Safety in the RGV

[Dog_Trainer]

Please forgive me for stirring the pot here. We are new snowbirds having spent a part of last year in central Fl. and presently in Fl. until late march.
We were talking about what we might do next year and the RGV is a possibility. We mentioned this to some folks that had recently left Brownsville TX. and they stated that we had better be careful down there because there is a lot of crime. I know a lot of you spend your winters there and we are not even a little bit wimpy or afraid of things. I am prudent a do research where we will be going so I wonder how much weight to give to the safety issue in the RGV. One comment this person made was that the Walmart in Brownsville now had armed guards. Thanks for your input.

[John_Joey]

Just curious, where in the Valley where you? and once it got dark outside did you venture out much beyond the boarders of your park?

Since you mentioned culture shock, if you were out after night and got into a fender bender can you see that as being an issue vs what you are accustomed too up north? Do you feel you could defend your rights with only knowing English?

[Geeze]

Dog Trainer wrote:
Please forgive me for stirring the pot here. We are new snowbirds having spent a part of last year in central Fl. and presently in Fl. until late march.
We were talking about what we might do next year and the RGV is a possibility. We mentioned this to some folks that had recently left Brownsville TX. and they stated that we had better be careful down there because there is a lot of crime. I know a lot of you spend your winters there and we are not even a little bit wimpy or afraid of things. I am prudent a do research where we will be going so I wonder how much weight to give to the safety issue in the RGV. One comment this person made was that the Walmart in Brownsville now had armed guards. Thanks for your input.

I realize this is an older post but after spending a week in the RGV recently I can say we felt as safe there as we would have in any larger city. Coming from a predominately white midwest area it was definitely culture shock the first time we visited the valley. The population there is probably 95% Hispanic but we found the people to be friendly, courteous and for the most part very polite drivers.Spanish seems to be the primary language however most are bilingual. We plan to winter there when we retire in a few years.

[John_Joey]

I am so sorry for her. She must be terrified. I'm assuming she is elderly and alone (even if she wasn't, to have your private life invaded is a terrible feeling.)

Having happy hour yesterday when someone said a gentleman in the park just had his truck stolen while down in Brownsville. Don't know anything more then that and I'm assuming it's true.

Once again, no violent crimes against Winter Texans in any of this. I guess it's mind over matter. If you don't mind, it don't matter.

[TomG2]

"They" tried to break into my neighbor's mobile home about one o'clock this morning. The police pointed out that we have bad neighborhoods nearby. We are in the middle of the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. His advice? "Don't keep very much cash on hand and key the panic button on the remote next time". She is not sure that there will be a "next time".

[John_Joey]

CD, what are you doing down in the RGV anyways? Ain't no bass down here worthy of your boat/tow SUV. Or did you hang up the fresh water and turning to salt life. That we got 🙂

[dontexas]

cloud dancer ........ I live here in the RGV (Harlingen) and have never seen an armed guard at a Walmart.... Where was this store ?

[Cloud_Dancer]

What? You think I like it down there? The reason I'm there is because it's all I can afford. I've seen armed guards at Walmarts. Took me back to when I owned/operated a racetrack,.....with 10 armed guards. It made people feel safe I guess. They kept coming back.

[Geeze]

bud01234 wrote:

Dog Trainer wrote:
Please forgive me for stirring the pot here. We are new snowbirds having spent a part of last year in central Fl. and presently in Fl. until late march.
We were talking about what we might do next year and the RGV is a possibility. We mentioned this to some folks that had recently left Brownsville TX. and they stated that we had better be careful down there because there is a lot of crime. I know a lot of you spend your winters there and we are not even a little bit wimpy or afraid of things. I am prudent a do research where we will be going so I wonder how much weight to give to the safety issue in the RGV. One comment this person made was that the Walmart in Brownsville now had armed guards. Thanks for your input.

I've searched this thread for about 20 posts and still cant find what the acronym "RGV" means.

Frustrating. Wouldn't it be good to always spell out the first time you use an abbreviation? ex. my wife's hair is RGV (Red, Green, Violet)?

"RGV" or Rio Grande Valley is the area at the southernmost tip of Texas.

[Us_out_West]

bud01234 wrote:

Dog Trainer wrote:
Please forgive me for stirring the pot here. We are new snowbirds having spent a part of last year in central Fl. and presently in Fl. until late march.
We were talking about what we might do next year and the RGV is a possibility. We mentioned this to some folks that had recently left Brownsville TX. and they stated that we had better be careful down there because there is a lot of crime. I know a lot of you spend your winters there and we are not even a little bit wimpy or afraid of things. I am prudent a do research where we will be going so I wonder how much weight to give to the safety issue in the RGV. One comment this person made was that the Walmart in Brownsville now had armed guards. Thanks for your input.

I've searched this thread for about 20 posts and still cant find what the acronym "RGV" means.

Frustrating. Wouldn't it be good to always spell out the first time you use an abbreviation? ex. my wife's hair is RGV (Red, Green, Violet)?

Rio Grand Valley in Texas.

[bud01234]

Dog Trainer wrote:
Please forgive me for stirring the pot here. We are new snowbirds having spent a part of last year in central Fl. and presently in Fl. until late march.
We were talking about what we might do next year and the RGV is a possibility. We mentioned this to some folks that had recently left Brownsville TX. and they stated that we had better be careful down there because there is a lot of crime. I know a lot of you spend your winters there and we are not even a little bit wimpy or afraid of things. I am prudent a do research where we will be going so I wonder how much weight to give to the safety issue in the RGV. One comment this person made was that the Walmart in Brownsville now had armed guards. Thanks for your input.

I've searched this thread for about 20 posts and still cant find what the acronym "RGV" means.

Frustrating. Wouldn't it be good to always spell out the first time you use an abbreviation? ex. my wife's hair is RGV (Red, Green, Violet)?

[TomG2]

I am looking for a used cargo trailer and ran across this in the description, "I lost the title so selling cheap. 1200 firm".

They sure "lose" a lot of titles down here in the RGV.

[joebedford]

Dos cervezas por favor.

[TomG2]

Sure there are, but it would help if you can speak Spanish.

[joebedford]

TomG2 wrote:
If it gives the old folks a thrill by calling it a biker bar, that's great. Most of them would not go near the real deal. By the way, it is no longer called "Crazy Joe's".

I rode out to Harley's (in the middle of nowhere) the other day and when I got there I stopped half-way into the turnoff - it wasn't what I expected - thought I was at the wrong place. I was expecting 20 bikes and a few cars. What I saw was 50 cars and 5 bikes - the place has been 'discovered'. The place was full of Q-Tips with buckets of beer and listening to the rip-roaring, knee-slapping yee-haw band. I had one $3.25 beer and left saying never again.

Are there any biker bars left in the valley that haven't been discovered?

[pawatt]

pawatt wrote:

TomG2 wrote:
Calling a bar populated mostly with retired Midwestern farmers and school teachers a "Biker bar" is a little bit of a stretch. It is a fun place though.

It is a biker bar when the Winter Texans are not here, They probably fear for their safety when we are here and stay away.

Attempt at humor 😉