Whilst it is difficult to generalise, I've managed to be satisfied with four basic types of grey nomad travellers.

1.  True nomads ie those travelling full time with their only home behind or under them.

2.  Long term travellers ie those travelling more than 4 months each year with a home to return to.

3.  Short term travellers ie those travelling more than 1 month but less than 4 months with a home to return to.

4.  The holidayers ie those away from home for a month or less.

I'd assume there would be two further groups on this forum, these being the wannabes (gathering info before starting out) &, for want of a better term, the has beens (finished travelling but still on the forum sharing valuable knowledge).

To a greater or lesser degree, the needs of the various groups differ, sometimes with significant variation within groups.

Whilst all groups are equally important to the whole, for purely selfish reasons I'm curious just how many members are true nomads as defined in group 1. As well, it would be interesting to see how many of them are primarily independent campers.

Darrell

I definitely belong in the first group 'cos I have been travelling that way for 3 years.     John

I think the word traveller must also be defined as we find ourselves perhaps crossing borders on your 'basic types'.....our home base is Port Lincoln S.A. which we left with 4WD and Jayco January 2010 and intend sometime in the future to return to......we stayed for a while at various places in S.A. and then Vic for various lengths of time... then rented home in Heathcote Vic area for 12 months.....then moved on to Bendigo Vic where we rented a home for 12 months and now we are at Eaglehawk Vic where we have been renting for past 12 months.
..We are still on the 'Big Lap' but it may be in a 10 year plan....are we even travellers?...itinerants perhaps....definitely grey and quite mad....I don't know, don't care, but we're having tons of fun doing whatever we are doing.....and we really learn a lot about each place we choose to stay for a while....still have 4WD and Heritage and little Pepe the Pooch, and do week type trips extending out from our temporary home bases....Grey Nomads are so diverse I feel that who among us really ticks a single box to describe our varied and less unique every year lifestyles?....Hoo Roo

I don't see that your crossing borders at all, GDN. You are away from your home base more than 4 months / year, long term traveller, simple.

Same deal with you Blaze

Darrell & Sandra

I guess I come under the holidayer for the time being. But only because of ill health over the past two years. My Lulu(caravan) has been sitting idle since January, but I'm hopeful of a little trip in September.

Well I voted but have been back twice since to see what the latest results were showing, so I suppose there are others here that have done the same, won't make a lot of difference in the total of those viewing but not voting, but does need to be taken into account (say multiply votes by a number?)   In my case add 3 views (includes one vote) but will do a few more later to see the latest results.

PS:   Have been a long term traveller in the past (several trips around the block), but now do only short term.

oldboar wrote:

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I realise that people would do multiple views, Vic but it was a hell of a discrepancy. Maybe I should have had wannabes & hasbeens in the poll as well. Not being derogatory in my choice terms before anyone gets upset.

Darrell

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 Well I'm not upset just couldn't make up my mind which category I fit! I wannabe more and has been more, currently am as much as possible. The running family joke is we can't answer the question, "where do you come from?" My friends buy me food for gifts as they class me as gypsy who doesn't want to own stuff. My boss even bought me a one pot cookbook in case I didn't have two pots!  I've lived in 3 different states for extended periods and travelled to all many times. At one stage had direct family (siblings/parents)  living in 5 different states so travel was a necessity. So maybe there is a new category gypsy with no long term fixed address. Question is: is a nomad a gypsy or is a gypsy a nomad?

baute............So maybe there is a new category gypsy with no long term fixed address. Question is: is a nomad a gypsy or is a gypsy a nomad?

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 Good question baute, I don't know if it is the right answer, but my interpretation would be that Gypsies have no home abode and travel as they need to, but tend to do this in family groups full time on the road without parting company at any time.

So I guess as you travel alone full time that would make you a true Nomad IMHO 

This definition has a formal and informal explanation, seems like you can also be "nomadic" too;

https://www.google.com.au/#q=Gypsy+definition 

NB:  Understand about the discrepancy Darrel, members have nothing to lose by voting and it doesn't identify them so if members view why not vote.   Perhaps another category as you said might be the way to go, like "don't qualify to vote yet or anymore"

I'ts not my thread KT, but I think the thread poster (Old Boar) was wondering from the number of views of the thread why the majority didn't vote, only viewed.

What I was saying (of the majority that only viewed) was if you are going to the trouble of viewing and you have an RV then you may as well vote too, it would give a better picture.  

If some can't vote because they aren't registered members, then I would encourage them to join, it cost nothing and you don't have to own an RV to be a member, just have an interest in the RV lifestyle.