As it turns out, an old dog can learn new tricks. Last Wednesday was the first of several country western dance lessons here at the RV park where we’re staying. The first dance we’re learned was–what else?–the Texas 2-step.

The instructors are adorable. John and Jeannie are a retired couple in their mid-70’s (at least) and they’re full-time RVers too. It wasn’t until after they retired and started RVing that they learned to dance, and John admitted to not wanting to do it at first. The only reason he did was because Jeannie really wanted to learn.

He ended up enjoying it and they’ve been dancing ever since. And regularly, too–at least four times a week. Sometimes five! Plus, they volunteer to teach others at various RV parks throughout the Hill Country. They do it for fun.

Listening to John gave me hope that I could learn the 2-step and then teach Dave when his knee’s all healed. His knee replacement was not even four weeks ago, and even though his recovery is going really well, it’ll be a while before we’re out there on the dance floor. We’ve always admired watching couples who dance well, though, and we ourselves used to dance quite regularly, back in the day. When we were in our 30’s, we’d go out at least once a week and disco. Yes, we did!

I’m not a dancer, but I love to dance. It’s been a part of my life, having been raised in a big, Polish family where all major occasions like weddings featured a polka band and lots of dancing. Even smaller venues–like the parties my parents threw for me for my First Communion and high school graduation–often had an accordion player who played polkas.

Our class consists of six couples and me. Lessons are held in the rec room here at the RV park where all but one of us are staying for the winter. I think our average age is somewhere in the mid-60’s, at least.

John explained the dance; it seemed easy enough. Slow, slow, quick, quick. Slow, slow, quick, quick. Start on the ‘quick.’ Men begin with their left foot, ladies with their right.

The couples got into position as directed, and John started the music. Since I didn’t have a partner, I was content to watch from the sidelines, but Jeannie wouldn’t have it. Standing alongside me, she showed me the steps and pretty soon I got the hang of it. She and I danced to that song and then another. I did better when I repeated, “Slow, slow, quick, quick” to myself over and over rather than when I tried making conversation with her. But I love learning learn about people, so I tried talking anyway.

In between two-stepping halfway decently and getting confused and having to start over, I learned that she and John have been married for 55 years, and that they’ve been RVing full- time for 20…in the same RV (a Winnebago). Amazing on all counts, I’d say!

It’s encouraging that people their age are still RVing, because we sometimes are asked, “how long are you going to keep doing this?”

I guess what’s meant is “living in an RV,’ and the two possible answers are ‘as long as we can’ and ‘I don’t know.’ We’ve spent nearly half of our 40 years together living in confined quarters of some sort–whether it was the boat or in an RV–so we’re as comfortable living in 320 square feet as we are in a house five times the size.

Both John and Jeannie closely watched every dancer and corrected gently when needed. In between songs, John passed along tidbits of information, like what he thought would be the best times for us beginners to go dancing at the 11th Street Bar and Saloon or Arkey’s Silver Dollar, just two of the places here in Bandera (and within a very short walk from the RV park) where live music plays most nights of the week. It’s quite impressive to listen an old guy rattle off who’s playing where and when at the local saloons.

Jeannie sat on the sidelines observing each couple’s moves

By the end of this week’s lesson (our second), John pronounced us ready to get on the dance floor and assigned homework: to go dancing at least once before our lesson next Wednesday. He reminded us that the dancing rotation goes counter clockwise, and beginners ought to stay closer to the center and not on the outside, where the more serious/good dancers tend to be.

He also told us that next week we’ll be expanding our repertoire by learning the waltz. I’m already looking forward to it! Dancing is great exercise and it’s exciting to learn something new–no matter what age you are!