Friends, I'm here ta tell ya that there ain't no better folks to be found on this earth.  It's literally is like goin back in time to the days when a man's word was his bond, and ya took care of yer own.  Seein' as how ya can't "lock" a tent, like ya have to do your home these days, ya have ta trust people.  At a guess, I would say the average camp and personal items can cost over several thousand dollars, and it's just all sorta layin out everywhere.  Ya know, in all the years I have been doin Ronnyvous, I have never had anything stolen from me.  I have some rather expensive long rifles, and have a tendency to not remember to bring them in at nite if'n I've been sippin a bit much that nite.  <chuckles> It started to rain one nite after Mouse and I had gone to bed, and I guess I had left my best long rifle out by my chair.  Next mornin when I got up, my rifle was layin on the dinin table, out of the rain, and someone had even dried her off fer me. Well sir, never did find out who had done that good deed, but in case he or she be readin this, you have my gratitude...

    A few years back, one of the Traders at the Alifia lost his money pouch. In it was his take for the whole Ronnyvous... several thousand dollars, as I understand it. Needless to say, that ol' coon was a mite distraught about losin his pouch.  He asked several Dog Soldiers if they'd seen it, and all said "No", but suggested that he check with the Booshway.  He went to the Booshways tent, and told him what had happened.  After listening to the description of the pouch, the Booshway went to this trunk, and pulled out a pouch.  "Is this it", he asked?  Sure 'nuff, it was his pouch with every penny still in it.  The Trader wanted to know who had turned it in so as to give this person a reward.  Nope, the Booshway wouldn't tell him, as the finder didn't want a reward.  He did it because it wasn't his, and it was the right thing to do.  Kinda restores yer faith in people, don't it?

    When I started, friends, I was greener than grass.  With a lot of help, good answers to questions, good advice, and on several occasions, butt chewins, because I was a mite out of period with something, I have progressed from Pilgrim to possibly a Tenderfoot, all in the space of just ten short years. <chuckles> And I still got a lot ta learn here. Seriously though, it seems that everyone helps the Greenhorn in what ever way they can, and even the old timers.  Some one pulls in late, ya help 'em set up, they ain't got time ta fix dinner, ya give 'em an invite... in other words, every one pulls together to help each other.  No, that's not written in any of the rule books anywhere, it's just what ya do cause it needs doin.  It's called helpin yer neighbor. Something that seems ta be fergotten in tha real world...

    Well, I guess y'all get tha point here, so I won't belabor the facts anymore. And I don't mean that Reenactors aren't like that, cause they are.  Where ever you go on the circuit, you see it happen all the time. We are a family, and we take care of each other, and watch out for each other, no matter what.