'Happy Hours'

Cloak · Guru

RE: 'Happy Hours'

Cruising Cruze · Guru

@ Wirroff just an idea

Put this on the side of your bus

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE knock and ask us out for a beer :)) ( your own words )

nobody can see it on your face that you don't mind a chat

Good Luck John

Helena · Guru

I love to chat with people but like many on the site I have found that beyond the hello that is it I think with us the main reason is that we are usually the oldies around and probably don't fit in with the younger set travelling these days. I am guilty of going into the van at night but only because I get eaten alive with mossies and believe me I have tried everything in the book but the little beasties will not leave me alone.

intouch · Veteran Member

Hi every one, I,m intouch and just Pass'n Thru.
Happy hour, the best time of day.
Mossies Helena, try a bit of Listerine applied to those exposed parts.

Golddetectornomad · Senior Member

So far the 'unhappy hours' are outnumbering the' happy hours'......aren't the best times we remember the ones that happened without planning?....like us, I think we are all enjoying not having formal anythings, after a lifetime of work and commitments....no-one is really missing out if you are doing things on your own terms and not someone elses'......it sounds like without a fire gatherings can be a fizzer?.....IMO you're all being too hard on yourselves expecting regular gregarious spontaneous gatherings like 'Fred's' orchestrated 'happy hours' from that popular Caravan magazine.....
Everyones' expectations can be, and often are, different.......kinda' reminds me of a massage I had at Bundung in Java....pretty little Javanese lass asked me if I wanted "happy ending"?......I found out 'happy ending' meant getting my own shoes back after the massage......Lol........
I think most of us have experienced insecurity in social situations....I was always the kid at birthday party's playing hide and seek, that inevitably nobody comes to find.....never let it bother me I enjoy my own company....I don't even mind suffering in silence providing everyone knows I'm doing it.....Lol....
I worked out long ago that tolerance is that uncomfortable feeling that the other bloke may be right after all......

Our smart/funny little pooch is the one who usually finds our best acquaintances at free parks....if folk take to our little 'Pepe' when we walk him, then conversation inevitably follows and offers of a drink together....nothing planned and always the best memories....
What we are doing/travelling is a priviledge denied to many..just enjoy every moment without worrying.....Hoo Roo

Jonathan · Senior Member

Maybe .. "happy Hours" are a state of mind .. ?

Like most, I enjoy a good "chit-chat" too, but I'm also happy with my self and enjoy my quality time. It's great to spend time in group gatherings as we are social beings and relate through communication and harmony with others, but I'm not regulated to attend daily "Happy Hours" ..

I look at the wider picture and enjoy "Happy Days" .. they simply roll on together !

GaryKelly · Guru

Threads such as this are good for a Nomad like me who's yet to hit the road. My expectations are much more realistic now than they were before I joined the Forum.

Wirroff · Senior Member

I suppose the real point I'm making is that we DO make the effort to say hello and offer a smile but often this is ignored or receives nothing more than a brief 'hello' back. Maybe it's a sign of the times as people are less 'neighbourly' these days from when I was young....

Or maybe it's my Pommie accent??????

Cheers!

Golddetectornomad · Senior Member

I do suggest Gary when you do eventually 'hit the road'...that you don't don that Xmas hat until its actually Xmas mate.....you may find offers of 'happy hour' are rather thin on the ground....with only the distant sounds of Caravan doors closing.....and fires being hastily extinguished..!...Lol.......
Wirroff, was that Pommie accent, or just Pommie scent to which you refer.?..Lol.....

My pappy always told me when I asked for his advice...'Son, advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer..and wish we didn't!'........Hoo Roo

Cloak · Guru

I find people friendly enough everywhere we go. We're quite satisfied with the "polite give you your space" ways of camping.

Last trip we actually chummed up with a bunch of young abalone divers when we were at Marlo. We had a great time with them and actually they restored
some faith we had lost in the younger generation. Meantime back at camp the older GN's kept to themselves by and large.

We went body surfing at Cape Conran and really wanted some of the older ones to join us geez that trip took years off us we were teenagers again.

I guess that's the thing isn't it, you do need to be a little bit outgoing rather than waiting for an invitation when on the road. It's ok to step out of your comfort zone
no-one will yell at you...

People are fantastic, I love them.

03_troopy · Guru

Golddetectornomad wrote:
I do suggest Gary when you do eventually 'hit the road'...that you don't don that Xmas hat until its actually Xmas mate.....you may find offers of 'happy hour' are rather thin on the ground....with only the distant sounds of Caravan doors closing.....and fires being hastily extinguished..!...Lol.......
Wirroff, was that Pommie accent, or just Pommie scent to which you refer.?..Lol.....

