Wisconsin resident James J. Calmes' home was sitting in a Bismarck parking lot Monday.

One of his homes was, that is - the shiny one. The one he keeps waxed to a high gloss on its exterior. The one that looks like a rock star's touring bus, and that he'll drive away in a couple of days.

His unwaxed, more typical Wisconsin home with a four-car garage and other amenities is still in Wisconsin - near a five-acre lake and fun land that he developed for his grandchildren. Near the home and lake, there is a merry-go-round carousel ride, a target practice range and a brick building strictly for recreation, a video game palace, that also has a country kitchen, living room and bathroom.

The retired contractor's home in Bismarck is a 40-plus-footer, a deluxe Monaco motor coach that has amenities inside and out.

Outside, there are such things as a 40-inch flat screen television that appears when a side cargo door is opened. That allows Calmes to watch television outside under the stars. Inside the motor coach, there are other television sets, including the flat screen that drops from the ceiling. There also are power drapes and a power hide-a-bed that all open at the touch of a button.

If a strange noise is heard, he can look at a screen near his bed. Acamera system outside will show him the complete perimeter so he can spot any trespassers. He carries a supply of his favorite beef, Black Angus, and other fresh meats in a special refrigerator " freezer in the cargo area because he said some states he travels in don't sell meat that's up to his standards.

There's also a gauge on the roof that measures the wind. Too strong, and the automatic system will roll up the awnings to protect them.

"It's a nice way to travel,"Calmes said about his home.

Calmes wasn't alone in his luxurious surroundings.

He is parked amongst some of the about 350 Monaco motor coaches that are converging on Bismarck to attend the four-day Monaco International Club's summer rally that starts today at the Bismarck Civic Center.

Many of the motor coaches are valued in the about $300,000 to $400,000 price range. The owners have traveled here for the food, entertainment and seminars.

Some of the workshops offered:"What You Should Know About Windshield Repair,""Enhanced Steering Control"and "Don't Go Without Velcro."

Entertainment being brought in includes country singer Janie Fricke, a past Country Music Association female vocalist of the year, and comedian Royce Elliott, billed as America's funniest clean comedian, who appears regularly at Las Vegas' MGM Grand hotel.

Monaco also hopes to sell some new vehicles. About 40 new coaches, a couple with pricetags as high as $1 million and $1.2 million, are on display.

Mark Kealoha, Monaco's national sales manager, said the high-end models are "a true bus" and are customized from the top down with such things as high-gloss wood cabinetry, designer tiles, fancy electronics, home theatres, plasma television and electric power drapes.

The diesel-powered models have 150-gallon fuel tanks and get about 7 miles to the gallon.

He said Oregon-based Monaco, with a 27 percent market share, sells the most diesel motor coaches in the recreational-vehicle industry. For this clientele, the rising price of fuel isn't a problem.

"They just consider it another expense,"he said. "Alot of these people are full-timers. They're committed to the lifestyle."

He said Monaco owners are generally professionals - retired company owners, corporate heads, airline pilots. And there are some professional golfers who have decided this is the way to take their families on the road and not live in hotels.

Monaco engineer Dan Jourdan designed a coach for singer Dolly Parton about seven or eight years ago.

"She's a real nice lady,"he said.

He said it wasn't that different than others he's designed except that she wanted most of it to be pink, which drove personnel a little crazy trying to get all of the pinks to match. And she wanted bunkbeds, extra room in the salon and a bathtub - usually the buses have showers.

Nikki and Peter Colom, Monaco owners in town for the rally, don't have a home to return to.

The couple sold their New York home and are now Monaco full-timers.

"We love it,"Nikki Colom said.

They've been living this way since December, and so far, after wintering in Texas, traveled to Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and then on to North Dakota.

After here, it's on to California, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas.

A big point Peter Colom makes is that, like all the full-timers, they don't have to pay property tax on a house anymore.

"Property tax can be as high as $15,000,"he said. "That covers expenses for travel."

Bismarck became the chosen spot for Monaco's summer rally because club members can then drive on to Minot to participate with the expected several thousand conventioneers at the national Family Motor Coach Association International Convention.

Minot's convention is next week - Monday through Thursday.

(Reach reporter Virginia Grantier at 250-8254 or at Virginia.Grantier@;Bismarcktribune.com)