What to do when on the road (for hubby!)

Pejay · Guru

What to do when on the road (for hubby!)

seonau · Senior Member

Hi Pejay and welcome to one the greatest forums on earth.
( Pejay as in the Power of One? )

Thats a good posting you have made.
I am only a wantobee and as such can only offer suggestions not advice.

What did the old guy do for a living? can that be used for some part time work or volunteering?
Do you have family interstate?
Ever thought about treasure hunting with a GPS? Metal detector, hiking, fishing, specialist camp fire cook, canoeing, reading,wine tasting, are a few that come to mind.

You are going to get a lot of suggestion from members i think.

Welcome to Grey Nomads.

Wonker · Veteran Member

Hi PJ and welcome to the forum. You could show him this link on playing the Nullabor Golf Course, that is sure to get his interest;

http://www.nullarborlinks.com/

You could also visit places that have good or unusual golf courses (eg; Coober Pedy) and plan your trips around them, that should make him more interested in going etc.

Seeing other attractions along the way may help his interest too,

Happy Travels !

-- Edited by Wonker on Saturday 27th of February 2010 05:19:16 PM

Gary and Kerry · Guru

seonau wrote:

Hi Pejay and welcome to one the greatest forums on earth.
( Pejay as in the Power of One? )

Thats a good posting you have made.
I am only a wantobee and as such can only offer suggestions not advice.

What did the old guy do for a living? can that be used for some part time work or volunteering?
Do you have family interstate?
Ever thought about treasure hunting with a GPS? Metal detector, hiking, fishing, specialist camp fire cook, canoeing, reading,wine tasting, are a few that come to mind.

You are going to get a lot of suggestion from members i think.

Welcome to Grey Nomads.

Pete, if they take you up on all your suggestions there wont be time for travelling, I'm rather taken with the wine tasting. LOL.
Seriously tho some very good suggestions.
take a musical instrument such as keyboard or guitar and learn to play, crosswords, reading, photography.

Almost forgot, welcome to the forum

-- Edited by Gary and Kerry on Saturday 27th of February 2010 05:26:01 PM

Jedo_03 · Veteran Member

Welcome to the forum Pejay...

Talking about guitars...
Well my favourite band is PINK FLOYD...
I actually have a Fender Strat signed by Roger Waters of Pink Floyd...
And my favourite guitarist is David Gilmour of Pink Floyd...
And one of my favourite tracks that I love to play along with (yeah, I can play rather well, having spent much of my younger years in bands in the UK) is "Wish You Were Here..."
I also have a 50watt amp and a variety of foot pedals (effects)...
But the missus won't let me take any of it on the road...

(addit - I actually played at gigs with a good few "famous" bands/performers: Jimi Hendrix, Edgar Broughton, The Move, Bryan Ferry... and more... and many gigs with UK band Circus (my kid bro = lead guitarist)...

Oh - and Mick Jagger is older than me...

This was PF in 1968 - shortly after Barrett was chucked out and Gilmour joined...

and just before Saucerful of Secrets was released...
My kid bro can be heard riffing on some of the tracks - and I got to watch them recording some of the tracks in the studio... Same day that Saucerful of Secrets was released PF did a free concert in Hyde Park and me and my kid bro were up on the stage performing with PF...
October 1968 - I married a groupie (my favourite fan) and we are still together...
Jedo

-- Edited by Jedo_03 on Saturday 27th of February 2010 07:14:38 PM

dreamchaser · Member

Love your history...wow so great..I loved Pink Floyd when I was a Young-in....proud to say my two sons now in their 30's love Dark Side of the Moon too and get out their guitars and amps and have a go when we get together.

So which one are you in the pic....
Cheers Jude

dave06 · Guru

Pejay the first thing you've go to get him to do is just relax, settle down a wee bit, I was the same, work was everything and nothing else mattered, just get him out and about a bit meeting folks and talking to others of his age, he will see there is far more to life than working

"all in all it's just another brick in the wall"!!!!!! see we're not THAT old old!!

