for bulk beans and such, Aldi's and Trader Joes on East and West coasts respectively. I recently discovered that a local dollar store in Tempe has great deals not only on things like medicine and vitamins (for a dollar!) but also things like produce.

Which brings me to:


Ask the locals - talk a lot with the locals when you first get into town - about where to stay, where to eat, what to see, and what they do. People love talking about their town almost as much as they love talking about themselves - ask them the best places to get great deals, the best little known pub or diner, and what the place is famous for. You'll get a lot of experiences out of these conversations and make a lot of new friends. It helps to ask people who seem similar to you to get what you're after. I remember asking a nice enough lady who was very different from me to give me a recommendation for a really nice seafood restaurant in Maine on my way to Bar Harbor. I was shocked when she replied "Red Lobster". Now I choose wisely before my fact finding mission begins.

You can check for low clearances in the area here:
http://www.aitaonline.com/Info/Road/Low%20Clearances.html

Please share any ideas you have for additions to this list. I'll do a follow up after our first couple new towns have tested my planning abilities and I'll add in any new information you all share as well.