After getting a motorhome last September for the first time,went out for a few nights alone..... Really enjoyed it but for one thing, my s**tsue dog doesn't say alot, and neither did anybody else on site, so got a bit lonely, didn't mind too much as I've been on my own now for 10 + years. Would be great to go on site and have people to talk with sometimes. It seems to me that most motorhomers live in the Midlands and meet up often. Well, i live in the south so it's a long way to go just for a few days so i was wondering if anyone wants to meet up on a site somewhere for a few nights ? Don't mind where or when.... Male or female. I'm very easy going, laid back family Man just looking for a bit of company and people to travel with. Please get in touch if you are interested.
I guess sites and their occupants vary, but as a mostly lone old git and his dog, I've found the exact opposite of feeling alone and isolated in the past 5 years or so I've had the caravan. I mostly caravan alone (with my Border Collie), but don't recall not striking up a bit of campsite chat with a number of fellow campers that usually goes far beyond the token 'morning, 'evening etc.
As I use my onboard facilities, I'm back and forth to the service point quite a lot, and that's always a bit of a social hub with the 'neighbours'. I find my dog usually does a pretty good job of being an ice breaker, she's a very attractive dog and people just love to fuss her, so the chat starts.
Camping by it's very nature seems to have a high turnover of fellow campers around you, so if one lot are not very sociable, in a day of so another lot are in situ and may well be chatty sorts.
I suppose I'm not high maintenance when it comes to company, I'm happy on my own so long as my dog is in tow, but generally find campsites across the country pretty friendly. I generally don't just go camping for the sake of going away, I usually have an agenda, so busy much of the time, and I suppose I engage a little with people also following my interests, so in any given day, I'll chat with a number of people on a number of subjects.
I also probably qualify as being the 'handy neighbour' who has both knowledge and tools to overcome many of the little problems that camping brings with it, but offers of help when someone is obviously struggling usually ups the level of friendship a notch and is often rewarded with offers of a beer or two or bottle of plonk, as people go from clueless strugglers to happy campers when their troubles are sorted. It's the old school attitude of campsites from years gone by perhaps (I've been camping for over 55 years!), more than these days, where everyone used to muck in and help each other out.
I guess sometimes, YOU have to be the one to break the ice before conversation follows, and on that score I'm not exactly shy and retiring! Try being a little more upbeat ('Sad retired man' doesn't paint a rosy picture! .... I'm visualising Victor Meldrew!!!!!! ), I'm a man, I'm retired, but at least would like to think I have a fairly bright disposition! .... seems to work for me, get to chat quite a lot, AND it's not just ME rambling on to long suffering victims I've collared!!!!
Hi Monty, had a good giggle about the sad old man comment, I see what you mean tho... not very positive was it...... In reality I'm a very cheerful person, very upbeat also.
There is truth in all you say about etiquette on site and yes i do make conversation with people on site while dog walking but, I think the problem was, I purchased the motorhome in September and keen to use it immediately so off i went for the next 2 weeks but the weather wasn't great and chilly in the evening, so got talking to a few couples but nobody wanted to stand outside for long so off they went...
No I don't mind my own company but it would be nice to have a few different people to talk with in the evening, especially if they are good on the Barby....
One solution is to join a club that runs rallies throughout the year as that way you would be able to meet others on the rally field which quite often there are other people in exactly in the same situation as yourself. Socialising and making new friends would break the boredom and new horizons for the future.
'Sad retired man', I've been away in November, so fully appreciate that not everyone (INCLUDING me!) want's to hang around in the cold and wet to just chit chat, so fully appreciate that point!
But as a (particularly hardy breed!) dog owner who goes 'walkies' in the grimmest of conditions, I've often found the other dog owners often commiserate that ONLY idiot dog owners venture out in the foulest of weathers, so conversation is possible when sane people are tucked up dry and warm and out of contact!
We belong to the C&CC. In our early days of camping, which included use of trailer tents and caravans sometimes accompanied by our 2 great nieces (hence my use of the term Ancient Uncle) we would often go to some of their local meets, where everyone stopped to cat.
I think the most memorable of those was the country song and music group (or whatever it is called) We arrived around 7pm Friday evening. Welcomed by the meet steward, we started to pitch and suddenly found we were offered tea and cold drinks for the girls.
Saturday morning as we had breakfast, we could here some music. Looking out the window we spotted a couple of chaps sitting in an open awning playing instruments. As we ate, they were joined by others until there was quite a gathering in that awning.
We were invited to join them all at the nearby village hall on the saturday evening for the dance session and picnic. The girls were a bit miserable at the dance, until another family came over and grabbed them up to join their own children.
Perhaps you should consider joining the C&CC and try out some of those meets.
Joining C&CC to participate in the rallies would be a good suggestion and start.
It is not something I would consider, as I like to be on my own with just the dog for company when I go camping.
Been there done that with organising a meet up years ago when I started to camp on my own in a tent back in 2009, never again.
Grumpy woman of a certain age here who likes to do her own things, which is no help, sorry!
DK
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I have a friend that is in the same boat as you (so to speak) and his solution was to join The Motor Caravanners Club that has "groups" all over the country, just google same and find your local club, probably, Sussex, or Essex.
These clubs usually meet every other weekend and have social events on the Friday & Saturday nights (there are usually a few singles in every group) in addition being a member of any of these groups, mean that you can if you want travel further afield and meet up at other group rallies.
Membership is about £35 per year and the weekend rally rates are about a third of caravan site rates. Not big money and the social evenings are great at meeting new friends with a shared uinterest.
Thanks everyone I appreciate all the comments, being very new to all this and reading all the comments, i guess i was expecting to much to soon. Spring and summer is on its way and I'm sure whoever you are your going to talk to the neighbors? Maybe not but I will so,see what happens. Been told campers and caravaners are a friendly bunch so fingers crossed.......
Quote: Originally posted by sja1951 on 08/3/2023
I have a friend that is in the same boat as you (so to speak) and his solution was to join The Motor Caravanners Club that has "groups" all over the country, just google same and find your local club, probably, Sussex, or Essex.
These clubs usually meet every other weekend and have social events on the Friday & Saturday nights (there are usually a few singles in every group) in addition being a member of any of these groups, mean that you can if you want travel further afield and meet up at other group rallies.
Membership is about £35 per year and the weekend rally rates are about a third of caravan site rates. Not big money and the social evenings are great at meeting new friends with a shared uinterest.
Ok, so i am now a proud member of the motorhome and caravan club...... So, all i have to do is figure out how to use the site, when i do i will go on some of the meets and hopefully all will be rosy.
Are you still looking for someone to meet up with?
I live in Herts, and can meet up, pretty much all year round. I enjoy colder, windy rainy days, just as much as warm sunny days .
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Lone motorhoming
via mobile 06/3/2023 at 4:45pm
), I'm a man, I'm retired, but at least would like to think I have a fairly bright disposition! .... seems to work for me, get to chat quite a lot, AND it's not just ME rambling on to long suffering victims I've collared!!!!