Onedodger · Guru

Note to PJ and all newbies,
evileye

Re what to do when travelling.

confuse

Go to the happy hour at van parks or free camps . It happens usually around 5pm where we all congregate together and swap yarns etc.
This is where you can ask this very question and it is probable that someone will make a suggestion and maybe even offer to show you something.

biggrin

I am an extravert and often ask in these situations where happy hour is and if the answer is I don't know then ask them to join me near my van and to ask their neighbour if they would like to join us.

blankstare

In one free camp @ Elendale pool we had nearly 30 people turn up the first night and all had such a good evening that this was repeated for the full week we were there and I have no doubt that it continued after we left.
wink

As I had a portable fire often I would just say bring a stick and come back after dinner which many have done resulting in much information gained about what to do/see.

We have also maintained a friendship with some we have met this way.
Nothing beats being open and friendly with people.

Regards Dodg.

Pejay · Guru

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, will show hubby later (been at golf today) and take them on board. He was in the Army (Infantry) for 20 years, then bitumen manufacturing & oil blender for the last 21 years. Not much in that lot for interest on the road! We had seen about the golf course across the Nullabor - even I'll have a go at that one. Pejay comes from our initials -P---- & J------ Once again thanks for the suggestions - love those happy hours! Pejay

Pam · Guru

hi Pejay and welcome. I have my sudoku to keep me busy when travelling. Hubby catches up on reading. Loves historical pastoral books.
I have seen people in caravan parks who do things such as painting, woodworking/carving, gem polishing, computer work eg organising your photos etc.
If you set up outside then others come along for a chat which is good.

Hylda&Jon · Guru

Definitely have a soft spot for Pink Floyd myself. Unluckily Only got to see them in there latter years when they had (from memory) the 'Delicate Sound of Thunder Australian tour in the 80's.

I travel with a bit over 150 of their songs on my computer so sometimes after a momentary lapse of reason I sit by the wall, put my headphones on & stay comfortably numb hoping no one will meddle but thinking of all you other fans wishing you were here as I gaze up at the dark side of the moon till the division bell tolls & the final cut has come to pass.

PS: I dabble in a blues harp(harmonica) a bit. On the road its handy to the pocket, cheap & doesn't weigh the caravan down too much.

Jedo_03 wrote:

Welcome to the forum Pejay...

Talking about guitars...
Well my favourite band is PINK FLOYD...
I actually have a Fender Strat signed by Roger Waters of Pink Floyd...
And my favourite guitarist is David Gilmour of Pink Floyd...
And one of my favourite tracks that I love to play along with (yeah, I can play rather well, having spent much of my younger years in bands in the UK) is "Wish You Were Here..."
I also have a 50watt amp and a variety of foot pedals (effects)...
But the missus won't let me take any of it on the road...
(addit - I actually played at gigs with a good few "famous" bands/performers: Jimi Hendrix, Edgar Broughton, The Move, Bryan Ferry... and more... and many gigs with UK band Circus (my kid bro = lead guitarist)...

Oh - and Mick Jagger is older than me...

This was PF in 1968 - shortly after Barrett was chucked out and Gilmour joined...

and just before Saucerful of Secrets was released...
My kid bro can be heard riffing on some of the tracks - and I got to watch them recording some of the tracks in the studio... Same day that Saucerful of Secrets was released PF did a free concert in Hyde Park and me and my kid bro were up on the stage performing with PF...
October 1968 - I married a groupie (my favourite fan) and we are still together...
Jedo

