had a caravan now for over 10 years. It seems people are less talkative now. Staying in their own vans. What do others think
deverall11 said
01:48 PM Aug 18, 2019
Maybe it's the deodorant you use.
Seriously though, in winter perhaps people socialise less.
Larry
-- Edited by deverall11 on Sunday 18th of August 2019 01:49:26 PM
Eaglemax said
02:14 PM Aug 18, 2019
Relevant topic this. Have to admit, I'm more talkative here on the forum than out on the road.
We own a vintage looking car with home made van that people find really interesting. So it attracts the visitors. I don't mind that with some people that are genuinely interested, its the small talk I have little patience for. That's just how I am. Why? Well at 21yo I began a career as a prison officer and - well frankly, it put me off people. But also I have other personal issues relating to other issues. I don't like arrogant people, selfish people, self centred people that want to tell you all about their exploits, nasty people etc so it rules out a lot of people lol. And I don't trust a lot of people.
I'm more than willing to help out a stranded drive though etc. So this post can be misunderstood.
We stopped at the "end of the world" free camp near Burra Burra SA 3 years ago. Looking forward to rest and tranquility. Along came a couple that parked close by say 5 metres, that's ok but we wondered as there was no other people there with 5 acres of space around. I'd lit a campfire and they went off for a walk. They returned with a load of wood and threw it on our fire, brought out their snags, chairs and beer and began talking.
This sounds really friendly but how do they know without asking that we were wanting such company? Some people don't want other people's company and that might sound rude but there are often reasons.
The next day the same, they sat there talking for hours. Finally my wife and I have an arvo nap so we told them that was our ritual. "Well that's not very friendly" one piped up. Twenty minutes later they'd left. Now that's going over the line imo.
Another time we camped at the scout camp on the outskirts of Bundaberg. Nice spot. Camped 150 metres from anyone else. Walked past a camper that had wife and 3 kids, boisterous boys. Had a friendly chat for couple of minutes about his solar mat. 30 minutes later they'd moved...5 metres from us! Asked them why "oh, we're going on a tour around the area so thought you wouldn't mind watching our van while we are gone". I thought that was ok (but they didn't ask)- then for the next 2 days we had that family in our lives totally and with footballs banging up against our van, yelling crying and screaming...We fled eventually.
I had our house built in 2009 in a town of 200 people. The town is such that unless your get out of your house and actively pursue people, they leave you alone. Not on the road. We also find people are judgmental and have one eye on you and the other eye on themselves. They watch eagerly to see if you leave your donation in the box, judge whether you should have a 4WD vehicle and why haven't you? "you cant go anywhere with that thing" and question your sanity if you haven't visited every tourist attraction known to man on your journey. When we tell them we did a "lap" in 13 weeks we get "what did you see? nothing? but we decided we'd need to be back home for a medically challenged relative and what we don't see we'll see next time. Some say to visit national parks but we mention we have a dog "why did you bring it along" we get. See the judgment? Some people stay only 2-3 days at one place like us, others weeks in one place, each their own.
It's not to say I'm not friendly, I just find some people are intrusive and don't ask. Judgmental when others just like to do their own thing in their own way.
Some I welcome others I want to yell f#$%^& off.
TonyWK
STRETCH ARMSTRONG said
02:48 PM Aug 18, 2019
Hey rocket. You should come to greens this summer. Plenty of friendly talkative people. See ya there!
Aus-Kiwi said
02:52 PM Aug 18, 2019
Trouble when your retired . You have all the time in the world!! To a point . No actual appointments to keep to . I have to be careful Im not too much have a chat ! But yes its nice to get away . Funny how SOME change when they want something ? Like flat battery etc Hey MATE !! When the day before didnt want to know you ! Most are great ., Try not to let the 2%g.o.c out there stuff things . G O C ., Grumpy old Chap
.,
-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Sunday 18th of August 2019 02:56:22 PM
Ge said
04:44 PM Aug 18, 2019
Well you could knock me over with a feather, Yes i do see where Eaglemax is coming from, pretty close to my hart.
All in all on this matter Eaglemax we do agree.
Ge
blaze said
05:13 PM Aug 18, 2019
I spent most of my working life in my own business, it was in my interest to be a good comunicater.
