1. A member of a group of people who have no fixed home and move according to the seasons from place to place in search of food, water, and grazing land.
2. A person with no fixed residence who roams about; a wanderer.
..............................
There is no time parameter in the definition, so anyone wandering around, buying food (or fishing for it), filling up the tanks with fresh water when they need it , and looking for land on which to set up for a while meets the definition, ... whether for a month, 6 months or 6 years.... nothing says one need to "wander" permanently.
Not included , in my interpretation if the above, are those who go to the same van park every year, and set up for an annual break. Neither are caravan / MH clubbers on planned getaways.... too planned and organised to be a "wander".
There's something a bit "free-er" about a nomad.
Although, those who set up in one place, for prolonged periods and settle in, have made a home base and have, by definition, ceased to "wander"
In the long and short of it, does it matter? Should we give less weight to the definition's "Lack of home base" and more to the need to be "grey"?
-- Edited by Rip and Rosie on Wednesday 25th of September 2013 12:20:32 PM
brickies said
04:46 PM Sep 25, 2013
I wouldn't think the result of a Queensland University study would be news to many on this website . The report which is on this web pages has identify an new bred of grey traveler the Grey caravaner work do small trip mostly with caravan club and put 3 million dollars a year into Queensland rural towns , Are you a Grey Nomad or A Grey Caravaner for me I like to be a free spirt and do our own thing , If you haven't read the front news on this website always a good read
freehazzas said
04:53 PM Sep 25, 2013
We are nomads to the full definition. Does it make us dif to others? Nope. We are all out doing the same thing.
Baz421 said
05:02 PM Sep 25, 2013
Nomads r us too,,, we like the freedom,,, ie when, where, what, why is OUR decision.
justcruisin01 said
05:07 PM Sep 25, 2013
Still have a home, we come & go for as long as we please, not to please some one else.
WORK; we have done more than our fair share when in full time employment.
Last year on the road I turned down three full time jobs that I didn't even apply for, two in one after noon.
Clubs, too many rules & regs. We were in a 4x4 club for many years & that got destroyed by wrong managment.Control freeks.
JC.
-- Edited by justcruisin01 on Wednesday 25th of September 2013 05:11:26 PM
Duh said
05:08 PM Sep 25, 2013
How can they say that "Grey Caravanners" stay longer and contribute more to local economies than "Grey Nomads".
I think we all know what group stay in communities longer (Grey Nomads) either doing paid or volunteer community work which includes helping out on farms and other places including during local disasters etc.
Short termers (clubs etc) are mainly there for social reasons (club activities etc), yes the do spend a lot while there but do not "hang around" for long.
The seem to miss the point that a lot of Grey Caravanners also do Grey Nomad trips as well (read long trips/around Oz) as their club activities from time to time.
herbie said
06:12 PM Sep 25, 2013
Another review regarding who spend the most money,why is it that these reviews are all about the golden $$.
Would be better looking into what the traveller needs/wants/doesn't require/want when staying at payed accommodation .That way caravan parks would find out what they are not doing /doing to entice the traveller into there businesses.
It is ok to put in the jumping pillows and the latest what ever.. but are these things getting the use and the business that attract the ( traveller ) into the Park.
I realise they are looking at 1000's of over seas visitors to arrive going by the last survey, but so far I have not seen any where near these figures nor I doubt will.
A review into a review maybe be the answer .
brickies said
06:31 PM Sep 25, 2013
Herbie the dollar spend is something many grey nomads push in the hope of getting something for nothing and to justify free camp sites . Instead of pointing out what are basic needs when traveling like shower , toilet ,power and water and being prepared to pay for these basic needs and not wanting to be able to stop in the heart of Sydney for free
GaryKelly said
06:31 PM Sep 25, 2013
It's all about academics' obsession with labels and pigeon-holing. In that case, I'm a grey slide-onner.
magraret said
06:37 PM Sep 25, 2013
can not tell a lie we are a grey caravaner at the moment as we cant spend to much time away from home an yes we are trying to find a a caravan club to join for that same reason to meet new people and see new places that are not to far away and that we would not have found on our own
Also as we are not that keen on free camping alone ( i should say i am not sure of free camping alone) by belonging to a caravan club we will learn more hands on info
the nomad means
1. A member of a group of people who have no fixed home and move according to the seasons from place to place in search of food, water, and grazing land.
2. A person with no fixed residence who roams about; a wanderer.
so that is not us but it is nice to now that for us grey caravaners as they have called us have something to work for in becoming grey nomads if we want to down the track
brickies said
06:57 PM Sep 25, 2013
Well Margaret there is a lot of us who would not fit into number 1 or 2 have not seen this definition of a Grey nomad before , We spend about 6 months on the road and still have a home base
neilnruth said
08:13 PM Sep 25, 2013
I don't think it really matters how we do it. We all love hitching the van (or packing the motorhome) and going out there. That's where the joy of it comes for us. We do belong to a group - but that only meets once a year and yes, we go somewhere different every time. But it doesn't make us any different to all the other times we 'hit the road'.
