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For the Part Time or Year Round RVer, the Sands RV and Golf Resort is a Southern California Oasis Cost-of-Living:  Below the National Average In beautiful Desert Hot Springs, California (population 17,000), about 40 minutes from downtown Palm Springs, is the 55+ RV and golf community of Sands RV and Golf Resort, an oasis for RV travelers who need a spot to play golf for a day or a week or who want to spend the entire year in a lovely Southern California destination.   And while the emphasis here is on golf, the community has a large variety of planned activities and other amenities so that it really is a resort and not just an RV park.
	Sands is a family owned operation and has 521 RV spots, as well as some park models, a few of which are for sale (a par model is a 400 sq. ft. cottage that sits on a chassis and is designed to be set up in a campground or vacation community - prices start at $11,000).  There have been some recent renovations giving the development a fresh appearance, and new guests who visit for a week are welcome to stay for two extra nights at no extra charge.  For those seeking a long-term retirement spot, the annual RV rates are $3,840 plus electricity (for a pad that backs up to another RVer) or $4,275 for a pad that backs up to a private space.  If payment for the year is made in full up front, then 5% is taken off of the annual rent.  Daily, weekly and monthly rates are also available.  Visit www.sandsrvresort.com for more information.
For golfers, the executive 9-hole course ($18 plus $14 cart rental) comes with a full size driving range and a chipping and putting green (and it is the second longest course at  in the Palm Springs area).  Optional annual membership ranges from $700 to $1,000.   There is also a PGA pro on staff for anyone needing lessons. Free wifi (high speed internet), a nice perk, is available at each RV hookup, and cable TV is available, too, but the owner must pay for it.  There are also private mailboxes for those planning a long term stay.  Amenities include tennis courts, a recreation building, a Laundromat and a fitness center with a trainer.  Planned activities are extensive and include day trips, dances, card games, water aerobics, happy hours, potlucks and more.   Area spa hotels (from laid back accommodations to hip celebrity retreats), casinos and restaurants provide residents (and visitors) with even more opportunities to enjoy this year-round playground.   The residents here, part-time and long-term, are a fun bunch, and the community is welcoming of newcomers. In this part of the country temperatures vary between 65 degrees and 85 degrees throughout the year, and precipitation is low.  It's Southern California.