Around camp grounds and caravan parks, we see groups of people gather for a few drinks in the evenings, theres conversation and laughter. I often wonder if they all knew each other before they started travelling.
It seems such a big part of travelling, to have a drink after the heat of the day. Yet we always only have each other for company. We seem to get into conversation with people about all sorts of things at other times.
Whats the happy hour ettiquette? Does one just wander over to a group with drink in hand? We asked somebody to join us once but were declined.
I look forward to the advice of the experienced happy-hour participants.
Shell said
11:34 AM Nov 16, 2010
Hi Gerty Dancer,
We had this same problem when we first started Caravanning - we thought it was because we were younger than the usual nomads!
But we decided to take it into our own hands and we just walked around with a drink in hand and started talking to people. We have met some wonderful people and keep in contact with quite a few of them.
Don't worry about the rejection - might be tired travellers that have to take off early next day!
Hope this helps,
Shell
jimbo said
12:32 PM Nov 16, 2010
I have had many a happy hour with people through out my recent trip North.....Hope one day to catch up again......Particularly the travellers from Tasmania.....Hope I can get down there one day
Hylda&Jon said
12:47 PM Nov 16, 2010
Hi Rose!
We know the feeling, we have been on the road for a year now and we are still not the best at the happy hour scene either, probably doesn't help that we try to find a quiet private spot facing some bush or something when we set up.
I'll often chat to people if I walk by when their setting up or relaxing outside asking where their from etc but it dosn't often lead to a shared happy hour and we're not really the sort to just wander over to peoples set up drink in hand when there enjoying themselves & impose our company on them. One way I find which works is when I see a couple relaxing outside in the afternoon I wander by & comment on them enjoying happy hour which can initiate a chat, then I mention my ice is probably melting in my bourbon back at the caravan (which is normally true by that time of the day) which then may spark an invitation or I say something like "I'll have to either go back & drink it or fetch it & my wife & drink it here"
You never know, we may share a happy hour together one day.
Cheers Jon & Hylda
ps: Shell! If you go through the Margaret River area drop into Gracetown C/P & say hello...it's a great park & the cheapest in Margaret river.
petengail said
01:21 PM Nov 16, 2010
We are not really big on the happy hour concept, preferring to get to know people for a day or so before wanting to have a drink with them each evening. I often take people out fishing in my tinnie too but again I want to know who I am going to be sitting in a tinnie with - like happy hour sometimes there is "no escape"
Onedodger said
03:33 PM Nov 16, 2010
We often join in happy hour and many times have instigated this event. We use this happy hour to make friends and to get info about places to see and things to do. And also to impart with same. Over the years of Vanning we have made some great friends who we still are in contact with. The fact is that if you are camped out or in a caravan park you are usually with like minded people and it is not very often that there is a fly in the ointment. So keep trying and you will get the nack of it. One does not have to be a drinker so if you roll up with a bottle of soft drink or cold tea and a couple of cups no one will care. Cheers Dodg.
DellieMay said
03:50 PM Nov 16, 2010
We have met some wonderful and interesting people thru "happy" hour. As seems to be the way...just wander around and start chatting. There are some grumps...but you will find some lovely people to talk too. Don't give up
Cheers Dellie
valnrob said
04:08 PM Nov 16, 2010
Yes, Onedodger, I'm not a drinker so i take a soft drink, can still have fun and a laugh even tho not indulging in alcohol. My hubby drinks beer. No one cares as long as we are all chatting and having a good conversation. Sometimes we spend happy hour on our own and sometimes we spend it with fellow campers. We've met some nice people too and may meet at the same venue next year.
didiaust said
07:42 PM Nov 16, 2010
Just roam along - I have a small shoulder bag that I carry a drink & holder unopened in . I stop and instigate a bit of chit chat and if I like the company reach into the bag and have a few sips.
Many people are in need of company and too shy to instigate the get together. Many improve with milage.
