Caravan Park cliques

goinsoon · Guru

RE: Caravan Park cliques

Cruising Granny · Guru

These stories are very interesting observations of life.
As a long term park resident, and a nomad who actually does tow the van from time to time, I get all sorts of reactions.
I usually make the first move to say "g'day" to my neighbours as I set up camp, and to anyone who walks past my site anytime.
That immediately indicates who's friend and who's foe.
The happy hour only happens if special friends are around, or someone has a special event. In Broome it was special time of the day for 3 months with the same annual neighbours. It was like a family reunion every June to Sept.
I was on the same site for 9 years and had mostly the same visitors each year, and then the stragglers between times. All good.
Some of the annual groups do claim "ownership" of their site and if for some reason they have to take another site they'd rather stay home. I't worse in some parks than in others, and very obvious in the peak season.
You did a great thing Wombat by booking in for a longer stay on someone's special site. It didn't hurt anyone in the end, I'm sure.
I find some of these people bring their 'burb mentality with them. I've got a better van than you, mine's bigger than yours, my flowers on the annexe table are prettier than yours, and my tablecloth is lacier, and all that superfluous, frivilous sh!t.
It's a great place to watch people and their behaviour.
Being a solo traveller, whether man or woman, does bring it's own quirks. It's like we have single disease, and if they talk to us they'll catch it and end up single, and that would never do the image any good.
I've never wanted someone else's bloke. I did want one of my own. If the relationship is strong I'm definitely no threat. Just ask Ma. I've given Blue the eye but he wouldn't have noticed. Only joking.
I hope I offer higher quality friendship than the superficial crap these annuals seem to live with.
It's just another side of nomad and caravan park life.

Sheba · Guru

Vic wrote:
I've come across a few that resent their husbands talking to another man too, don't know if they think a bloke is going to race their husband off.

Wouldn't be the first time that's happened Vic.
Cheers,
Sheba.

Ma · Guru

I'm keeping my eye on you Christine............

-- Edited by Ma on Thursday 21st of July 2011 12:01:58 AM

Drifters · Veteran Member

Thanks for the warning we intended to stay at free camps as much as possible when we hit the road. (Still selling up and getting our rig) One of the pleasures we are looking forward to is meeting people. I have struck this attitude among social groups where they have a strange attitude that they are better than you. I had a very wealthy uncle (now passed on) that used to dress in work clothes and drive an old ute. People snubbed him too and got a shock when they discovered who he was, he actually liked it that way he said he met real people that way and the snobs avoided him.

You can have more fun meeting real people.

Rip and Rosie · Guru

LOL @ Wombat.

Vic · Guru

Cruising Granny wrote:
If the relationship is strong I'm definitely no threat. Just ask Ma. I've given Blue the eye but he wouldn't have noticed. Only joking.

Might have been a different story if your eyes had looked like a fish......only joking too !

wink biggrin

Sheba, not saying it couldn't happen (bloke being raced off by a bloke) but I have never heard of it happening in RV circles, not to say it couldn't though.

Elswhere, I do know of one bloke I worked with whose wife ran off with another woman, and a really nice looking woman who's husband ran off with another man, so know it can happen. I don't think I am in any danger though, lol wink biggrin

Having done extensive RV travel both as a single and couple the best advice I could give is not to be worried too much about others, like CG says, be pleasant to those around you there are plenty who will respond, those who don't aren't worth your time or pleasure.

Love the story about your neighbours Wombat, poetic justice as they say...... biggrin

-- Edited by Vic on Thursday 21st of July 2011 11:28:20 AM

Joe · Senior Member

People are people and some only feel comfortable when they have their friends or associates around them. It is the reason some people join a club or go to a church (no, I dont want to start a war over that take it the way it was intended), simply so they can generate that feeling of familiar surroundings.

Lots of people with this mindset are those who go to the same holiday place every year to meet the same group of friends. It isnt my way, but it is a valid option they just need those familiar things to enable them to relax.

