Unfair, unreasonable and ridiculous

Monkey--You're right. We wound up finding a nice, private park for about the same money that was also a better location for the sightseeing we wanted to do and for getting around Tampa.

There's lots of good camping places around Tampa --

Guess most of the military that stay at MacDill just come every year for the convenience. Being on-base for the winter does have it's benefits, I suspect, although I'd find it hard to stay in one place that long -- especially when you have to go completely through Tampa traffic every time you leave to go anywhere during the day -- unless you go south, of course.

Bill-
No, I'm not a retiree but getting close. I'm active duty (enlisted E1 to E9, officer O1 to O5) with 28 years (so far). I agree with most of the posts on this thread. In fairness to everybody, there should be limits placed on length of stays at any one time.

My frustration is not regarding the homesteading issue, it's with the full-timers who forget they are staying in a campground where those with young children come to play & camp. This summer I was able to take a week (between my 18 month tour in Afghanistan and my current 14 month tour in Baghdad), break out my motor home, and take my family camping. We visited two campgrounds and was "counseled" at each campground by the host that my children were being too loud while playing volleyball and horseshoes. My friendly retired campsite neighbors apparently were early to bed people. It was freakn 7 pm. So the genesis to my post was simply this - remember that you're parked at a campground, where campground activities occur. It's not a subdivision (though some of the rigs cost more than my house).
Terry

Yes, you guys are right -- I mean about the homsteaders ... seems to me that because they stay there a lot, they can tell us [the passing through campers] what to do and how to do it. That's not the way I see it -- I mean we're camping, right??? We're here to have fun and enjoy the area, where ever that happens to be ... even if we're retired, that doesn't change, and even if we're full-timing [am retired, but not a full-timer] we're still in the same boat -- so why rock it ... and then to see some guys stay with lawns and patios attached practically, when we're pushed into 'over-flow' and no hook-ups.

I have no problem when I get a spot, don't care if anyone stays all year... but when I'm in overflow, and someone has been there too long, it's time to share ...

I'm new to this forum but perhaps have found a place where I can vent about this situation. This is what I've observed at military parks in Florida and Mississipi during the winter. Starting in Nov of every year the retirees start piling in to the park to spend the winter. All these parks have 14 day type restrictions on length of stay. They get to know the manager, kiss butt, do a few chores and next thing you know they are there for all winter. I know how they do it because several are acquantices and they brag about it. In some parks they do make them move occasionally to a new site so it looks good. At other parks they give them temporary do nothing type jobs to make it official. The worse violaters appear to be Air Force, they are money driven but turn away 3 to 9 people a day all winter long plus overflow is always full so there is no real excuse. It may not be fair to include Keesler in this group at present because of the construction and they were forced to take in FEMA trailers. However you couldn't get in there this winter after Feb.
It's my observation that parks that restrict length of stay are better run and always full so I don't see the logic for violations of the length of stay rules. This isn't an officer privlige thing, most are enlisted retirees in their 60ties.
Most of us hate to complain and perhaps screw it up for some deserving individuals but it is getting out of hand. As for me, I'm traveling to Texas this winter and giving up on Florida. Probably won't be any better but we'll see.

Boy it sounds like about half of the responders go into a Famcamp with a chip on their shoulder and find someone to knock it off.

I've not seen many of the problems mentioned, I've probably stayed at a dozen or more Famcamps and for the most part they are well run. I try to make reservations where allowed, where they are not allowed I usually call to see how full they are. Never have I been led astray. The only time I've really seen a trashy site was at Hurlburt AFB in FL. It was obviously a homesteader with old cars,trailers etc.
I passed the info on to management and in several days improvement was noted.

Ft. Sam has a definite length of stay policy, but for medical stays they will waive it. The same at McChord AFB WA. All very reasonable. Hanscom has some units that look like they can't/haven't moved, but they are in an area that is not very desireable. This year 29 Palms Marine Corps station they said they had reservists in some sites and wern't sure when they would be leaving, but call in a week or so for reservations.

All in all Management/Hosts were helpful, pleasant and interested in their park and sometimes just as frustrated as the guests.

Allynne