Many people do the same with us and my husbands solar setup is quite a draw card as is our converted small keg/fire
A few disappointments are worth the wonderful company you will also meet
Di
VHW said
01:40 PM Nov 17, 2010
I usually wander around and if I see a couple sitting on their own say hello and tell them I admire their rig or how do they find their type of van etc, one thing usually leads to another. If you get a cool reception, that usually means they don't want company, so move on. Don't worry about being single either, many don't have hang ups about single people (insecurities).
Be careful though as sometimes two or three vans of friends travel together and some don't appreciate strangers joining their little "group" when they are having a happy hour......they are usually talking about things that only pertain to them and their friends, so you would probably feel out of it anyway.
If a group is over at a camp kitchen (not a caravan club who usually keep to themselves, although they could invite you to join them hoping maybe to ge a new member) it is usually open slather, say hello and find a seat with your drink, nobody has exclusive rights to a camp kitchen and you may find they respond to your hello and include you in the conversation.
Gerty Dancer said
06:04 PM Nov 17, 2010
Thank you everybody for your helpful replies, I feel much better now!
We havent been on really long trips before, staying only a few days in one place mostly, and I guess short stays dont give enough time to get to know the "neighbors". Our trips will be longer from now on, we are looking forward to being a lot more relaxed with everything.
Cruising Granny said
07:48 PM Nov 17, 2010
I sometimes wander around and check out number plates to see where people come from. The WA plates can be a good lead if they are the regional initials eg BM00000 is Broome, MH is Mandurah, A is Albany etc.
So that's a good start to a conversation. If you get a short answer with not further comment, AND they turn their back on you, forget it!
As a single some people are interested in how I get around, which leads to some interesting information trade.
Today I pulled into Crystal Brook, drove around the back of the site to pull in and stay hitched. I had to back up to straighten up, and a lady commented about being able to back "it" (the rig).
So there are many things you can do to open the conversation as you wander around the camp earlier in the arvo, if happy hour is mentioned then you're in, or invite them to your place.
Don't feel miffed if you're not included. Sometimes they can be quite snobby and not very pleasant for an interloper. You're better off not experiencing that.
In Kinka Beach Park, near Rockhampton, I was with a male friend. We were invited to happy hour at the BBQ area, so we arrived with our drinks and chairs. I was promptly directed to the "girls'" table, while my friend was invited to join the "boys".
I told them I didn't play that game, so we sat together at the boys table. A few dirty looks toward me, but we just stayed until everyone headed home again.
To each his/her own.
lyn-n-ken said
10:28 PM Nov 17, 2010
cruising granny i like your style that would be something i would do.
-- Edited by lyn-n-ken on Wednesday 17th of November 2010 10:29:31 PM
Cruising Granny said
10:55 PM Nov 17, 2010
Yeah! I don't play boy and girl games. Too old for that crap. I've been around too long and can stand on my own (counting) 1, 2 - feet, and hold my own.
I thought it was very funny really, and I haven't seen it anywhere else.
brickies said
08:30 AM Nov 18, 2010
In all our travels we have found this happy hour thing to be an urban miff have not encountered such a thing maybe we must send out a signal do not approach , but we don't sit outside drinking , but still have had no trouble having a chat anytime of the day why wait till a set time to have a chat you have the whole day to do so after all you might miss the Bold and the Beautiful siting outside at 4 o'clock waiting to see if someone will come along to hoe much more they know than you
jimricho said
09:11 AM Nov 18, 2010
brickies wrote:
In all our travels we have found this happy hour thing to be an urban miff have not encountered such a thing maybe we must send out a signal do not approach , but we don't sit outside drinking , but still have had no trouble having a chat anytime of the day why wait till a set time to have a chat you have the whole day to do so after all you might miss the Bold and the Beautiful siting outside at 4 o'clock waiting to see if someone will come along to hoe much more they know than you
I never miss "The Bold and the Beautiful"
I've never watched it and I don't miss it!
