We have a few years before we hit the road but my wife is concerned about moving around too much. She want's to find a southern campground for the winter and stay, I want to move around more. I want to meet people and make lasting friendships as well but I want to see more of the country. Especially since we will be rooted in our home state of RI during the summer. Can someone share their experiences or give me a link to a similar discussion?
Thanks
-- Edited by DickHutchings on Sunday 1st of May 2016 07:27:17 AM
laurly said
08:46 AM May 1, 2016
We workamp a lot, so we're in one place for up to 3 months at a time, but even when we move between gigs, we've met a lot of people, some who remain good friends. We tell people we have more friends since we've been on the road than we ever had in our S&B!
Offtosmelltheroses said
01:33 PM May 1, 2016
Dick - I think as you read through the various forums, including this one - a common theme prevails - RV'rs are among the friendliest, and helpful folks in the world. I've read tons of posts by folks who were worried because in their S&B work everyday life, they'd always had a hard time meeting new people, but once they hit the road, they've learned how easy it is to make friends. They've been amazed at how their own personalities have changed. Take time to go back and read through the threads on the forum, and you'll see what I mean. We're just starting out as well, but we're excited about the opportunities to make new friends. And if you bump into us out there somewhere along the way, give a holler and say hello. I got a chunk of smoked salmon and a glass of wine with you're names on it!!
DickHutchings said
02:53 PM May 1, 2016
Thanks, my wife found this reassuring. Looking forward that glass of wine.
RVRon said
04:16 PM May 1, 2016
We're in our 5th year of fulltime life and I can honestly say that we've made more friends in those 5 years than all of the previous 40! We've sat still for up to 6 month at a time and we've traveled as well. Anyway you do it you'll come into really nice, open, friendly fellow RVers from all over the country. In fact, the fact that you move around exposes you to a lot of different people and thus new friends! The bonus is getting to see the sights around our incredible country as well. Give some thought to volunteering. We volunteer up to 6 months out of the year and have made some of the best, lasting friendships with other volunteers. Good luck!
NWescapee said
10:37 PM May 1, 2016
Our social life is far busier now than when we were homeowners, after 3 years of following the same art show circuit, we find connections everywhere we travel. We have actually started scheduling stops off our normal circuit just to build in downtime☺.
We never imagined this would be needed, our original thinking was that we would have a super busy social life in the summer when we were on our old home turf, but thanks to RV Dreams our winters in AZ have more socializing opportunities than we have time for, we have made other friends in the areas we travel to during our spring and fall relocations, resulting in a very busy social life.
CJSX2fromCT said
04:41 AM May 2, 2016
This has happened to me twice so far... The very 1st trip out we get to the CG and we're walking around. There was an Open Range 5'er 40' on 2 axles..... it just didn't look right to me being a truck driver. I was wondering about it's weight. 2 guys were outside, walked over and started talking..... within 3 mins of meeting the owner..... he says.... "The door is open, go have a look inside". I said excuse me??? He said the same thing over again....
Try going over to a neighbor you don't know and walk up to the door and ask if you can walk through their house to see it. See where it gets you. It is a whole new world out here, I forget all about the "outside world" when I pull through a CG gate.
The Bear II said
09:45 AM May 2, 2016
We have made more friends during a weekend at an RV resort then we do at our house for the weekend.
Now we have friends from all over the US, Canada and Europe some we see each year at the RV Resort where we stay for 3 months during the summer. Others we e-mail or see when we can put together a trip together or they are in the area.
Alie and Jims Carrilite said
03:28 PM May 2, 2016
There are hundreds of sub-groups around, some formal, most informal. We cross paths with other RV-Dreamers, Escapees, this group, that group, etc.
We just finished a small rally of HDT'ers (Heavy Duty Trucks- converted semi trucks that we use to pull some of the heavier 5th wheels) where we already know when we're going to see some of them again. Different groups that do Caravans together as well.
Type any hobby you pursue into Google and add "RV" to it.... example- RC aircraft RV'ers and see how many folks there are.
fun2travel said
07:05 PM May 2, 2016
We have been on the road just over 6 months now. We've already made a few long lasting friendships.
Everyone is so friendly, and honestly we just have more time and are more relaxed now.
I remember before we started this lifestyle I would have opportunities to do things with friends, but I always felt so rushed and pressured to do so much with work and other obligations that I passed on a lot of things. I find myself being much more outgoing and open to things now.
I think you guys will love it!
Camper Chronicles said
07:28 AM May 16, 2016
I agree our social calendar is waaay more full than when we lived in a house and were raising our kids. We had work friends but not many couple friends. Now you are doing this amazing thing, with people of similar mindset and the relationships are absolutely amazing. I actually wrote a post about this awhile back when we were first getting starting. Maintaining these friendships is different.
