If the RV’s Rockin’

Recreational vehicles appeal to three major constituencies: children, obsessive-compulsives and retirees. For kids, the appeal is obvious: It’s a house on wheels! Though not exactly a robot that transforms into a submarine, it’s still a satisfying aggregation of elements. Obsessive-compulsive personalities, preoccupied with rules, organization and detail, can find their condition soothed by the ordered conformity of the space-efficient storage and room divisions that characterize the modern RV. As a bonus, the structured interior is an effective counteragent to the scary organic chaos of the parks and woods just outside the door. Finally, retirees like to externalize their new freedom from the obligations of work with an awesome 30-foot fun bus. Spending the golden years driving back and forth across the country — making occasional grandchild pit-stops along the way — is considered one of the romantic ideals of modern maturity.So those are the demographics you can expect to see represented at the Mid-America RV Show, a huge consumer exhibition of trailers, campers, RVs and related gear. It starts today at Bartle Hall (301 West 13th Street). Admission costs $7.50 for adults; children 12 and younger are admitted free. Hours are noon to 9 p.m. today and Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Call 816-931-3330 for tickets; for more information, see patrihaproductions.com.

Feb. 28-March 2, 2008