These days I enjoy my own company, tolerate others but not the bull****, dont like people playing the joke and tom foolery, Happy to sit aeound a fire and have a night cap with others but also dont tolerate drunks at all, mreans you have no respecct for yourself or any one else.
3 of the best days of my life were spent 10km east off the birdsville track, just drove across the gibbers until I found a tree, only a small tree, it had a hard life, you could just tell. Sat under that tree for 3 days before return to the track. There was a peace there that I have found no where else. People ask me often what did I do and I tell them, I just sat.
cheers
blaze
the rocket said
05:23 PM Aug 18, 2019
STRETCH ARMSTRONG wrote:
Hey rocket. You should come to greens this summer. Plenty of friendly talkative people. See ya there!
Hi stretch armstrong. We have been to greens before. Had a great time with those on here but at the moment we are in q
d.
the rocket said
05:24 PM Aug 18, 2019
deverall11 wrote:
Maybe it's the deodorant you use.
Seriously though, in winter perhaps people socialise less.
Larry
-- Edited by deverall11 on Sunday 18th of August 2019 01:49:26 PM
Hi deverall11, i thought that but no, i smell ok. It might be the winter weather.
-- Edited by the rocket on Sunday 18th of August 2019 05:27:38 PM
Olive Oil said
05:27 PM Aug 18, 2019
We love camping in the bush by ourselves with no-one else around.
Its absolute heaven.
When other people are around we're always friendly & enjoy a chat though.
We have no time for w***kers who think that they're better than everyone else.
Not interested in happy hour gatherings, reduced our wine days to once a week, feeling great as a result.
-- Edited by Olive Oil on Sunday 18th of August 2019 07:36:54 PM
Bicyclecamper said
05:41 PM Aug 18, 2019
We go to our block of land in QLD a lot, and stay there up to four weeks, just busying ourselves around the block, and visiting Miles and surrounds occasionally, but we like our own company. We also visit a very quiet section of a dam not far from home, for the same reason, it is very quiet off the water zone, and nobody bothers us. We do tour a bit, but are not drinkers and rarely if ever do happy hour, found too many obnoxious drunks attending.
-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Sunday 18th of August 2019 05:42:19 PM
deverall11 said
05:44 PM Aug 18, 2019
Ge wrote:
Well you could knock me over with a feather, Yes i do see where Eaglemax is coming from, pretty close to my hart.
All in all on this matter Eaglemax we do agree.
Ge
X2. Even worse when they happen to be backpackers who've been told by the van rental company
to camp 'near' someone else as the 'Australian Outback' can be dangerous.
BTW Eaglemax, nice car.
-- Edited by deverall11 on Sunday 18th of August 2019 05:47:30 PM
Whenarewethere said
05:58 PM Aug 18, 2019
the rocket wrote:
had a caravan now for over 10 years. It seems people are less talkative now. Staying in their own vans. What do others think
An optical fibre cable was cut & all communication was out in the north west for about 20 hours & as reported by ABC local businesses said everyone was talking to each other!
Eaglemax said
06:19 PM Aug 18, 2019
Gee, most people are agreeing with me. I must be having an off day. :)
Ge said
07:50 PM Aug 18, 2019
Eaglemax: U never can tell what tomorrow brings. Now move back your getting to close.
Is the car one you built yourself? Very interesting to see it towing a van.
I have an english Westfield that I compete in some motorsport events with but not suitable for towing a van.
Eaglemax said
08:01 AM Aug 19, 2019
Hi Greg,
Ive had the car only 4 years. Built in WA by a shipwright the car used a cortina as donor car so usually the 2 litre cortina is used but he opted for the vn v6. It has its own jba chassis quiye agricultural, but the main chassis stops just past the rear wheels. I strengthened the rear sub chassis and had engineer approval plus an engineered towbar.
The car can tow 850kg but I will seel to get that raised to 1000kg later.
There are about 250 JBA in Oz mainly in WA as that was where the two importers were. About 2500 in the UK.
Body is fibreglass and aluminium doors and bonnet.
The van is built with a tare of 730kg. Steel tube 15mm frame. Full rear ensuite. 4" drop axle.
