At last, the fairgrounds finally opened its gates for snowbirds, traveling highway workers, and other returning fairground residents to come home on May 1st, 2024, which is the second time the fairgrounds hasn’t opened on April 1st. It is common knowledge amongst Environmental Scientist, Meteorologist, Ecology, Farmers, Snowbirds and World-Travelers that Climate Change has altered normal routines and traditions practiced by multitudes of people nationwide but is refuted by some. As we continue to watch climate conditions for Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter seasons change resulting in heatwaves, heavy rains, floods, thunderstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes, snowfall, snowstorms, blizzards, etc. Also, causing the beforementioned groups to be versatile employing a variety of creative changes and backup plans to facilitate potential outcomes.
Meanwhile, Sioux Falls Fairground Snowbird populations or forced to return home at later dates because of Fairgrounds opening date changes. Further, snowbirds to contact medical care professionals to reschedule annual appointments for later days which is not always possible. For instance, I had a follow-up eye surgery appointment on April 19, 2024. Which was rescheduled for April 23, 2025, because my Ophthalmologist was already booked to March, 2025. Now, whether I have a place to Call home in April 2025 or not, I have to return to Sioux Falls before my April 2025, appointment. These are situations we can’t control if there’s no place to call home upon returning.
For a while, the Camp Host and I were the only people homesteading at this huge plot of land containing two-hundred full-hookup service spaces to accommodate motorhomes, travel trailers and vans, which was a Utopia of quietness and peace until returnees arrived in mid-May with families, children, and dogs. Resulting in noises caused by children playing, dogs barking, busy fairground street noises generated as highway workers and others leave early-morning for work or take children to school and summer programs; wherein retirees like me are awaken by slamming doors, loud talking friends, opening, and slamming vehicle doors, starting/warning up vehicles, then drivers racing up fairground streets to merge with other travelers heading to work or passing through Sioux Falls. A real boomer every morning for retirees. Currently, our pass Utopia looks like this.