-- Edited by Jedo_03 on Saturday 27th of February 2010 07:14:38 PM

-- Edited by Hylda&Jon on Sunday 28th of February 2010 09:59:17 PM

Cruising Granny · Guru

Hi and welcome Pejay.
Your other half may have to "practice" being retired over the months until it's time to go.
It's an acquired skill after all those years.
If he can't take the electric guitar I'm sure he wouldn't mind lowering his standards to an acoustic. Everyone loves music.
Not every park has a large group all the time to have happy hour. It's not standard practice in the parks I've lived as a long termer.
The seasonal campers do happy hour like experts. It is a great social event every arvo, and a wonderful way to get to know those camped around you.
The other hobby you hubby could adopt is photography. It doesn't have to be 1st class, professional pics, just good memories of this new lifestyle.
You'll probably end up doing a lot of the driving because he's taking snaps on his fave digital camera. It's a great hobby for travel, but he doesn't have to be an expert unless he wants to.
Reading, cards and board games are ok sometimes, but variety is the spice of life even in the nomadic lifestyle.
If you settle in a place for a few weeks you could check out any voluntary jobs in that community, or casual work, which are new ways to meet people. I'm sure you won't be driving long distances every day. Take your time and enjoy the country you're passing through.
Do you have a travel plan? Some of those places you've ALWAYS wanted to go to. Now's the time.
Don't worry, I'm guessing you won't be bored ever, if you have a bit of a stragegy.

Denise · Senior Member

Hi and welcome PE and JAY, how about field books (plastic soft bound ) for our native birds and animals and some field glasses? You could keep a log of what you see ....you never know, you might be the ones who see the night parrot! Cheers Denise :)

Catweazle · Veteran Member

Hi June (and Peter).

I'm sure hubby will find plenty to take his interest as the future unfolds. Hearing suggestions like the ones made here, meeting and talking to people as you travel, seeing new places in a different light.....

To kick it all off I suspect 'Granny' has probably made the best suggestion of all - that camera.

I'd think it a great idea for hubby to spend time this year gaining (or enhancing) photographic skills, and for your 'life on the road' plan to include:

* A decent digital camera
* A laptop 'pooter
* A portable hard drive for safe storage of your memories.

If you take notice of people, places, sights and activities you encounter, and document it in both pictorial and written form, you'll end up with a great record to pass on to loved ones or share with others, and you'll be making yourselves to pay far closer attention to what life throws up at you. Outta that, there's inevitably gonna be all sorts of things which strike hubby's interest or curiosity, which he otherwise might not have noticed so much.

Cheers, and enjoy the rest of your lives together.

P.S. Although we've not yet done the 'life on the road' thingy, Mrs. Catters and I have spent many long, lazy summers together at our hideaway up the lake. We've never got bored doing so, and for the most part the only 'diversions' we've ever really needed were a coupla fishing rods and a few good books to read

DeBe · Guru

Pejay wrote:

Thanks everyone for your suggestions, will show hubby later (been at golf today) and take them on board. He was in the Army (Infantry) for 20 years, then bitumen manufacturing & oil blender for the last 21 years. Not much in that lot for interest on the road! We had seen about the golf course across the Nullabor - even I'll have a go at that one. Pejay comes from our initials -P---- & J------ Once again thanks for the suggestions - love those happy hours! Pejay
Hi If it was an Oil blender in a refinery im sure i would be interested in talking to him. Cheers Daryl

Cupie · Guru

G'day Pejay & welcome ....

Given that he is an ex Grunt .... Get him a set of greens, new bush boots, a 'hats rediculous', jungle green neck rag, belt with canteens .. one water & one the good stuff & turn him loose in the scrub = new life or a life rediscovered.

If he's into that sort of stuff... a sticker on the back of the rig with campaign ribbons will get him lots of mates at every stop.

enjoy.

ps. for my bit .. a kayak on the roof racks did the trick ... fills every vacant moment if there's a bit of water about.

-- Edited by Cupie on Monday 1st of March 2010 07:49:10 PM

Cruising Granny · Guru

Welcome back Cupie. Nice to see you're back, and your front.

That's more good advice for this soon to be retiree.
It's retirement has been approached like a dreaded disease.
He's retiring from work life. He has all day to do what he wants to do, or not.
It will take a bit of getting used to, but not much.