Friends & Caravanning

[Longsufferingwifeoffouldsy]

When we bought our first caravan 2 years ago we suffered the usual torrent of leg-pulling and mickey taking from those of our friends who didn't know better....which I fear if I list here may be removed by the mod....suffice to say it involved would we be maintaining people's driveways and selling certain small spriggs of lucky stuff door to door. Ha ha most amusing very funny, how we laughed.

Two years down the line we find the same select few are cracking oh so boringly the same jokes, and I guess it could be the heat but I find it all a bit tedious these days. Last weekend ...unfortunately not away in the caravan.....we were invited to join some mates for a drink at the local. On arrival the same said few went through the usual routine and feigned shock that we had joined them because we were so anti-social these days, and never at home. Suddenly we find we are defending the world of caravanning. When Fouldsy pointed out that we had merely discovered there was more to life than the village we live in the atmosphere dropped to something like a scene from a western when the baddie has just walked through the saloon doors, silence in the bar, shocked looks all around....we left shortly afterwards.

Interestingly those friends who were already caravanners before us have remained good buddies.

So here's the question. Has anybody else found a shift in their social circle since they took up caravanning or is it true....have the Fouldsy's really become anti-social? Not that it's going to make much difference....we wouldn't give up the caravan for anything.

 

[RichardS1]

We found similar comments when we took up caravaning. There are however at least three people we know who have bought caravans since, even though they could not believe what we were doing in our early thirties buying a caravan. Once they saw the number of holidays we were taking each year, some of the fantastic places we were visiting and how well equipped modern caravans are their perceptions soon changed. Like you we have also made some new friends and when I think about it we certainly seem to spend the majority of time now with fellow caravaners.

 

[Ian.L]

These people havn't got a clue us caravanners have a life and there don't theres more to life than siting in the local gossiping about the other people in the street or it could be your so called friends are jealous or are to scared to tow a caravan so take no notice we are better people.ian.l

 

[JohnW1]

I must be lucky. We've been caravanning for longer than I choose to remember, and other than some general micky taking by friends and colleagues about sad sods in their tin tents have never encountered any particular prejudice.

I know a lot of people have different experiences. The nearest we have come to any sort of blind prejudice is a letter in our local paper complaining about people who keep their caravans on their drives etc.. (not applicable to us anyway as personally I'm happier with a secure storage site)

We have friends both inside and outside caravanning and whilst some of the non-caravanners can't understand our love of it, I don't feel polarised or restricted in any way.

What I have noticed over the years is an increasing amount of Caravan 'Snobbery' ie we're towing our xxxxxxxx de luxe with the onboard cinema,jacuzzi and bowling alley with our brand new xxxxxxx car/4 wheel drive/People Carrier etc.

Perhaps it's our obsession with all things material. I was just as bad until a severe heart attack with a couple of Cardiac Arrests made me reasess both life and my own personal values.

Sorry if that comes across as pompous or judgemental. it certainly isn't meant to, rather just a personal observation

 

[Guest]

I have a lovely view of an Italian lake here, I could be in some nice hotel. I spent years whilst working in many fancy hotels around the world.

We bought a Caravan as we privately funded a huge work place building project many many years ago and we used a friends caravan for a weekend getaway. My kids were not expected to dress for dinner and made friends on the campsite.

Their new friends told them of summer holidays in France and we bought our first van as funds were tight. We headed to France hired bikes and a Hobicat and I taught my kids to sail and later learnt to windsuf alongside my them.

Hotels = Rude or sickly over attentive staff. Beds used by an army of other people before you. Dress Codes. One upmanship. Food of dubious quality and quantity. Service that is often based on the hotels needs not your own. And intrusive cleaning saff. And somebody always lloking for a fat tip for poor service.

Our vans have none of the above, we can cook and chef along with the best and suit ourselves and our grand kids now.

