MEMORIAL DAY 2025 WEEK END - # 20 - DENALANE.BLOGSPOT.COM

It is still peculiar (for me) to have a Memorial Day be this early ... the 26th... after 105 years of being on May 30th, the legal holiday was changed to the "last Monday of May" beginning back in 1971 when the Uniform Monday Holiday Act went into effect.

I am taking a pass on trivial issues and PP commentary today.

                  The  United States Semiquincentennial                                        

But, I do have some "personal" and cautionary thoughts to share about today as Memorial Day, and (in particular) this next year's 2026 4th of July 13 month run up, so, I am putting on my Chaplain's hat, getting out my soapbox, and posting this: 

America250  events are planned throughout the entire 2025 year, officially launching on Memorial Day, 2025 (today), and continuing through to July 4, 2026.

I was raised in a overly patriotic area, of blue and gold stars in the windows, old glory everywhere, and I thought that all of America had, and attended, a Memorial Day parade, went to an honor ceremony of some sort at a grave yard, or at the horse and general statue, had sombre moments of silence, and attended... or at least listened to, the Indy 500.

The fourth of July was one of those misguided "stolen" holidays (like Easter and Christmas) where picnics and "fireworks" dominated the day, and the true meaning/intent was overwhelmed and mostly lost, but again, there was still the parade, the general on his horse statue, and the flags.

On Veterans Day, I grew up with 75 year-olds dressing up in their military uniforms, and going to war reenactments, parades (again), and listening to the old timers stories at all of these events... also, there was much ado about "Pearl Harbor Day", "VE Day", "Armistice Day", and of course, the "Battle of Lake Erie Day"... and now, our "911 Patriot Day".

After my military time, in addition to promoting all the parades and ceremonies, and joining the American Legion, VFW, Band of Brothers, POW/MIA, VV of A, and spending time in large VA hospitals, I even created a website and a podcast dedicated to those who have served.

But, after the traveling wall passed though Milwaukie Oregon in July of 2015, I began to rethink, then, after the wall visited Florence in April of 2019, I quit attending all of the parades and ceremonies, dropped out of the American Legion, VFW, Band of Brothers, VV of A, and POW/MIA events, and moved on to address Agent Orange and PTSD.

The increase of up to close to a 50 % PTSD rate of our younger veterans, too many Gold Star families attending, and the emotion of pulling stuff out of my brain's memory locker and reliving it, simply became too much to bear at grave sites, or fraternal ceremonials, and especially at VA hospital lobby veterans assemblies.

Today there are about 16 million Veterans in the USA (that's 6% of the population), Oregon has a 8-10% veteran population, 3/4 of that number are "regular" and National Guard veterans, the VA estimates that there are 4 1/2 million living Combat veterans,  ad, about 49% of our 21st Century enlisted veterans have Combat experience, compared to 30% of the pre-9/11 'Nam Combat veterans. 

Life-long PTSD is higher among veterans who use VA healthcare (23%) compared to those who don't (7%), Combat veterans seem to have a 12-20 % PTSD affliction rate  across the board...  I heavily caution ... these numbers are for "diagnosed PTSD" on veterans who admit to their condition, and try to seek help.. stigma, embarrassment, fear of social judgment, the ease of finding other solutions (drugs. alcohol, suicide) and difficulty accessing services leaves a very large number going "un-diagnosed".

 

As the past few years increased in military online news exposures, so did the veteran suicide rate, especially for our younger 21st-century vets:  

• In 2022, there were 6,407 veteran suicides in the United States.
• The overall rate of suicide among veterans was 34.7 per 100,000, which is significantly higher than the rate for nonveterans (17.1 per 100,000).
• Per 100,000 rates by age: Aged 18-34: 47.6 , Aged 55-74: 31.2 , Aged 35-54: 35.5 , Aged 75 and older: 33.8
• The average number of veteran suicides per day in 2022 was 17.6.
• Over 140,000 veterans have died by suicide since 2001 alone, making the 18-to 34-year-olds the most susceptible.
• After establishing the COVID vaccine damaged, PTSD remains the #one impetus for suicide, sparked by deeply hidden fears, lack of self-unacceptance, and relived (triggered recall) experiences of combat, rejection of value status by family, mates, community, and government.
• 2024 numbers were not documented, only estimated, so, were not used here.

This year, there promises to be an unusually large amount of voluminous media exposure for this  America250  (2026) hype, and the year-long expansion of the talk, recall, thinking, dwelling, visuals, and sounds awarenesses that typically sets off a PTSD spiked event, this year, that combo of stimuli will be far more intense and far longer in duration than ever before...as we dial up for the 2026 fourth.

I simply am cautioning everyone to be extra aware of their normal everyday person, or family member, who may have difficulty handling this next 13 months, there will be an extra-ordinary long term overload of trigger stimuli out there this year, many who have never had a problem... "will", this year.