NeilandRaine said
10:01 PM Sep 25, 2013
I am a Mechanised Swaggie and they can pidgeon hole me how they want
Duh said
10:10 PM Sep 25, 2013
I've been in clubs and also have done "my own thing" on trips etc, I think because what the researchers call "Grey Nomads" don't gather in huge groups like RV clubs (eg: CMCA, and yes I have belonged to that too at one time), the researchers seem to be discounting them as a spending force, however if you put all the individual travellers going around Oz in a group, it would be quite different, they still spend the same as clubs, but individually, not collectively.
I am not including backpackers in the Grey Nomads group as they tend to have limited time in Oz and do move quickly around Oz and most doing things on a shoestring but still have to buy food, fuel etc, so even they are making a contribution in their own way.
herbie said
10:34 PM Sep 25, 2013
At the end of the day all these surveys/reviews are about how much money we spend, one doesn't need any survey to show anyone what one spends,as anyone can only spend what they have to spend. And most of the people they appear to target for these surveys are the travelling grey nomad...They must think they are rolling in money and just spend nilly willy, they have budgets, best to have a look at the amount of pension going out to these retired people and then they may get the true picture.
Radar said
12:26 AM Sep 26, 2013
That's it I am going to dye my hair, wear long baggy pants I not going to be put in any group I am out there, We have, wife and I worked hard for this rite to spend when and how We like.
No to groups. We will travel sometimes in thevan, sometimes stay home then other times we go visit Dell's for cheap accommodation.
No to groups.
RosieW said
12:38 AM Sep 26, 2013
Once we get this damn bus engineered (just had the electrician out to quote), roadworthied and registered, we will be full-time nomads. We won't have a choice - we have been living in a 'house on wheels' for nearly 18 months, we don't have a 'bricks & mortat' home, and be damned if I am going to spend the rest of my life sitting in Tassie!
pambaz said
01:52 AM Sep 26, 2013
Don't care what they want to call us. We are happy retirees who worked long and hard for many years and now reaping our reward. We travel a lot and still have a home base.
Some places we stay for a while and others just days.
We spend money in towns, leave free camps cleaner than we found them,meet wonderful people of ALL ages, talk to the truckies, help out when we can.
Mustn't have been much to write about that day.
chaslib said
06:30 AM Sep 26, 2013
We prefer to be individuals rather than being type-cast to fit into some mould or stereotype! we are not grey .. we are stonewashed! we have a home and we have a van, we are retired and living the life we want ... That just makes us Aussies and proud of it!
-- Edited by chaslib on Thursday 26th of September 2013 11:05:34 AM
dorian said
07:01 AM Sep 26, 2013
I consulted the Australian Bureau of Statistics to find out what they considered a "Grey Nomad" to be.
This Appendix presents information about people with 'no usual address' in 'visitor only households' who are not included in the ABS homeless operational group 'persons staying temporarily with other households'. They are excluded because, on balance, they were considered not to be homeless as their characteristics suggested that they were more likely to be on long-term holiday and travelling around Australia. There are two distinct groups:
'grey nomads'
'other travellers'
Grey nomads were in 'visitor only households', reporting 'no usual address', where all people were aged 55 years or over, were not in the labour force and were staying in a caravan, cabin or houseboat on Census Night.
Other travellers are the remaining persons in 'visitor only households' with 'no usual address' but who are not classified as homeless or as new migrants or returning Australians.
According to the above document, the 2001 census counted 1670 grey nomads while the 2006 census recorded 2466.
The following document simply states that "the number of 'grey nomads' increased slightly between 2006 and 2011 by about 500 people, all in the 65 years and over age group".
-- Edited by dorian on Thursday 26th of September 2013 07:03:32 AM
-- Edited by dorian on Thursday 26th of September 2013 07:07:55 AM
freehazzas said
05:26 PM Sep 26, 2013
Well im a full time nomad and yes my hair is grey if i dont colour it, but im not yet 55. Im 46, hubby is 53. So i guess we still dont fit in a group. Oh well. Tough titties. Lol lol
Life on the road, is there anything better no matter what they call us.
There is no time parameter in the definition, so anyone wandering around, buying food (or fishing for it), filling up the tanks with fresh water when they need it , and looking for land on which to set up for a while meets the definition, ... whether for a month, 6 months or 6 years.... nothing says one need to "wander" permanently.
Not included , in my interpretation if the above, are those who go to the same van park every year, and set up for an annual break. Neither are caravan / MH clubbers on planned getaways.... too planned and organised to be a "wander".
There's something a bit "free-er" about a nomad.
Although, those who set up in one place, for prolonged periods and settle in, have made a home base and have, by definition, ceased to "wander"
In the long and short of it, does it matter? Should we give less weight to the definition's "Lack of home base" and more to the need to be "grey"?