DickHutchings; if you and your wife want friendly; do not stay huddled down in your RV when you are parked in an RV Park or campground. Either get them chairs outside and have your iced tea or lemonade on a table outside while relaxing or get up and do some walking around. Many Rv Parks in the Southern states have get-togethers and activities in abundance. Oh; by the way I am solo and still make friends better than living in a home.
I got off the work camping and travel bit in August 2012 due to health reasons. Found a great little RV Park here East of Nashville with good Veterans healthcare, shopping and friendly people in the locality and have friends in the Park. Happy Trails!
rodeojoe said
04:11 PM May 16, 2016
You will meet plenty of people either way! Try not to stress about it and see what falls into place. It is also fun to add the people you meet to Facebook and then you can keep up with their travels as well as share your own. Then you can also find out when you will be in similar locations where you can meet up again!
Barbaraok said
05:54 PM May 16, 2016
Well it will take you a few years of moving around to find the place for longer winter stays that suits you both - - took us about 5 years to settle on Mesa and then another 3 years to figure out that 6 months really works for us. In the mean time, we've met so many people and we correspond with them via text/email/blogs and whenever we get a chance, we change our route to meet up with them, even if it is only for a day or two. So start out and see what happens. Also, just because a couple is parked across from you this winter doesn't mean they will be there next winter - illness/death take their toll as do changes in families or finances. So just when you think you have it all in place, things will change again. And that's not so bad - change helps stimulate the brain and keeps us young.
We have a few years before we hit the road but my wife is concerned about moving around too much. She want's to find a southern campground for the winter and stay, I want to move around more. I want to meet people and make lasting friendships as well but I want to see more of the country. Especially since we will be rooted in our home state of RI during the summer. Can someone share their experiences or give me a link to a similar discussion?
Thanks
-- Edited by DickHutchings on Sunday 1st of May 2016 07:27:17 AM
Dick - I think as you read through the various forums, including this one - a common theme prevails - RV'rs are among the friendliest, and helpful folks in the world. I've read tons of posts by folks who were worried because in their S&B work everyday life, they'd always had a hard time meeting new people, but once they hit the road, they've learned how easy it is to make friends. They've been amazed at how their own personalities have changed. Take time to go back and read through the threads on the forum, and you'll see what I mean. We're just starting out as well, but we're excited about the opportunities to make new friends. And if you bump into us out there somewhere along the way, give a holler and say hello. I got a chunk of smoked salmon and a glass of wine with you're names on it!!
We're in our 5th year of fulltime life and I can honestly say that we've made more friends in those 5 years than all of the previous 40! We've sat still for up to 6 month at a time and we've traveled as well. Anyway you do it you'll come into really nice, open, friendly fellow RVers from all over the country. In fact, the fact that you move around exposes you to a lot of different people and thus new friends! The bonus is getting to see the sights around our incredible country as well. Give some thought to volunteering. We volunteer up to 6 months out of the year and have made some of the best, lasting friendships with other volunteers. Good luck!
We never imagined this would be needed, our original thinking was that we would have a super busy social life in the summer when we were on our old home turf, but thanks to RV Dreams our winters in AZ have more socializing opportunities than we have time for, we have made other friends in the areas we travel to during our spring and fall relocations, resulting in a very busy social life.
Try going over to a neighbor you don't know and walk up to the door and ask if you can walk through their house to see it. See where it gets you. It is a whole new world out here, I forget all about the "outside world" when I pull through a CG gate.
Now we have friends from all over the US, Canada and Europe some we see each year at the RV Resort where we stay for 3 months during the summer. Others we e-mail or see when we can put together a trip together or they are in the area.
We just finished a small rally of HDT'ers (Heavy Duty Trucks- converted semi trucks that we use to pull some of the heavier 5th wheels) where we already know when we're going to see some of them again. Different groups that do Caravans together as well.
Type any hobby you pursue into Google and add "RV" to it.... example- RC aircraft RV'ers and see how many folks there are.
Everyone is so friendly, and honestly we just have more time and are more relaxed now.
I remember before we started this lifestyle I would have opportunities to do things with friends, but I always felt so rushed and pressured to do so much with work and other obligations that I passed on a lot of things. I find myself being much more outgoing and open to things now.
I think you guys will love it!
She might want to check it out.
camperchronicles.com/2015/02/18/pondering-friendships-on-the-road/
Trace
I got off the work camping and travel bit in August 2012 due to health reasons. Found a great little RV Park here East of Nashville with good Veterans healthcare, shopping and friendly people in the locality and have friends in the Park. Happy Trails!