Dear Sagebrush Sally,
High season is almost here, and you can feel the shift already. Trailers and vans will soon roll into town, bathhouses will fill up again, and businesses that sat shuttered all summer are now sweeping off the dust and unlocking their doors. For many of us, this is the season that pays the bills and puts Tecopa back on the map after the long, quiet stretch.
But it’s not without its stresses. The hot springs get crowded, visitors don’t always understand desert etiquette, and the roads feel less safe when you’ve got a mix of locals, tourists, and day-trippers racing in and out. Some businesses seem to thrive while others stumble, and with more people in town, the cracks in our infrastructure—everything from trash bins to emergency response—start to show. On top of that, neighbors who were friendly in the off-season sometimes get short-tempered when the town feels overrun.
We want to welcome people warmly and make Tecopa a place they’ll return to, but we don’t want to lose the things that make this community special for those of us who live here year-round. How do we prepare ourselves—for the excitement, the chaos, and the inevitable frictions—without burning out or letting high season wear down the very spirit of Tecopa?
— Bracing for the Buzz
Dear Bracing for the Buzz,
You’re right—the winds are shifting. The trailers are about to start rolling in, the pools are filling up, and Tecopa is about to trade its quiet solitude for the wild hum of high season. Some folks thrive on the bustle, others grit their teeth until April, but all of us are affected. In a place this small, you can’t escape the change—you can only decide how you’ll move through it.
First, let’s talk about patience. Visitors don’t always understand desert etiquette—they leave trash, crowd the springs, drive too fast on our dusty roads. Some mean no harm; others are simply careless. Either way, meeting thoughtlessness with hostility rarely helps. A calm word, a reminder, or a simple example of respect often carries farther than a scolding. You won’t fix every offense, but you might plant a seed.
Second, take care of yourself. High season brings long days for business owners, more calls for our emergency crews, and less peace for residents used to solitude. Burnout is real. Pace yourself. Take early mornings and late evenings for quiet, when the desert still belongs to you. Remember that your well-being is part of Tecopa’s resilience—tired, resentful neighbors don’t make for a welcoming town.
Third, hold businesses—and each other—to standards that keep Tecopa safe and proud. Crowds test our limits, and shortcuts can tempt even the well-intentioned. Cutting corners might carry a business through the season, but it risks the reputation of the whole community. Choose where you spend your money wisely, and don’t be afraid to ask questions about safety and care. Accountability is not the enemy of prosperity—it’s its foundation.
Finally, keep sight of what makes this place more than just another stop in the desert. Visitors come for the hot springs, yes, but what they remember—and what makes them return—is the humanity of Tecopa: the quirky conversations, the unexpected kindness, the way the stars feel brighter here than anywhere else. We protect that spirit not by shutting the world out, but by showing up as our best selves when it arrives.
High season is a test, no doubt. But it’s also an opportunity: to share what makes Tecopa rare, to earn goodwill, and to remind ourselves why we chose to live in a place where the desert demands both grit and grace. Welcome the season with open eyes and steady feet. The ladybugs, the sunsets, and the quiet will still be waiting when the crowds roll out again.
— Sagebrush Sally
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