Many of my associates are still working, they pay for expensive hotels to keep up with the Jones's and Golf Club set and lay on the beach for two weeks to show of their very expensive tans back at the ofice.

We've seen far more of life and sights around the UK and Europe than they have sights from a Maldives beach and met some very nice genuine people from a multitude of back grounds.

Forget peer group jokes and just enjoy your own choices in life.

Your peer group will probably be better with caravanners as well.

 

[LMH]

Has anyone heard from cris lately?

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

I personally have only had two comments by friends, both about them being stuck behind caravans (one is a lorry driver who has now bought a motorhome - sigh). A lot of people have never seen inside a caravan, an aquaintance of my wife told her marching down to a corner of some field in the middle of the night with a spade was no idea of an holiday for her. People who had no idea were gobsmacked when they looked inside our van, as we were when we first looked inside some friends of ours van. Like Euro, hotels aren't for me or getting on a plane at Point A and alighting at Point B without seeing anything of the countries or countryside in between. Spending all the holiday between beach, hotel and pool is for me a total waste of time. It's just as well some like that kind of holiday though, think if everyone went caravanning, then we'd moan about pitch shortages.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

.. oops forgot to answer Foulsy's question. No, we haven't had no change amongst our friends. We do have friends who have caravans but we prefer to go away together with the dogs rather than with friends or to rallies. I'm not anti-social, I will talk to others on site if they so wish or just say good morning but once Her Ladyships jaw goes into overdrive theres no stopping her, she would talk for England. I'm sure she has a morbid fear of getting lockjaw if she shuts up for more than a few minutes. I tell people who she has collared (once I see them yawning, its getting dusk and the stars starting to shine) that they will have to walk away else she wont stop hehheh!

 

[Wendy-Norfolk]

A few of our family members think we are rather anti-social because we'd rather use our caravan at weekends than do the family gathering bit....ugh!! :O(

They ask things like....well, how do you go to the loo? Aren't you cold?.....what do you do about food?.... etc. etc., needless to mention that none of them have been inside a caravan to find out. Good thing really, they might decide to take it up!!! :O( :O(

 

[Wendy-Norfolk]

.. oops forgot to answer Foulsy's question. No, we haven't had no change amongst our friends. We do have friends who have caravans but we prefer to go away together with the dogs rather than with friends or to rallies. I'm not anti-social, I will talk to others on site if they so wish or just say good morning but once Her Ladyships jaw goes into overdrive theres no stopping her, she would talk for England. I'm sure she has a morbid fear of getting lockjaw if she shuts up for more than a few minutes. I tell people who she has collared (once I see them yawning, its getting dusk and the stars starting to shine) that they will have to walk away else she wont stop hehheh!

Lord B, is Her Ladyship a Gemini?

 

[sparkes]

With me it was very different. We started caravaning and to our surprised we suddenly found out about work friends and old friends who also did so. I work for a very large IT company and 2 things seem very common. one is motorbikes, the other is the number of cars in our office car parks (lots all over the UK and Europe) that have tow bars and twin electrics.

Yes, there are others that like to make jokes, but they backfire a lot when they are getting ready for a weekend of gardening or visiting the in-laws and we are off to the middle of nowhere to spend time in the pool or at the bar.

Another thing that tickles me is the comments of "I could not rough it for a day let alone a weekend" But this is usually sorted when I explain that running water, showers full ovens microwaves and air con and central heating are all available within most vans.

 

[parker1158]

Hi All

We tend not to tell people we have a caravan unless absolutely necessary, it's the way we prefer to deal with it. Like some of the posters have said you get some pretty stupid responses from people that we feel its best not mentioned.

When we first got our van a good friend of mine came to my house to show off his new car and was absolutely mortified we had got a caravan, he never stopped criticising and made it clear he had no time for people that supported such a hobby. I have not heard from him since.

It would be nice to think that we could all follow our chosen paths in life without having to justify it but we are all guilty of judging others preferences if they do not fit in with our own personal ideals.