PS: I've enjoyed many a happy hour drink with new found friends in caravan parks. Possum Park (north of Miles, Qld) do a great happy hour around the campfire each evening in the Qld tourist season.
-- Edited by jimricho on Thursday 18th of November 2010 09:15:30 AM
Happywanderer said
04:05 PM Nov 18, 2010
I would be more worried about the mozzies. I only have to poke my head outside after 4pm and they come biting. D...n things.
Hence if anyone comes looking I will be inside.
Ma said
04:37 PM Nov 18, 2010
You need Vitamin B Marj. Even if they are in close proximity I come up in lumps and bumps but since taking Vic B EVERY morning I haven't had one mozzie bite. Sandflies.........now that's another matter. Yet to come up with something to repel those little blighters.
jimricho said
05:16 PM Nov 18, 2010
Ma, Is that the stuff that comes in a green can with the initials VB on it?
jandas fun said
05:20 PM Nov 18, 2010
We only participate in happy hour sometimes, depends if we click with someone that we have chatted to.
Usually about 4 p.m we start to get the guilts and think we should be doing something.
Johnw
petengail said
06:46 PM Nov 18, 2010
jimricho wrote:
Ma, Is that the stuff that comes in a green can with the initials VB on it?
AHA! now i am enlightened...... The scales are lifted from mine eyes.... the B in VB is Vitamin B LOLOL
-- Edited by petengail on Thursday 18th of November 2010 06:48:15 PM
Ma said
06:50 PM Nov 18, 2010
Blue maintains that there is enough Vitamin B in those green cans for the mossies not to take a bite of him..............
JRH said
06:54 PM Nov 18, 2010
petengail wrote:
jimricho wrote:
Ma, Is that the stuff that comes in a green can with the initials VB on it?
AHA! now i am enlightened...... The scales are lifted from mine eyes.... the B in VB is Vitamin B LOLOL
-- Edited by petengail on Thursday 18th of November 2010 06:48:15 PM
Sure as hell tastes better.LOL
Popeye said
07:01 PM Nov 18, 2010
O! happy hour. Not for me thank you very much. Soon as they find out you do not drink or smoke they circle the wagons. Not many will talk the a solar single male. So no happy hour for me.
JRH said
07:27 PM Nov 18, 2010
Popeye wrote:
O! happy hour. Not for me thank you very much. Soon as they find out you do not drink or smoke they circle the wagons. Not many will talk the a solar single male. So no happy hour for me.
You would always be welcome to sit with us pal, don't care whether you smoke and as for not drinking I can possibly handle your share of the beer. Besides happy hour is all about socialising and meeting and making new friends, not about boozing.
Cruising Granny said
11:18 PM Nov 18, 2010
I've sat around happy hour with a bottle of water and still enjoyed at chat.
I don't wait for "the" hour to have a chat. Any time is a good time for a short, sociable approach to say "g'day".
If you don't make the first move you may end up very lonely and alone. If you seek company and want to share travel tales take the first step, go for a wander and start the ball rolling.
Chat to someone on the way to the bins or the bathrooms.
It has nothing to do with being single or tea total. It's about attitude.
lyn-n-ken said
06:08 AM Nov 19, 2010
we talk to everyone, we dont discrimenate, if your a solar sailor, a couple, black white green, big 5 wheeler or a 2 person tent. i'll have a chat , anytime of day. mind you not everyone wants to chat back. but thats cool to. as for happy hour only have come across a couple of places that have done it and it seemed to me they wernt to happy.
-- Edited by lyn-n-ken on Friday 19th of November 2010 06:09:18 AM
jimricho said
06:08 AM Nov 19, 2010
Popeye wrote:
O! happy hour. Not for me thank you very much. Soon as they find out you do not drink or smoke they circle the wagons. Not many will talk the a solar single male. So no happy hour for me.
I can't think of any happy hour I've participated in where being teetotal would have made any difference. Happy hours are very rarely boozy gatherings, just a couple of drinks and a bit of socialising before dinner.