Sounds are second to visuals for triggering recall, I could write volumes of information here, but it simply needs to be realized, that like your pets, veterans are hyperized by many things, medications get skipped, over indulgences of all types happen, deep thinking happens, and this excessive media input may create problems, as this year-long event planning evolves.

Having strong social support and patience from family, friends, other Veterans, and the community is key to identifying veterans with the problem, allowing them to admit to having PTSD, and assisting them in going public,  and getting help, the symptoms and signs are quiet, hidden, and sometimes unknown until they surface.

Not that you needed to have any of that on your plate from this weekly blog for your Memorial Day reading... back to the PP scuttlebutt next week.

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Hippopotamus in the Lake ! - # 19 - DENALANE.BLOGSPOT.COM

Like the Elephant in the Room, or the 800-pound gorilla, or any open secret/unspoken truth, (a problem that everyone is aware of, but no one is admitting to, by simply not discussing), which makes the problem go away...  or does it?  here is some RV-Boat related minituae to ponder.

                                                           

an'ya and I have been in/around RV/Boats as residences since the 1970's, (all types), and have been in the trenches while this industry became what it is now, after being "seasoned" with 9 years of living on an aggressive sanctuary "promise act" city "public" dock, we watched the progression, and became hyper-aware of our 24-hour-a-day surroundings... and the homeless, illegal alien impact on security, privacy, solitude, silence, and safety... 'nuff said, we left, the following is personal opinion only.

Now in our 9th wonderful month here at PP,  because of our South-side (of the office) location, and our being aboard constantly, plus, our 0530 daily start time, we may perhaps notice a few things others may not.    Without specifics, we have had three tenters, one returning "tenter on a boat dweller", and three overnight parked vehicles during our short time here.   Are we too cautious-suspicious ? yes, possibly.

As I mentioned last week, there has been a noticeable increase in slow-mo cruise-by, turn around, park and stare, vehicles, hikers, and lookie-loos just in the past two or so months, last weeks #2 potential move-in attempt showed up some potential weak spots in our PP vetting and qualifying regimen.   With the millions of new immigrants atop the already burgeoning homeless population, added to those displaced by nature (fire, storm, etc), the numbers have this nation in a housing shortage never experienced before.  Out west, with our open geography and sanctuary status, we are the recipients (or will be) of most of these masses, and PP will not remain obscure forever.   Boat-RV dwelling has suddenly become accepted and valid.

With our remote PP management not being "on-site," we as a neighborhood possibly need to adopt a more aware and protective attitude in filling our last three empty sites (2, 9, and 11), and begin (continue) policing and controlling our tiny world with more concern than was needed last year.  A lot is going on from Sutherllin south, and through the entire Grants Pass corridor, with immense transient-homeless-immigrant RV/Mobile park issues that are under and non reported.

RV park and mobile home park rules in Oregon changed last year, house bill 2634, enacted in January 2024, extended the definition of a "tenant" status in an RV park from 45 days to 90 days... extending the period of time an RV can stay without being considered a tenant, which would allow parks can evaluate whether to let them transition to tenancy.  RV park owners can evict "residents" after 90 days without cause, as long as they provide 14 days' notice.

House bill 3054 Declared an emergency, effective September 1, 2025, to limit rent increases in manufactured home/RV parks and marinas where tenants own their dwellings but rent the space they are in, (to only a annual inflation rate increase, cpreviously the law allowed a 10 % once a year, annual, or 7% plus the Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is less), "unless an exception for certain infrastructure upgrades is approved by a vote of the tenants". It prohibits a landlord from requiring aesthetic improvements to, or conducting internal inspections of in-park units as a condition of rental in a facility. (big).

HR 3054 also requires the Housing and Community Services Department to study water, sewer and septic systems of all Oregon licensed facilities and to report to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to housing by September 15, 2026.   Note: a very strong separation between "recreational" and "residential" is being pressed into the languages of these processes.

Particularly those of us on fixed incomes, are concerned about rent increases and the potential for displacement, while Park owners claim state/county rules make it more difficult to manage their properties and tenants, and abate rising costs, possibly- ultimately leading to park degradation, downsizing, and closures. 

Previously, Oregon law required property owners to use a process called "ejectment" to evict squatters, which was very costly, in-your-face, and time-consuming. With the drastic increase in "squatting", on April 3, 2025 (House Bill 3522) streamlined the eviction process for squatters by closing a loophole in Oregon law that had prevented property owners from using the state’s standard eviction procession of FED on squatters who are present without a lease—known as the Forcible Entry and Detainer Law (FED) ... now, the use of the FED (Forcible Entry and Detainer) is the standard eviction process in all of Oregon.  It still is a long, ugly, expensive, noisy process.

Oregon HB 3115 impacts how cities and counties can regulate PUBLIC spaces, including those "near" private property, by requiring that laws regulating (homeless, vagrant) sitting, lying, sleeping, or keeping warm on public property be "objectively reasonable" as to time, place, and manner.   The definition of what is "Public",  is expanding to "open to the public".

