-by El Gitano Peñasco, "The Peñasco Gypsy"Last week, to illustrate a point, I used the figure of 40,000 ‘ESpring Breakers’ visiting our community this year. But I just read an Arizona and Sonora economic impact report forecasting around 18,000 beach-soaking party-going ESpring Chickens comin’ to town and that report suggests the kids’ presence will represent a total influx to the community of around $2 Million (USD).
Long time readers know I distrust most ‘reports’ released whether of government or private origin, but if the prediction is correct then that means, on average, each ‘ESpring Breaker’ will spend a whopping $111.11 (USD) while they are here; and yes, for some families that is indeed a big expenditure!
However it is not a lot of money (per person) in the ‘tourist’ biz. And considering some will stay in Mommy and Daddy’s condo/home and most will be piggy-backing’ there or in inexpensive motels/hotels, etc. I suspect the majority of that money will be spent on cheap beer, cheap Tequila shots and those most delicious $1 tacos!
And then, you’ll have those ‘mature’ gentlemen coming down from AZ asking the young ladies who might be a little tipsy, too ‘show me your boobs…” for a couple strands of cheap Mardi Gras beads. And the streets in Mirador, old-Port and on Calle 13, etc. will once again be filled with broken glass.
Of course, some of the college ‘dudes’ will be sent to the ‘lock-up’ to ‘cool down’ and there will be the fights over girls and bar bills, etc. and as we all know there will be no shortage of barf in the streets and parking lots, etc. to be cleaned up!
Then, when all is said and done and these ‘big spenders’ return home they’ll tell everyone willing to listen that (e.g.) ‘…it was awesome dude. We got so drunk…” or ‘…and I met Bill and he was so cute and we danced….” And then those PP ‘travel-experience’ stories will be passed on to others...
Sadly there won’t be a whole bunch of fond memories or tales about great fishing trips, romantic dining experiences, shopping ‘deals’, exploring the Pinacate biosphere, purchasing real estate, watching the Pelicans soaring inches above the Sea of Cortez, or dreamy strolls along the beaches experiencing our incredible sunrises and/or sunsets or simple star gazing at night.
And that all reminds me of image and how people and places are always associated with the company they keep and in our case, all too often that company is really not in our overall best long term interest. But, there is always the next ‘Biker Week’ to look forward to and our RVing Amigos!
A Gypsy can always dream!
¡Viva Puerto Peñasco y México!
Gypsy
elgitanopenasco@gmail.com
