It must have something (probably the tax break for businesses), 'cuz every time I read about the fastest growing city in the country, it is always Vegas. Personally, other than driving the strip at night and walking Fremont Street, it has nothing for me. I worked too hard for my money to gamble it away, and if I do get the urge, there are Indian casinos all over the country.

As far as this scenario goes, and my plan to sell the car and get a train ride, if that plan fails, I always have a couple of hundred dollar bills, guarded by a moth with hash marks on his sleeve, folded tight and buried in my wallet. Always. They are part of my EDC stuff...

"There was only one road back to L.A., US interstate 15. Just a flat out high speed burn through Baker, Barstow and Berdoo. Then on to the Hollywood Freeway straight into frantic oblivion, safety, obscurity. Just another freak...in the freak kingdom."
--Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Now for Chicago there are a couple of options. Driving I'd head north to I-80 and take that through Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois. If I can't find someone I know in Utah I know I can find people in Wyoming and Nebraska. That's my country. Two fifty should get me gas to Utah or Wyoming even at 20mpg. Assuming it's my car, we don't need to pick up food or water or other supplies. If it's a rental, I'd get a couple of $0.50 gallon jugs of drinking water, say eight gallons if I can get my hands on it. For food, I'd get a jar of peanut butter, jelly and a loaf of bread. Food that's familiar for the kid, cheap and full of energy (though not enought to send the kid bouncing off the walls). Finally, I'd get a cheap fleece blanket. $4 water, $8 food, $5 blanket. Say up around $20 with tax. $250 won't get me the whole way, but it should get me to my own territory and help. From there, I can get the rest of the way.

The other way is to fly out of Nellis Air Fore base. That's the first option, if I can get out on an air force flight, that'd be the easiest option. It might be a slightly round about trip, but its the easiest and safest option.

OBG, what it has is the reputation as "the fastest growing city in the country". That's what draws the businesses.

But you wouldn't believe the flow-through of people (as residents)... it's simply incredible. They move there because they hear it's growing, so there must be something good for them. Then they find out that all the businesses are basically minimum wage. Sure, there are 25-yr-old guys pulling down $80,000/year as parking valets, but you don't get those jobs unless you're in really tight with upper management (their kids are the usual).

When I went to work for the limo co., there were really only two requirements: you had to appear to be breathing, and you had to have a clean DMV printout. And if you were just paroled after serving 8 years in prison, you had a clean DMV printout!

So, the people with the high hopes let the bills slide and take their pittance into the casinos, figuring they'll win, pay the bills and have some extra. But it doesn't happen that way. Soon, they leave.

There is a kind of management joke in Vegas: Do you know the difference between gambling and gaming? Gambling is what the customer does, and it's set up so that he mostly loses. Gaming is what the casinos do, and there's NO gamble about it. They just rake it in.

Oh, and I'm not sure that Amtrak still stops there. And you don't get a berth without buying a ticket 4-6 wks ahead of need.

Sue

Re Coastie09's comments:

For those of you that are members, AAA is awesome about giving you maps of whatever state/region/city you need, at no extra cost other than membership.

Definitely agree with you on AAA membership for driving maps. I get my money's worth on that feature alone. I also agree that one would need them to find the alternate routes. I remember when Houston was was being evacuated just before Hurricane Rita struck. I live in Dallas and couldn't believe the traffic problems here and we are 3-4 hours away. Also, the gas stations in Dallas began running out of gas because the evacuees had empty gas tanks when they arrived and needed to fill up before they leave (not that I'm angry about this, I'm just stating a realistic event).

I think that were not evaluating the LV situation properly. For example, what is the time of the year. In January, I doubt that I will be heading northeast towards Chicago.

Oh, come on.. Chicago in January builds character. Besides, after driving through a Chicago winter, you could teach your fellow Southerners how to drive. Lessons such as:

Don't lock up the breaks while driving, on ice.

Don't get within 2o feet of the vehicle in front of while speeding in your [censored]' Camaro, while on ice.

Don't out race you headlights, while on ice.


Etc.

M

Who just loves the multi-car pile-ups down South when the weather turns the least bit frosty.

M,


Wow, that's a phrase I haven't heard in a long time.

-Blast

Datin' myself, huh?

M

Dating BOTH of us.
To fill in others:




They don't write songs like that any more...

-Blast

Beelzebubba, baby.....

Aw, hell, Now I gotta go home and pull out the Clash, Kennedy's, Costello, Ramones, Pistols, Surfer's....

M

I still get up in the wee hours, sneak downstairs, but on the headphones, crank the Clash, and slam my head against the wall 'til I feel human again.

"My ultimate vocation in life is to be an irritant." Elvis Costello

"I still get up in the wee hours, sneak downstairs, but on the headphones, crank the Clash, and slam my head against the wall 'til I feel human again."

Doesn't everybody?

To un-hijack this thread, I have to agree with those praising AAA. Their free map service is a God-send when you are heading somewhere new. The discounts at shops, amusement parks and hotels don't hurt, either.

A word of warning, the free towing service of their base plan is only something like 4-5 miles. Sign up for the next level membership to get 50-mile free tows.

The other nice thing about AAA is the benefits are tied to the person, not to the car. I've used it to tow friend's cars to repair shops when they couldn't afford it.

-Blast