It’s not a cult, but it’s not entirely not a cult.

We are members of the Oregon chapter of the Airstream Club International, which means we hang out with plenty of other Airstream owners who are equally as proud of their travel trailers, sometimes more. At the member breakfasts we share travel stories, tips, warnings, cautionary tales, and future plans. We also conspire toward camping trips together, wherein half the campground is occupied by those pretentious silver tubes.

Most of us are aware of the objectively self-congratulatory nature of such a club, and this cultish kitsch represents much of the charm for us. We chide ourselves the way others chide vegans: “How do you know someone’s an Airstreamer? Don’t worry, they’ll tell you.” This phenomenon is made worse by the club’s focus on gathering ourselves and our trailers publicly. Indeed, the club motto is “We Rally Together,” which is a battle cry for Airstreamers to reinforce amongst ourselves with joy of ownership (lest any members forget momentarily). The Oregon chapter has 40 formal rally events planned across Oregon and SW Washington planned for 2024. Yes 40.

When speaking to our kids and other family members, we have stopped referring to the Airstream club by any of its proper names. Rather, we use the shorthand reference word “cult.” The monthly Saturday morning gatherings are “cult breakfasts,” the group camping events are “cult rallies,” and other club members are “fellow cultists.” No need for a wink or a chuckle or a clarification; we all know what we mean. It’s not so much humor as it is diffusive euphemism. By explicitly calling it a cult, we affirm that it’s not actually a cult but we know how it looks. Perhaps this is self-delusion. Either way, that’s where we stand.

We have signed up for six cult rallies for 2024, so brace yourselves for pictures of Airstreams gathered in flocks. Our first cult rally was spent backed up directly to the Pacific Ocean. That’s us in the middle.

The Seaperch Rally is so named because it occurs at the Seaperch RV Resort just south of Yachats, Oregon. This particular rally has been occurring annually for several decades and is typically one of the most difficult to secure a spot to attend. There’s actually some cult drama on this point that I won’t explain here, but it’s sufficient to note we were happy to secure a spot for this year.

The ten best spots all back up directly to the beach, which make for a spectacular setting despite stormy weather. Forced time indoors waiting out rainstorms is always better when the view from inside the trailer is so engrossing.

And during those time when the sun snuck through the wandering cloudlets, the effect was truly memorable. If life is an assemblage of moments on a playlist favoring the strongest and most recent, this will get some playtime for the foreseeable future.

The RV park itself is quite well done. The sites are all paved and mostly level – sloped just enough to drain – with full hookups and enough space to enjoy the setting. The sites along the ocean include Adirondack chairs and gas fire pits for easy relaxation.

This location also worked well for group gatherings because the clubhouse is comfortable, with a pool table, foosball table, a view loft, a gym area, and space to gather for dinner together. The beach also presented a nice space to build a fire near the ocean and enjoy the sunset.

While in the vicinity, we visited Yachats for lunch and some grocery shopping, and on the way back we visited “Devils Churn,” a nearby wayside where the waves have cut deep into the cliffs, leaving an opportunity to see waves crashing up close but still safely above any danger.

All-in-all, it was a great weekend. If you had to pick a cult, you could do worse than the Airstreamers.