Photo by Steven St. JohnTribune

Tribune

Frank Kebelman of Camp Pendleton, Calif., checks out the view of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta from the roof of his RV. As was the case during Tuesday's ascension, campers often get some of the best views of all the fiesta action.

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Some folks arrived days ahead of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta to find the right spots for their RVs. Watch »

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Yellow and white flowers decorate the front doorstep as you enter the House family's spacious living room - in the RV area across from Balloon Fiesta Park.

Gary and Gladys House, both retired postal workers from Michigan, have lived in their Travel Supreme for the past seven years, driving around the country and seeing the sights.

With a washer and dryer in the back, full-sized shower and bathroom, carpet and tile floors and satellite TV, the RV has all the comforts of the stationary home they used to have.

"It cost more than our house did," Gary said on an afternoon last week. "Well, the bank still owns most of it."

Trailer life at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in some ways mimics real life in Albuquerque. With about 1,800 RVs parked at any time and costs ranging from $24 to $125 a night, including tickets, there are upscale homes, such as those of the House family, small RVs designed for weekend travelers and pretty much everything in between.

In the Houses' makeshift neighborhood, fenced dog runs and satellite dishes dotted the landscape.

There was a jovial, tour-group camaraderie as clusters of people chatted while slowly making their way to a tent for a catered dinner - some in private golf carts.

A black-and-white tuxedo cat lounged comfortably next to a jack-o'-lantern in the window of one home, probably wondering if its owners would bring back some juicy snacks.

A few trailer rows over in another makeshift neighborhood, two moose - one carved wood, the other a ceramic moose totem - sat in front of a group of RVs owned by former military personnel.

POW-MIA and American flags flew high over several vehicles, many of which were also full-time homes for their owners.

"We may decorate more - it depends on how long we're going to stay," said Don Beaton, a 20-year Navy veteran, as he set up his trailer with his wife, Lucretia.

"I've got some palm trees that light up, and of course we have flags," Lucretia added.

Catered food, however, wasn't the scene for a group of fellow RV travelers, also military folk, who drove Winnebago and Itasca RVs.

For the Mil-Wits, common camping fare was on the menu.

"We'll do some steaks on the grill," Don said.

At the front of the moose RV, a giant fluffy white dog appeared and settled down for the evening - perhaps waiting to join the barbecue.

In another neighborhood to the north, Jay and Brenda Kirkbride sat outside their much smaller Roadtrek RV. The Kirkbrides, also retired, live in Ohio and often travel with a group of other Roadtrek owners, they said.

Even though their vehicle is small, it still has a kitchen, sofa and shower - although to use the shower they have to pull out a carpet in the middle of the floor so the water can drain.

"We have everything that the big guys got," Jay said.

The pair might not have a big dining room table inside - but they've learned to improvise.

They eat off a small, round table connected to the back of the RV.

"This is our invention," Jay said proudly. "We took our spare tire, covered it with a board and now it's our picnic table."

Other than an occasional folding chair and hibachi grill, their neighborhood on the park was sparsely decorated.

"Our idea of decoration is to put foil in the windows to keep it cool," Brenda said. "I have all my junk at home. I don't need it here."

There were no dog runs and no plastic plants, but the camaraderie remained just as it was in any other part of the park.

Members of the Kirkbrides' group of about 30 smaller RVs planned to have a few beers and see the sights around Albuquerque together, they said.

"We'll have a social event here in the evening," Brenda said - though at neither the catered nor grilled-steak level.

"Well, I've got some SpaghettiOs inside," Brenda said. "That's probably dinner."