Tony
Paul said
08:42 AM Aug 19, 2019
This topic is quite interesting, I hit the road about 20 yrs ago to get out of suburbia, it was great, though I have found that the highway has finally become one long extended suburb or mobile suburbia as I see it, I enjoy chatting to people I run in to, helping and being helped with much appreciation but the mystique and enjoyment of being a traveller had slowly died until I started doing mid to long term farm sits in some beautiful places over the last few years, the company of the animals and meeting the down to earth farming groups has been revitalising and I hope I can keep at it until physically unable, then who knows.
Dougwe said
09:14 AM Aug 19, 2019
I don't have a problem either way. If others want to talk or invite me to afternoon tea, Mmmm, In 9 cases out of ten will attend etc but if I am not in the mood or similar I might not be as noticeable around my teepee. I'm not into pow wow's all the time.
I do like meeting people though.
I am also happy to have a couple of drinks with someone but equally happy to just have a cuppa or soft drink.
I have met Rocket and Mr Rocket a few times now and are friendly people.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Tony Bev said
10:22 AM Aug 19, 2019
I have also met Mr and Mrs Rocket, and they are nice people
It is a funny situation, I can talk enough to bore everyone at times
At other times, I can get my nose into a good book, and hibernate
I seem to talk to the ones who are parked close by, therefore people who are parked further away, probably think that I am anti social
denmonkey said
10:28 AM Aug 19, 2019
I'm a little different, When Im away camping I'm doing it to get away from neighbors or the city and the like.
I'll typically go bush camping or get as far away from anyone else as possible.
A quick g'day or a 5 minute chat about does me and frankly I'm not interested in others company whilst I'm there.
Of course if I'm away with a group, I'm happy around a camp fire with the group but still like to get some me time here and there.
cheers Brett
Olive Oil said
02:33 PM Aug 19, 2019
We became bored with happy hours because we were tired of listening to other peoples life stories.
We even got sick of our own stories.
Bobdown said
06:08 PM Aug 19, 2019
I love chatting to everyone, usually Jayne has trouble finding me if I get caught talking to someone, love looking at all vans and tugs.
But I too think people aren't as talkative as in years gone, agree with you Rocket.
Have had the odd one or two that park too close, usually don't stress too much, just move on a bit quicker or put the privacy end screen up on the awning.
Good to have a bit of company in remote areas, while we love free camping we give plenty of room to others.
Cheers Bob
SouthernComfort said
08:59 AM Aug 20, 2019
We enjoy meeting others and chatting but prefer to do it in small numbers. Our nicest experiences have been whenever we've encountered, say, one other couple, or a single camper, having a drink and chat discovering we get on well with no forced small talk being needed. Made quite a few friends that way. Not so keen on larger groups most of which seem to have a couple or more dominant voices competing to be either the funniest, loudest, most 'experienced', whatever. Just boring.
Olive Oil said
02:19 PM Aug 21, 2019
SouthernComfort wrote:
We enjoy meeting others and chatting but prefer to do it in small numbers. Our nicest experiences have been whenever we've encountered, say, one other couple, or a single camper, having a drink and chat discovering we get on well with no forced small talk being needed. Made quite a few friends that way. Not so keen on larger groups most of which seem to have a couple or more dominant voices competing to be either the funniest, loudest, most 'experienced', whatever. Just boring.
A while ago we were camped near a noisy happy hour gathering that were trying to outdo each other with stories of how many toilet rolls they'd stolen from CPs.
They'd also filled up their hand soap containers from the CP amenities.
It was a 72hr maximum stay donation camp, some of them were bragging about the fact that they'd been there for 10 days & donated nothing.
A nicer bunch people you could not meet.
ps. They all had big expensive rigs.
Aus-Kiwi said
03:44 PM Aug 21, 2019
We have a motorhome. NR licence . We dont really care whats best . But the amount of people start the conversation about going to town etc ? I park in loading bays . Its like its a competition . Some say silly things . Mrs walked into shop. The people who were camped beside us walked out said , you cant afgord anything in there ! I knew what she meant . But it was phrased wrong . Same with mentioning
Pension . Some tell you all about age pension . Then when you tell them we are lucky to have a super scheme from 70s . !! Sheesh cant please anyone . We get offended so easy these days . I heard a guy talking to others that I released black water onto grounds . This was an area where they allowed grey water to empty under trees . See where things get twisted . . Yet one codger on Nullarbor who asked why I parked so close ? Yet it was him who stopped late that night beside us . Lol . Any way we ended up repairing his slipping clutch ! Soaked in coke for a few hours . Expanded linings . Anyway shows how judgemental we all can be !! Lol
dabbler said
05:09 PM Aug 21, 2019
I pick and choose who I talk with whether at home or travelling. Why do so many people assume not wanting to chat and share a campfire is a bad thing ?
