Serendipity creates a life-long home in Markleeville

It was a rusted and worn VW beetle that came to a stop right in front of me in the center of downtown Markleeville. A man dressed in an immaculate pressed white shirt and finely made tie swung out and stood, slowly surveying the three blocks that made up our entire village.

In contrast to the outside, I could see that the interior of the bug was luxurious, with finely upholstered seats and a fancy stereo. His bug was made to look intentionally bad on the outside but was high performance and opulent on the inside. Ralph Stines had officially arrived in town.

It was probably right around 1985. He had heard rumors that there was a small town out in the mountains that was just what he was looking for. As it turned out, it was perfect for him.

With a population slightly over 1,000 people in the entire county, if you were not born here, the circuitous route you take to get to this remote location, and then choose to spend your life here is always uniquely your own. That is especially true in the case of Ralph Stines.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, he was only 13 when he took a vow that would shape the course of his life. His mother was extremely sick and in the hospital. As he sat with her, she begged him not to do the things his brother was doing: drinking, smoking, and taking drugs. The young Ralph gave his word. One hour later, his mother died, and Ralph has remained true his entire existence. He has never wavered from his commitment.

He is known for his dedication to making his own moral decisions, sticking to them, and “living outside the box.” “It is work and a real effort not to watch TV in our world. I avoid it, even in my peripheral vision. TV is all about observing somebody else living, not living yourself. If there is an opportunity to see an event, I want to see it. And not through a lens!” he said.

It was 1977 when Ralph got really involved in a project and realized he had gone seven days without watching TV.

“I just continued on for several months, and then made a personal promise.”

He has created a way to live life the way he wants, having T-shirts made that say, “No cell phone. No TV. Life is great!”

“All of these devices interrupt the flow of life,” observes Ralph.

Ralph majored in pre-med and math when he attended Pierce College. He was secretary to a state senator for five years, and then worked as a paralegal for eight years before moving first to South Lake and then North Lake Tahoe. He was the manager for a medical office, but when he arrived in Markleeville, he found it was really difficult to find a suitable position.

The majority of the time people have to commute long distances in tough weather to find a job that is right for them, since employment, even in the county seat is limited.

He started out working on houses and put together whatever odd jobs he could.

He sent out hundreds of resumes, took out ads, and simply decided he was “not going to give up.” He ended up scoring 100 percent on an engineering aptitude test, and went to work for the State of Nevada, initially as a land surveyor. He has been operating specialized equipment to inspect bridges for over 15 years now. “You cannot be afraid of heights!” he laughs.

Looking for a place to live was another challenge. There was an empty cabin, and he tracked down the owner, who was just walking out the door to rent the cabin to someone else. But the owner did not feel comfortable about it. The more he talked to Ralph, he knew he would be a great tenant. “How did I find it? It was a simple serendipity that this was available. After renting for many years, I bought it. It is what has made it possible for me to stay in Markleeville.”

Ralph has always had a gift for fixing things. Even when he was a child, he took his toys apart and put them back together to see how they worked. His mechanical skills are well known. One day, when I was working in town, he poked his head in and told me he had noticed a problem with one of my tires and was outside fixing it. So, it is not merely skill, but a true generosity of character that Ralph possesses. He does things like this for many people in our community, with no fanfare or self-aggrandizement. He makes the extra effort to “take the high ground” in whatever situation occurs, and to help other people wherever he can.

He has “out-of-the-ordinary” vehicles. His half-ton truck always had a “found object” hood ornament, so you recognize him easily on the road. That, along with his signature, Davy Crockett style “coonskin cap” that he wears in the cold season define his style.

He was in second grade when a neighbor’s son used to drive over to visit on his Harley. All the way back then, he decided that he really wanted to have a bike like that when he grew up. With his determination in accomplishing whatever he sets his mind to do, Ralph not only got a Harley, but he has also customized it so that it attracts a crowd wherever he goes. It has a Batman shield in front. Blue LED lights on the bike send out the Batman signal at night. Ralph smiles with pleasure, “Yeah Baby, full circle: mission accomplished.”

He also builds road racers, go-carts, and all sorts of fun vehicles of his own design. Some are made to be ridden in parking lots, some on dirt roads. He always has some sort of project in the works. Locals love to join in the adventure of these rides. Here is where Ralph shares his sense of camaraderie. He also has a passion for board games, many of which he invents and builds himself.

Ralph is as strong as an ox. He just finished cutting, splitting, and stacking 19 1/2 cords of firewood. He leans back and grins. “Now I am ready for a real Markleeville winter,” he says.

Ralph is both steadfast and loyal. He has friends that he has kept over his entire lifetime. They take the same photo in the same pose “every 40 years or so.” They are close, and know, no matter what, Ralph is unstoppable. Once he sets his mind to do something, he will do it, no matter the obstacles. It is how he has survived the threat of fire and devastating floods, the closed roads and continuous unexpected hazards that are part and parcel of real mountain living.