My pappy always told me when I asked for his advice...'Son, advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer..and wish we didn't!'........Hoo Roo

Us Pommie blokes don't wear scent mate. But if you feel comfortable wearing it, then by all means go right ahead. I'd go a touch lighter on the lippy though if I were you.

biggrin

Triple333 · Member

I was 4 months on the road earlier in the year. I got invited to many happy hours, asked to stay for tea etc. maybe cos I was a solo female and people were curious, but mainly I met the folk while walking the dogs...
Some of those those people I'm still in contact with

grae and deb · Senior Member

heres food for thought
it is true what every other poster has said
we have found the same thing travelling now nearly 12 mths o the road ,
our thoughts are these

1; we have found the best way is take the bull by the horns , you be the one to start it off , it can be a simple question would you like to join us , but it works , dont sit back and excpect to be asked we found cause it didint happen if you did , and '

2; we are all creatures of habit too remember . many of you go away yeah for a few mths and travel , but liv e the rest of the year in a suburb , city town etc , where we are often inclined to only mix with those we know annd know well , so for those who do travel and arent out going like some of us with the gift of the gab , they will really battle to feel either like talking to others more than the great aussie greeting g,day ,so its a learned thing me,s thinks sometimes , we just have to work harder at breaking the barrier sometimes ,not getting too disheartened

re educate those somehow , some guilty of may read these posts i hope and say to themselves oh that is me ! ,if so we have allready started to acheive something

3; in a c/p or a group camping together you see probally call it body language , at a c/p all seated beside their van i a smal group , or a group all huddled together out of the way ,it is a bit hard to feel comfortable to go over and say g,day and join in .so happy hours we think hould allways give the feeeling of neautrality or a welcome appearance out n the open ,not huddled beside your van or between them , BAH ! thats what city bums do !!! lol remember if your one of those , and your on the road you,ve joined the brotherhood wether you like it or not so if you are one of those mentioned who hides BEWARE big brother is watching , lastly if so , just get out there and be part of it enjoy put yourself out there and you,ll be suprised

Wirroff · Senior Member

03_troopy wrote:
Golddetectornomad wrote:
I do suggest Gary when you do eventually 'hit the road'...that you don't don that Xmas hat until its actually Xmas mate.....you may find offers of 'happy hour' are rather thin on the ground....with only the distant sounds of Caravan doors closing.....and fires being hastily extinguished..!...Lol.......
Wirroff, was that Pommie accent, or just Pommie scent to which you refer.?..Lol.....

My pappy always told me when I asked for his advice...'Son, advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer..and wish we didn't!'........Hoo Roo
Us Pommie blokes don't wear scent mate. But if you feel comfortable wearing it, then by all means go right ahead. I'd go a touch lighter on the lippy though if I were you.

That's alright mate, I've gotten used to the Ocker humour that's why I don't mention convicts......

BTW What part of Wales are you from mate? (I was born in St Asaph)

mr glassies · Guru

well im glad this story has arisen . we are yet to leave home full time only been on a few short trips . with friends and a few on here . now dont get me wrong guys i love my beam and i dont need someone holding my hand to drink it . on the few trips we have been on only being long weekends or the like its always been a gr8 time sittin round a fire or just sittin round in a group talkin crap and drinkin even if it is coffee or tea.
now this brings me to being happy to read this thread i dont rely think in retirement i could handle it every night and was wondering how not to be rude . o dont get me wrong id have a couple and a chat but not the session im used to at home or with my m8s

dibs

beiffe · Guru

Hi Graham
You join when it suits you and you can excuse your self when you wish to leave. Same if the conversation or the people don't suit you.
I don't think you or Della would have problems getting to a happy hour but for the ones that are having problems and want to broaden their horizons then it is up to you to change IF you want to.
We are all adults so if you cant mix or don't want to mix then I can ensure you you will be on your Pat Malone.
YOU have to make the effort, get out of your rig, walk around and talk to everyone.
If you see a group having drinks then grab your chair and a drink and join in.
If you have a cook on board then bake a cake or make some dip or make some savory biscuits or similar and roll up.
If you see someone working on their rig ask if they need anything or a help.
Regards
Brian

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Good advice there Biefe - Brian - just what happens here, eh?

Dougwe · Chief one feather

How goes it Jules? Has the weather picked up there?

Keep enjoying Green (S) Lake biggrin

Wombat made me do that.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Good Dougwe - lovely day yesterday, bit overcast today - but looks like it will pick up here at greenS Lake!!!!!

yeoeleven · Guru

Today at Greens our happy hour began at 2pm and some hardy souls gave it away at 10pm. Starting under my awning and finishing round an open fire. Some attended at different times and some never appeared at all, it is there if you want it or it can be ignored. You can say that is an unusual situation but it is my way of life and taking the trouble to post and be known on the forum can only help in the assimilation into the Grey Nomad lifestyle, again if that is not what you want that's fine too. John

Happy hour.JPG

Ginger · Veteran Member

Some people have mentioned they are shy.

Why can't you buy a whiteboard and put it outside your van and advertise.

"Happy Hour starting at (time here) "

or

"Coffee and Chat 2pm - 4pm"

or "Card Night" Or "Sing-A-Long" or "Movie Night" or anything you like, and see what happens, at least then people would know you want to be sociable.

No harm in trying.

-- Edited by Ginger on Sunday 8th of December 2013 11:48:06 PM

sandyr · Veteran Member

I guess its not a hard and fast rule when it comes to happy hour, some places you do some you don't. we had the the best happy hrs at cape range Tulki campground,we were there for a week met some lovely people and are still in touch with them many months down the track.My husband has been known to go to the toilet and goes missing for hrs then we get an invite for drinks and so it goes. when we first started travelling I found it hard to mix with people, I don't have trouble anymore been a big learning curve for me, as my husband says BUILD A BRIDGE AND GET OVER IT, enjoy what ever the day throws at you because you may never revisit that way again

grae and deb · Senior Member

couldnt agreee more my friend

smile

mr glassies · Guru

brian you my friend are 1 man i want to have some happy hrs with lmdo
and a good chat
dibs

neilnruth · Guru

Last year when we camped at freecamps we found it was the camp fire that drew others. We were all independent travellers and became friends around the fire - until it got too cold and we headed for our beds.

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.