 

[Tina3]

Hi All

I work with the same chap on my shifts. When we come back from our one weekend a month off the conversation always goes "so what did you get up to?"

I always have an exciting tale to tell of pastures new, of the kids meeting new friends and burning off some energy!

HIM?? did his garden,went for a look round b and q blah blah boring blah!!!

Yet he will still vermently take the mickey out of us!!! ODD there are around 7 of us vanners now at work,and more pondering on it ! never mind ,we know b and q will be kept in buisness !!!

Tina x

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

.. oops forgot to answer Foulsy's question. No, we haven't had no change amongst our friends. We do have friends who have caravans but we prefer to go away together with the dogs rather than with friends or to rallies. I'm not anti-social, I will talk to others on site if they so wish or just say good morning but once Her Ladyships jaw goes into overdrive theres no stopping her, she would talk for England. I'm sure she has a morbid fear of getting lockjaw if she shuts up for more than a few minutes. I tell people who she has collared (once I see them yawning, its getting dusk and the stars starting to shine) that they will have to walk away else she wont stop hehheh!

....ummmmm.... yes she is Wendy, June 5th - I'm frightened with what you're going to come back with now, hehheh!

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Hi All

I work with the same chap on my shifts. When we come back from our one weekend a month off the conversation always goes "so what did you get up to?"

I always have an exciting tale to tell of pastures new, of the kids meeting new friends and burning off some energy!

HIM?? did his garden,went for a look round b and q blah blah boring blah!!!

Yet he will still vermently take the mickey out of us!!! ODD there are around 7 of us vanners now at work,and more pondering on it ! never mind ,we know b and q will be kept in buisness !!!

Tina x

That reminds me off when we went on standby Tina, one of the points was close to B&Q, Halfords etc. I can still hear my mate now, seeing the carparks full and them queueing to get in there with roads blocked, scorching heat, "Look at them, just bloooooooody look at them, haven't they got nothing better to do on their Sundays than do a tour of the D-I-Ys".

 

[popupJohn]

I`m getting into the habit when asked in company about caravaning and being antisocial etc of quietly saying that `its more fun stradding the 2 outside lanes of a motorway on a busy weekend than watching telly..anyway my chelsea tractor can tow at 120MPH so why the hastle?

Be fair I tow a classy shed! and sites always clear from around us once they see the pet baboon and vulture.`

Backchat like that can ruin someones fun when they try and make you look small

 

[Tina3]

Hi All

I work with the same chap on my shifts. When we come back from our one weekend a month off the conversation always goes "so what did you get up to?"

I always have an exciting tale to tell of pastures new, of the kids meeting new friends and burning off some energy!

HIM?? did his garden,went for a look round b and q blah blah boring blah!!!

Yet he will still vermently take the mickey out of us!!! ODD there are around 7 of us vanners now at work,and more pondering on it ! never mind ,we know b and q will be kept in buisness !!!

Tina x

lol lol , was one of them a balding forty something!!!! ??

 

[Fouldsy]

Just back from a hard day at the Distribution Centre and have been having my nightly read of the forum, I was surprised to see my good lady (LSWOF) had started the friends and caravanning thread. Last night sitting in the garden drinking wine we had a deep conversation about friends and being social,

I never thought that our conversation had stirred so much emotion in the good lady, but I am refreshed to find that others had suffered similar ridicule from so called friends.

Some of our friends who have recently got a new dog called "Gigi" (who would call a dog...Rhodesian Ridgeback.....such a noncy name) just have no comprehension of the joys of the freedom vanning brings. They recently spent a week in Norfolk with their young child in a very expensive holiday cottage and had to kennel "gigi" who is now the prime focus of the family, with all their mocking if only they realised that with the right choice of van "gigi" and the kid could have had their own beds and saved the

 

[Mike_5041089]

We were introduced to 'vanning about 21 years ago by friends who we also thought were mad! I used to hate caravanners with a vengeance - until we saw theirs! With 3 young children who were then 2, 1.5, & .5 years old there's no better holiday. Now we're (almost) empty nesters and we have a nice 2 berth all to ourselves, despite the protestations of our early 20's 3 children we can come & go as we please. I spend my life in hotels on business, and believe me if you've been in one hotel you've been in all of them! I think the non-'vanning world are just jealous.

