Roy,
I believe you are reading a bit more into Ellie's post than what is warranted.
Folks come to the Rendezvous from all over the country. It's only natural that the locals make up the bulk of those attending. Many of them have been looking for the LDM and exploring those mountains for decades. You will find a great number of them have moved from other states, just to live near the legends.
The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, even though there are some folks who really don't like each other much. I can't tell you how many fellows who have traded insults with me on the forums, have shown up and found me willing to shake their hands and leave our animosity outside the camp.
My one rule from the first Rendezvous was.......Leave your wars at the gate. You can pick them back up when you leave. That has worked for all of us.
Carolyn and I try to create a warm and friendly place
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for as many people as possible to sit in the shade and just talk. The conversations have always been wide ranging. LDM, Stone Maps, Adolph Ruth, the Apache Indians and their culture, Jesuit treasure, Harry LaFrance's cave of gold bars.........and the list goes on.
You will find some plain spoken cowboys/prospectors, history buffs.....such as yourself and well schooled intellectuals. All have a love of the outdoors, treasure/lost mine hunting the history of the Southwest, and especially the Superstition Mountains.
In the past, Rendezvous' have always been a place where the Mountain Man, and the Native American's (many tribes) would all come together and co-exist in one small area. The day before they could be killing each other, and return to that endeavor the day after, but they called off their wars during the event.
In that spirit, I will offer my hand and our hospitality to all who attend. We agreed from the start that trouble makers would be asked to leave or removed from the camp. It's never happened. More and more wives and children are showing up. The stories that are told around the Big Ramada campfire will stay with those kids forever.
I look forward to meeting you and Beth. If Don Jose shows up, he will be welcome as well. However, his mule will have to stay outside the Big Ramada.
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There is plenty of room for camping, so you don't have to listen to your neighbor snoring.
Take care,
Joe