Can't see that smoking would be an issue provided the gathering was in the open air and you didn't impose the smoke on others, but sitting somewhere where the smoke drifted onto others would be one way to make oneself unwelcome.
-- Edited by jimricho on Friday 19th of November 2010 06:12:14 AM
Smokeydk said
09:46 AM Nov 19, 2010
Happy Hour........I like others here have met so many ppl .......yes sometimes you feel you might be intruding.......then next day you chat with them and find they were waiting for you.........you never know........personnally.....if I have been chatting to ppl earlier.I feel the ice has broken and if they just siting around twiddl'n their thumbs.....why not ask if they would like to join you.......bring out a tray of nibbles and before you know it you might have a new friend.......
PS..... I'm sure JRH will drink your share Popeye .....LOL
brickies said
11:25 AM Nov 19, 2010
Happy hour can be anytime of the day seize the moment
It seems such a big part of travelling, to have a drink after the heat of the day. Yet we always only have each other for company. We seem to get into conversation with people about all sorts of things at other times.
Whats the happy hour ettiquette? Does one just wander over to a group with drink in hand? We asked somebody to join us once but were declined.
I look forward to the advice of the experienced happy-hour participants.
We know the feeling, we have been on the road for a year now and we are still not the best at the happy hour scene either, probably doesn't help that we try to find a quiet private spot facing some bush or something when we set up.
I'll often chat to people if I walk by when their setting up or relaxing outside asking where their from etc but it dosn't often lead to a shared happy hour and we're not really the sort to just wander over to peoples set up drink in hand when there enjoying themselves & impose our company on them.
One way I find which works is when I see a couple relaxing outside in the afternoon I wander by & comment on them enjoying happy hour which can initiate a chat, then I mention my ice is probably melting in my bourbon back at the caravan (which is normally true by that time of the day) which then may spark an invitation or I say something like "I'll have to either go back & drink it or fetch it & my wife & drink it here"
You never know, we may share a happy hour together one day.
Cheers
Jon & Hylda
ps: Shell! If you go through the Margaret River area drop into Gracetown C/P & say hello...it's a great park & the cheapest in Margaret river.
We use this happy hour to make friends and to get info about places to see and things to do. And also to impart with same.
Over the years of Vanning we have made some great friends who we still are in contact with.
The fact is that if you are camped out or in a caravan park you are usually with like minded people and it is not very often that there is a fly in the ointment.
So keep trying and you will get the nack of it. One does not have to be a drinker so if you roll up with a bottle of soft drink or cold tea and a couple of cups no one will care.
Cheers Dodg.
Many people are in need of company and too shy to instigate the get together. Many improve with milage.
Many people do the same with us and my husbands solar setup is quite a draw card as is our converted small keg/fire
A few disappointments are worth the wonderful company you will also meet
Di
We havent been on really long trips before, staying only a few days in one place mostly, and I guess short stays dont give enough time to get to know the "neighbors". Our trips will be longer from now on, we are looking forward to being a lot more relaxed with everything.
cruising granny i like your style
that would be something i would do.
-- Edited by lyn-n-ken on Wednesday 17th of November 2010 10:29:31 PM
I've never watched it and I don't miss it!
PS: I've enjoyed many a happy hour drink with new found friends in caravan parks. Possum Park (north of Miles, Qld) do a great happy hour around the campfire each evening in the Qld tourist season.
-- Edited by jimricho on Thursday 18th of November 2010 09:15:30 AM
-- Edited by petengail on Thursday 18th of November 2010 06:48:15 PM
-- Edited by lyn-n-ken on Friday 19th of November 2010 06:09:18 AM
Can't see that smoking would be an issue provided the gathering was in the open air and you didn't impose the smoke on others, but sitting somewhere where the smoke drifted onto others would be one way to make oneself unwelcome.
-- Edited by jimricho on Friday 19th of November 2010 06:12:14 AM