We decided to stay for a full week. That gave us time to sink in, slow down, and get acquainted with the rhythms of Bentsen Palm Village.
Morning routines settled in: coffee outside, strolls through the palms, journaling, watching butterflies drift through gardens. By Day 3, I felt less like a tourist and more like a resident. I chatted with neighbors, some of whom winter here. One couple told me they come every year just to see the first swallowtails in February.
We visited the National Butterfly Center multiple times. I’d bring a sketchpad, sit quietly near a nectar garden, and sketch morpho or monarch wings. The way light passes through wings is so delicate and luminous.
Meals became leisurely rituals. I roasted a whole chicken in a disposable foil pan, with fingerling potatoes and herbs, baked in the RV oven. We baked cornbread muffins to go with it. Another evening, I cooked shrimp étouffée (adjusted ingredients for the RV stove), served over rice.
We also took a day trip to McAllen, exploring art galleries, enjoying local Mexican pastries, and browsing boutiques. Another day we drove down to South Padre Island — the pelicans, the smell of salt, the roll of waves — a refreshing contrast to the inland wetlands.
By Day 7, I realized how unnatural it feels to return home after such a stay. We carried home souvenirs, but more importantly, a relaxed state of mind, new bird lists, and warm memories.