We hope Isaac and now, Vicki have set up ORS 105.700 TLC, which is a "Trespass Letter of Consent" for PP.     In Oregon, to address trespassing on private property, a remote property owner can use a (TLC) to authorize local police (Sheriff) to take action on their behalf without needing to contact the property owner first, therefore addressing the issue immediately.     Alternatively, a property owner (or its agent) also can issue a verbal Notice of Trespass to the individual, and ask them to leave, if they remain on the property after being given the notice, and the request to leave, they can be arrested for criminal trespass via the TLC.  (Verbally...you need a witness to having made the request to leave).     As a mere "resident" of a rental property, you have little to no legal standing to make a trespass acquisation.

We are "not" in the city of Port Orford, so, use 911 for any Sheriffs assistance, or visit here: 

<  https://www.currycountyor.gov/government/county_sheriff/sheriff_s_office_contacts1.php   >

What you do with this knowledge is up to you, but, you should at least, be aware of how our PP lifestyle is influenced (controlled). 

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OK OK Back to it ! - # 18 - DENALANE.BLOGSPOT.COM

 I quit doing this weekly blog back on March 15th, but, here it is again !    sorry.

In April of each year the Sakura Japan Fair @ Vandusen Botanical Garden, Vancouver B.C. <https://vcbf.ca/the-festival/>  and the Haiku Exhibition and Haiku Invitational poetry events always saw the "Old Memories" poetry event Coach parked there... up until we retired and arrived here last September 15th, ironically, magically, this Spring, right outside our galley window is a cherry tree...

Bungee-gate drove me back to this...  but, there are other things afloat that we all need to be aware of, maybe even concerned about, and that we definitely need for fueling the rumor and innuendo mill with, so the blog is back !   Let the scuttlebutt begin !

Check back on Mondays for yet another episode of another week's PP events, excitements, and concerns. I will not be sending out reminders.  (so, bookmark the link for each Monday).

So, what have we missed during the two months of "no blog" ?  Spring mainly... but the flower explosion going on right now in space 5 (don't miss the dandelions), self-tells the story, the humming birds and the bumble bees both came back last week-end, the mountain jays, red wings, and doves keep Cairo (#1) climbing ladders and buying bird seed (questionable which is the most fun to watch)... and the ground squirrels help him out too.

Here at # three, on the 13th of April we got to meet every EMS worker in town, and # five has completed their exterior move-in, and started the PP Shed-O-Rama craze... we here at #3 are swapping out our van for one, and the envious keep up with the Shedders down the row are planning their own installation as well, this place could go to shed this summer.

Did I mention that it rained ?  

Other than the Bungee-Gate theft, not much else in the last two missing months had to be reported on, Easter, and Mothers day, both quietly ended as "old" news, but... the "NEW" news just surfaced today... changes are going on in the control tower, Isaac is passing the management torch to his Mother (VICKI) effective immediately, and that ... is all anyone knows.  Nothing else changes.

The current social situation arising over the past three years regarding "housing" ...  construction, sales and inventory vs. how the housing ageing, attrition, reposession, finance, results in homelessness, and unaffordability, all coupled with inflation, interest rates, immigrant overwhelm numbers, equals more homelessness... has dynamically impacted the Boat-RV-Mobile/Modular situation top to bottom, the  manufacturers, EPA, sales, owners, maintenance, parts, and places to park... Harbor, anchorage/boondocker, or RV - Mobile Home Park.

As you may know, being a full-time 300 square foot liver most of my life ... (even though I am young), I know a few things, so I write articles on these trends and mores frequently.   We are currently in a housing/homeless crisis, at very far higher numbers than what are admitted to, or being reported. For us here at PP, as permanent (I like the term) in-residence full-timers, we need to be aware of the situation out there in alternative-livingville for our own well-being, especially in the State of Oregon.

This is ugly and charged stuff to realize, rationalize, process and relate to (much less discuss), the Global stance, Federal laws, State statutes, County codes, and City ordinances have "all" been rewritten extensively over the past five-ten years, but, the last two to four years changes have been voluminous and drastic for us here in Oregon and the USA.

Too much for this venue, but these recent "squatters" and "eviction" processes and controls for mobile home/RV park owners and management have gone against them tax-wise, legally, and insurance-wise, limiting their ability to control their own property.   It is currently a pro-homeless-run society of lobbying, NGO power,  grant money, rule changes, court tilting, politics, and support, scrambling to fill every available slot with a homeless person.

I can hear the chirps already... I am not against the homeless, I am against the rule-breaking accommodation and forced interface removing legalese, control, and safety, from "my" home and surroundings (in this case an RV Park called Paradise Point).  we need to control our surroundings.

We began the process of filling our three empty spaces with cones and vehicles to avoid squatter entry, a couple of months ago, and I think now we all are alerted and responding to what is going on, we have had random overnites parked, and lots of drive-throughs and backpacker walk-throughs, (even tenters), as lookie-loo types.  Just be   -a little more cautious this summer than you were last summer-

This should be enough to restart the campfire, see you next Monday.

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