The drawback is I own an off-road teardrop and it always draws attention. I'm always polite often extend the offer for people to view it but will be abrupt if I don't want an extended convo.
It's my choice, in the same way others choose to socialise every opportunity.
Joda said
05:38 PM Aug 21, 2019
These is always a dominant one in most groups, lucky I,m a good listener, hear all about their rig, trips, how everything should be done blah, blah blah, they don,t seem to realise the group they are talking to are usually pretty a experienced bunch, sometimes I,ve just arrived & some people want to start up a convo. straight away! gimme a break!
Joda
Eaglemax said
10:46 AM Aug 22, 2019
Joda said " sometimes I,ve just arrived & some people want to start up a convo"
It's far worse if you have an unusual or vintage looking car. I have to ask them to give me 10 minutes. But I ask them how they like their coffee so its ready on their return.
had a caravan now for over 10 years. It seems people are less talkative now. Staying in their own vans. What do others think
Maybe it's the deodorant you use
.
Seriously though, in winter perhaps people socialise less.
Larry
-- Edited by deverall11 on Sunday 18th of August 2019 01:49:26 PM
Relevant topic this. Have to admit, I'm more talkative here on the forum than out on the road.
We own a vintage looking car with home made van that people find really interesting. So it attracts the visitors. I don't mind that with some people that are genuinely interested, its the small talk I have little patience for. That's just how I am. Why? Well at 21yo I began a career as a prison officer and - well frankly, it put me off people. But also I have other personal issues relating to other issues. I don't like arrogant people, selfish people, self centred people that want to tell you all about their exploits, nasty people etc so it rules out a lot of people lol. And I don't trust a lot of people.
I'm more than willing to help out a stranded drive though etc. So this post can be misunderstood.
We stopped at the "end of the world" free camp near Burra Burra SA 3 years ago. Looking forward to rest and tranquility. Along came a couple that parked close by say 5 metres, that's ok but we wondered as there was no other people there with 5 acres of space around. I'd lit a campfire and they went off for a walk. They returned with a load of wood and threw it on our fire, brought out their snags, chairs and beer and began talking.
This sounds really friendly but how do they know without asking that we were wanting such company? Some people don't want other people's company and that might sound rude but there are often reasons.
The next day the same, they sat there talking for hours. Finally my wife and I have an arvo nap so we told them that was our ritual. "Well that's not very friendly" one piped up. Twenty minutes later they'd left. Now that's going over the line imo.
Another time we camped at the scout camp on the outskirts of Bundaberg. Nice spot. Camped 150 metres from anyone else. Walked past a camper that had wife and 3 kids, boisterous boys. Had a friendly chat for couple of minutes about his solar mat. 30 minutes later they'd moved...5 metres from us! Asked them why "oh, we're going on a tour around the area so thought you wouldn't mind watching our van while we are gone". I thought that was ok (but they didn't ask)- then for the next 2 days we had that family in our lives totally and with footballs banging up against our van, yelling crying and screaming...We fled eventually.
I had our house built in 2009 in a town of 200 people. The town is such that unless your get out of your house and actively pursue people, they leave you alone. Not on the road. We also find people are judgmental and have one eye on you and the other eye on themselves. They watch eagerly to see if you leave your donation in the box, judge whether you should have a 4WD vehicle and why haven't you? "you cant go anywhere with that thing" and question your sanity if you haven't visited every tourist attraction known to man on your journey. When we tell them we did a "lap" in 13 weeks we get "what did you see? nothing? but we decided we'd need to be back home for a medically challenged relative and what we don't see we'll see next time. Some say to visit national parks but we mention we have a dog "why did you bring it along" we get. See the judgment? Some people stay only 2-3 days at one place like us, others weeks in one place, each their own.
