Dejavu: My First Day in Quartzsite

I woke this morning to a chill inside my van—surprising for an Arizona desert winter. My zero-degree-rated blanket usually wards off the cold, but I’d forgotten the simple trick of wearing my hoodie to bed. To top it off, I realized I hadn’t stocked up on my morning fuel: an energy drink. It was nearly three in the afternoon before I finally sipped some caffeine, and by then, my day was already well underway.

Though this isn’t my first visit to Quartzsite—I’ve been four times before—I haven’t set foot here since 2018. Much like stepping into a long-lost memory, the town felt the same as I remembered, give or take a new gas station. And that’s precisely why I love it: time seems to march at a different pace here.

By ten in the morning, I was ready to explore. My first stop was Gem World. True to its name, it overflows with glimmering stones of every variety. Retail pricing, though, so not my ideal way to buy. Next, I swung by the flea market—locals call it a swap meet—where a patchwork of vendors peddled everything from dusty antiques to brand-new oddities. I snagged a present for my wife, Olivia, in the process.

The place buzzed with sensory overload, so by the time I left, I was both invigorated and relieved to find a moment’s calm.

Afterward, I made a beeline to the Desert Oasis Bookstore. It’s a beloved if somewhat chaotic treasure trove of literature. The shop still feels the absence of the famously friendly nudist who once graced its aisles daily, a quirky presence that had become a cornerstone of the store.

Nonetheless, I managed to sift through the mess of books and found one worth taking home.

By then, the day’s sightseeing had me drained. I retreated to my boondocking spot for a spell of Netflix binging and meditation—still forgetting, in all my rush, to pick up that elusive energy drink. Naturally, I ended up returning to town again, determined not to make the same mistake twice, stocking up on enough caffeinated ammo for tomorrow.

Refueled, I shifted my attention to the south strip of town, where an impressively large gem show sprawls across the desert floor. As a new gem carver and polisher—mainly working with raw emerald, smoky quartz, sulfur quartz, and raw turquoise—I was like a kid in a candy store.

I found a large piece of raw emerald for my next project and a hefty 25-pound haul of Mariposite, famous for its gold-veined patterns. I scored it at a price that saved me about 75% off the usual retail rate—an absolute steal.

*A piece of raw emerald I shaped and polished.*

And now, here I am at the Quartzsite Yacht Club, a local legend if ever there was one, nibbling on calamari and tapping out these words. I became a member last night for 50 bucks, and the best part? Their reciprocity policy means I’ll have access to yacht clubs back home on the Gulf of Mexico and around Mobile Bay—an unexpected perk in the middle of the desert. Last night, I treated myself to a smoked turkey sandwich, piled high with potato salad and coleslaw, and devoured every bite without shame.

As the sun dips below the dusty horizon, painting the sky in pastels, I’m already planning tonight’s YouTube video and tomorrow’s tasks: removing the trim on my Mercedes Sprinter van in prep for a later install. None of this would be possible without the help of Battle Born Batteries and Sin City Overland, two forces that keep my desert adventures rolling.

Quartzsite, with its timeless vibe and gemstone glitz, continues to feel both familiar and brand new. And it’s in these quiet minutes, watching the day settle into night, that I can’t help but smile at how the desert seems to grant me exactly what I need—whether it’s a dusty gem deal or a place to call home, even if only for a little while.