Toccata: Another Monastery in the Desert??

After I returned home I learned unfortunate things about this monastery and the types of guests it harbors. I will leave my original writings as they are but only add that I would never stay there and if I had children with me would not even visit under any circumstances.
PLO

March 27, 2007
Las Cruces, New Mexico

I think I have figured out some things about RV living. At all RV parks there is some kind of harmonic convergence that causes ordinary men to absolutely have to rise early and start their engines—early being defined as between 6am and 6:30am. I mistakenly assumed that’s what time they were getting on the road but no! When I finally give up on falling back asleep and get up, all the rigs are still packed in tighter than coats in a closet.

Indispensable things I either use all the time or wish I had more of:
Nail files
Alcohol—of both kinds
Hand sanitizers
Push pins or brads—push pins probably better
Window wipes—not just the Windex bottle
Step stool—stored upside down it holds stuff that won’t roll around and various things like leashes and caps can hang from the 4 legs
Plastic one gallon empty water bottle for that extra hot water I need to wash my hair
My ergonomic purse that can just barely hold the tripod
Better food that what I brought

Observations about desert dwellings:
De rigeur—
ugly cactus in yard, preferrably a beavertail or century plant
Old rusted out car
Banks rose (Tombstone)
Wagon wheels—extra points if they circle the property; extra points if the wheels are made of iron; deduct points if wooden wheels have been sawed in half to make them go further
At least 2 big ugly dogs of no pedigree
Pick up truck of any model
Pick up truck of any model that doesn’t run and is up on blocks
Minimum one non-working large appliance sitting near back door
Faded lace curtains, peeling paint, old flower pots—anything to show that at one time someone tried to pretty things up and ended up not giving a damn

On the way out of Tombstone I came across Holy Trinity Benedictine monastery in St. David, AZ. It advertised itself as a monastery, RV Park, mobile home park and purveyors of pecans and fine soaps. This I had to see.

There are 5 monks who live there and about 15 oblates who live year-round in the mobile home park. People come and stay in their RVs for $17.00 a night and that includes full hook-ups. I don't think they offer cable.

The grounds, chapel and bookstore were quite nice. There are also small stucco cells around the grounds and larger facilities to house greater numbers of retreatants. Ask for Thelma for RV park information. They also have weekly and monthly rates.

This is the chapel interior.