It's not to say I'm not friendly, I just find some people are intrusive and don't ask. Judgmental when others just like to do their own thing in their own way.
Some I welcome others I want to yell f#$%^& off.
TonyWK
Trouble when your retired . You have all the time in the world!! To a point
. No actual appointments to keep to . I have to be careful Im not too much have a chat ! But yes its nice to get away . Funny how SOME change when they want something ? Like flat battery etc Hey MATE !! When the day before didnt want to know you ! Most are great ., Try not to let the 2%g.o.c out there stuff things . G O C ., Grumpy old Chap
.,
-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Sunday 18th of August 2019 02:56:22 PM
Well you could knock me over with a feather, Yes i do see where Eaglemax is coming from, pretty close to my hart.
All in all on this matter Eaglemax we do agree.
Ge
These days I enjoy my own company, tolerate others but not the bull****, dont like people playing the joke and tom foolery, Happy to sit aeound a fire and have a night cap with others but also dont tolerate drunks at all, mreans you have no respecct for yourself or any one else.
3 of the best days of my life were spent 10km east off the birdsville track, just drove across the gibbers until I found a tree, only a small tree, it had a hard life, you could just tell. Sat under that tree for 3 days before return to the track. There was a peace there that I have found no where else. People ask me often what did I do and I tell them, I just sat.
cheers
blaze
Hi stretch armstrong. We have been to greens before. Had a great time with those on here but at the moment we are in q
d.
Hi deverall11, i thought that but no, i smell ok. It might be the winter weather.
-- Edited by the rocket on Sunday 18th of August 2019 05:27:38 PM
We love camping in the bush by ourselves with no-one else around.
Its absolute heaven.
When other people are around we're always friendly & enjoy a chat though.
We have no time for w***kers who think that they're better than everyone else.
Not interested in happy hour gatherings, reduced our wine days to once a week, feeling great as a result.
-- Edited by Olive Oil on Sunday 18th of August 2019 07:36:54 PM
We go to our block of land in QLD a lot, and stay there up to four weeks, just busying ourselves around the block, and visiting Miles and surrounds occasionally, but we like our own company. We also visit a very quiet section of a dam not far from home, for the same reason, it is very quiet off the water zone, and nobody bothers us. We do tour a bit, but are not drinkers and rarely if ever do happy hour, found too many obnoxious drunks attending.
-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Sunday 18th of August 2019 05:42:19 PM
X2. Even worse when they happen to be backpackers who've been told by the van rental company
to camp 'near' someone else as the 'Australian Outback' can be dangerous.
BTW Eaglemax, nice car.
-- Edited by deverall11 on Sunday 18th of August 2019 05:47:30 PM
An optical fibre cable was cut & all communication was out in the north west for about 20 hours & as reported by ABC local businesses said everyone was talking to each other!
I do like meeting people though.
I am also happy to have a couple of drinks with someone but equally happy to just have a cuppa or soft drink.
I have met Rocket and Mr Rocket a few times now and are friendly people.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
It is a funny situation, I can talk enough to bore everyone at times
At other times, I can get my nose into a good book, and hibernate
I seem to talk to the ones who are parked close by, therefore people who are parked further away, probably think that I am anti social
I'll typically go bush camping or get as far away from anyone else as possible.
A quick g'day or a 5 minute chat about does me and frankly I'm not interested in others company whilst I'm there.
Of course if I'm away with a group, I'm happy around a camp fire with the group but still like to get some me time here and there.
cheers Brett
We became bored with happy hours because we were tired of listening to other peoples life stories.
We even got sick of our own stories.
But I too think people aren't as talkative as in years gone, agree with you Rocket.
Have had the odd one or two that park too close, usually don't stress too much, just move on a bit quicker or put the privacy end screen up on the awning.
Good to have a bit of company in remote areas, while we love free camping we give plenty of room to others.
Cheers Bob
A while ago we were camped near a noisy happy hour gathering that were trying to outdo each other with stories of how many toilet rolls they'd stolen from CPs.
They'd also filled up their hand soap containers from the CP amenities.
It was a 72hr maximum stay donation camp, some of them were bragging about the fact that they'd been there for 10 days & donated nothing.
A nicer bunch people you could not meet.
ps. They all had big expensive rigs.