 

[chelsea1]

we started off years ago with a tent - hubby loved it - i hated it but grinned and beared it...we always stared lovingly to the caravans next to us dreaming it would be us.

We took the plunge in April and have never looked back - wished we did it ages ago, we are both early 30's - no kids, just 1 dog and go away every weekend.

Everyone at my work laughs at me, jokingly ask on a monday "where you off this weekend too then?" followed by sniggers and jeers, family also take the mick and we always get the "hellooooo campers" when we visit.

I dont know whether it is because we are deemed to be "young" or what, are they jealous? are they embarrassed for us?

We dont really care, they are stuck at home laughing at us sat in front of Eastenders whilst we are visiting site after site exploring the lovely british countryside!

 

[NorfolkMike]

At the risk of being repetative, you are losing the plot guys.

We have to be todays Reginald Molehusbund, Bouring the pants of everyone who will listen, extolling the merits of the midnight run to loo with spade. Washing in the local river, sitting crosslegged on the floor cooking marshmallows and singing happy songs around the camp fire ect ect ect. These are the things that put people off.

That is what we need to do. Otherwise caravanning will become an important statistic and then Tony and his cronies will identify it as a form of enjoyment and prosseed to screw it up, as is their want. I propose that our moto should be. 'Put someone off today.'

ttdn

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Just back from a hard day at the Distribution Centre and have been having my nightly read of the forum, I was surprised to see my good lady (LSWOF) had started the friends and caravanning thread. Last night sitting in the garden drinking wine we had a deep conversation about friends and being social,

I never thought that our conversation had stirred so much emotion in the good lady, but I am refreshed to find that others had suffered similar ridicule from so called friends.

Some of our friends who have recently got a new dog called "Gigi" (who would call a dog...Rhodesian Ridgeback.....such a noncy name) just have no comprehension of the joys of the freedom vanning brings. They recently spent a week in Norfolk with their young child in a very expensive holiday cottage and had to kennel "gigi" who is now the prime focus of the family, with all their mocking if only they realised that with the right choice of van "gigi" and the kid could have had their own beds and saved the

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

At the risk of being repetative, you are losing the plot guys.

We have to be todays Reginald Molehusbund, Bouring the pants of everyone who will listen, extolling the merits of the midnight run to loo with spade. Washing in the local river, sitting crosslegged on the floor cooking marshmallows and singing happy songs around the camp fire ect ect ect. These are the things that put people off.

That is what we need to do. Otherwise caravanning will become an important statistic and then Tony and his cronies will identify it as a form of enjoyment and prosseed to screw it up, as is their want. I propose that our moto should be. 'Put someone off today.'

ttdn

LOLOL Mike

 

[BrianStAlbans]

Has anyone heard from cris lately?

Lmmaaaooo

 

[Wendy-Norfolk]

.. oops forgot to answer Foulsy's question. No, we haven't had no change amongst our friends. We do have friends who have caravans but we prefer to go away together with the dogs rather than with friends or to rallies. I'm not anti-social, I will talk to others on site if they so wish or just say good morning but once Her Ladyships jaw goes into overdrive theres no stopping her, she would talk for England. I'm sure she has a morbid fear of getting lockjaw if she shuts up for more than a few minutes. I tell people who she has collared (once I see them yawning, its getting dusk and the stars starting to shine) that they will have to walk away else she wont stop hehheh!

I knew it, Geminis are known for idle chatter, my hubby is the same, it drives me crackers cause I'm the opposite. I always know where he is when on site somewhere, gossiping. What a coincidence he has the same b/day 5th June:O)