-- Edited by Rip and Rosie on Wednesday 25th of September 2013 12:20:32 PM
I wouldn't think the result of a Queensland University study would be news to many on this website . The report which is on this web pages has identify an new bred of grey traveler the Grey caravaner work do small trip mostly with caravan club and put 3 million dollars a year into Queensland rural towns , Are you a Grey Nomad or A Grey Caravaner for me I like to be a free spirt and do our own thing , If you haven't read the front news on this website always a good read
Nomads r us too,,, we like the freedom,,, ie when, where, what, why is OUR decision.
Still have a home, we come & go for as long as we please, not to please some one else.
WORK; we have done more than our fair share when in full time employment.
Last year on the road I turned down three full time jobs that I didn't even apply for, two in one after noon.
Clubs, too many rules & regs. We were in a 4x4 club for many years & that got destroyed by wrong managment.Control freeks.
JC.
-- Edited by justcruisin01 on Wednesday 25th of September 2013 05:11:26 PM
How can they say that "Grey Caravanners" stay longer and contribute more to local economies than "Grey Nomads".
I think we all know what group stay in communities longer (Grey Nomads) either doing paid or volunteer community work which includes helping out on farms and other places including during local disasters etc.
Short termers (clubs etc) are mainly there for social reasons (club activities etc), yes the do spend a lot while there but do not "hang around" for long.
The seem to miss the point that a lot of Grey Caravanners also do Grey Nomad trips as well (read long trips/around Oz) as their club activities from time to time.
Another review regarding who spend the most money,why is it that these reviews are all about the golden $$.
Would be better looking into what the traveller needs/wants/doesn't require/want when staying at payed accommodation .That way caravan parks would find out what they are not doing /doing to entice the traveller into there businesses.
It is ok to put in the jumping pillows and the latest what ever.. but are these things getting the use and the business that attract the ( traveller ) into the Park.
I realise they are looking at 1000's of over seas visitors to arrive going by the last survey, but so far I have not seen any where near these figures nor I doubt will.
A review into a review maybe be the answer .
can not tell a lie we are a grey caravaner at the moment as we cant spend to much time away from home an yes we are trying to find a a caravan club to join for that same reason to meet new people and see new places that are not to far away and that we would not have found on our own
Also as we are not that keen on free camping alone ( i should say i am not sure of free camping alone) by belonging to a caravan club we will learn more hands on info
the nomad means
I've been in clubs and also have done "my own thing" on trips etc, I think because what the researchers call "Grey Nomads" don't gather in huge groups like RV clubs (eg: CMCA, and yes I have belonged to that too at one time), the researchers seem to be discounting them as a spending force, however if you put all the individual travellers going around Oz in a group, it would be quite different, they still spend the same as clubs, but individually, not collectively.
I am not including backpackers in the Grey Nomads group as they tend to have limited time in Oz and do move quickly around Oz and most doing things on a shoestring but still have to buy food, fuel etc, so even they are making a contribution in their own way.
At the end of the day all these surveys/reviews are about how much money we spend, one doesn't need any survey to show anyone what one spends,as anyone can only spend what they have to spend. And most of the people they appear to target for these surveys are the travelling grey nomad...They must think they are rolling in money and just spend nilly willy, they have budgets, best to have a look at the amount of pension going out to these retired people and then they may get the true picture.
That's it I am going to dye my hair, wear long baggy pants I not going to be put in any group I am out there, We have, wife and I worked hard for this rite to spend when and how We like.
No to groups. We will travel sometimes in thevan, sometimes stay home then other times we go visit Dell's for cheap accommodation.
No to groups.
Some places we stay for a while and others just days.
We spend money in towns, leave free camps cleaner than we found them,meet wonderful people of ALL ages, talk to the truckies, help out when we can.
Mustn't have been much to write about that day.
We prefer to be individuals rather than being type-cast to fit into some mould or stereotype! we are not grey .. we are stonewashed! we have a home and we have a van, we are retired and living the life we want ... That just makes us Aussies and proud of it!
-- Edited by chaslib on Thursday 26th of September 2013 11:05:34 AM
I consulted the Australian Bureau of Statistics to find out what they considered a "Grey Nomad" to be.
http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/Previousproducts/2049.0Appendix12006?opendocument&tabname=Notes&prodno=2049.0&issue=2006&num=&view=
According to the above document, the 2001 census counted 1670 grey nomads while the 2006 census recorded 2466.
The following document simply states that "the number of 'grey nomads' increased slightly between 2006 and 2011 by about 500 people, all in the 65 years and over age group".
http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/2049.0Explanatory%20Notes12011
-- Edited by dorian on Thursday 26th of September 2013 07:03:32 AM
-- Edited by dorian on Thursday 26th of September 2013 07:07:55 AM
Life on the road, is there anything better no matter what they call us.