Boondocking in Borrego Springs

We have a new favourite place to go boondocking!

Near Palm Springs, California, lies a tiny town called Borrego Springs. Only about 3,500 people live there and it is surrounded by Anza-Borrego Desert State Park where you are free to park your rig and camp anywhere you like for free.

Click the images to view larger versions.

While here I was inspired by the story of a past resident of Borrego Springs, Richard Avery, who was heir to the family fortune made by his father’s invention of the self-stick labels. You know, Avery Labels?

But Richard Avery didn’t sit around counting his money very much. He played varsity basketball, he was a lawyer, he was Dean of Students at California Western School of Law. He was both a contractor and a realtor. He flew a plane, was an accomplished pianist and a magician. But above all, he was a philanthropist.

His philanthropy extended to China, South Africa, Taiwan as well as the USA and Canada and included projects to help AIDS orphans among other things.

While living in Borrego Springs, he contributed a great deal to the town including building an arts center, a skate park, and supporting all kinds of local organizations. He also purchased 3 non-contiguous acres of land – little spots all over town. It is on that land that now lies 126 giant metal sculptures he commissioned from Ricardo Breceda. The sculpture garden brings many tourists to the town and boosts the local economy.

Here’s one of my favourites, a 350 foot serpent.

What a legacy!

It really got me thinking. All I need to do is come up with a super simple idea that will make a fortune (you know, like sticky labels) and then devote the rest of my life to philanthropic causes.

Talk about a life worth living!