How do I manage with these cliques? Well, I am cursed with a lack of shyness and I will just add myself (and my wife she usually joins in with me on this sort of ride) into the group and start chatting. If they are monopolising the BBQ I will just ask if I can have a corner please and grab some BBQ real estate and cook.

Most people dont seem to mind and those that do give us the cold shoulder will be treated to a display of hearty enjoyment and left to fester.

Ma · Guru

Think I would have had a lot of problems if Christine's eyes had been fish eyes Vic you know what Blue is like when it comes to his fish.......

Vic · Guru

Ma wrote:
Think I would have had a lot of problems if Christine's eyes had been fish eyes Vic you know what Blue is like when it comes to his fish.......

Glad he makes an exception for you though Ma, fish or no fish.... wink biggrin

Ma · Guru

Now honestly Vic, do you know anyone that could resist these baby greens.....

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Good one Wombat 280 - we found when we had our camper trailer, the "caravan crowd", would hardly speak to you, and the park managers would usually try and put us down the area where tents went - we wanted power for fridge and light - and we willing to pay for it - sometimes I wonder why these people actually go away - always to the same spot, with the same people, they don't sightsee, probably did it years before (if they did it at all!), they may as well be home, really I feel.

Carnarvon WA, was one place we struck it, they advertised there was a bingo game in the rec room, but when I went they "didn't have enough room at the tables" for me - one person sitting at table, all seats "bagged" for the friends.

Anway, that's one reason we got a solar panel - don't have to worry about caravan parks unless we wanted to.

Vic · Guru

Ma wrote:
Now honestly Vic, do you know anyone that could resist these baby greens.....

Baby greens ????.........Red hair to go with it (well maybe a bit of grey thrown in) confuse

Happywanderer · The Master

Jules, the bingo crowd are the same where ever you go. Its the same here in Echuca/Moama. I gave up going a couple of years ago. The regulars would get there an hour early and bags their seats then leave again, leaving just one at each table to mind it. The others would go off to play the pokies till 5 minutes before bingo was to start.
If you sat at their table they put on such an act. It wasn't worth the hassle.

Ma · Guru

Maybe a LOT of grey Vic... smile

jules47 · The Happy Helper

I know Marj - you just wonder why they bother advertising i.t when there is no room for "newcomers".. Oh, welll they missed out on my scintillating company didn't they?

denninelli · Veteran Member

I have been a member of a caravan club for a while. I find that as a single female they are friendly when in the group away, BUT none are friendly otherwise, just a quick hello when you see them around & about. That male / female thing sure exists with talking to the females first. Still it is the safest way to go what we call bush camping - I guess you call free camping which I am too chicken to do on my own. Some of them do the trip north over winter and travel in friendship groups. I find I also love travelling by myself as it can be lonely in a group too. The little dogs are a great conversation piece though when I travel just with them. Some parks people are friendly, others just forget it.

Landfall · Guru

smile Presently we are in Maroochydore Holiday Beach C/P, used to be Sea Breeze C/P.

We initially booked in here for a month, but due to the unfriendly nature of the clique's, we are out of here this weekend.

A pity, the park is well situated, the staff are council employees and therefore do their job.

The problem as I see it, is that the caravanners around us have been coming here for years, no each other and just don't want to be bothered by "strangers." You tr and strike upa conversation with them and the answers come in a sentence of no more than two words. (usually a yes or no)

That's OK with us, each to there own. Don't need the grief, move on.

Looking forward to the next stop, Palm Beach Gold Coast here we come.

Dusty biggrin

Cruising Granny · Guru

Ma wrote:

I'm keeping my eye on you Christine............

-- Edited by Ma on Thursday 21st of July 2011 12:01:58 AM

Which one Elaine? The green one or the blue one?

Cruising Granny · Guru

If these people are so insecure that they can't leave home without all the friends around them, that's their problem.
It's about pecking orders, and without their usual mob they're out of their comfort zones.
Out in the unknown they'd have to redevelop their place in the new social circle, and they may not fit in quite as well.
Strangers may not be as tolerant as those who know them well enough to put up with and ignore their quirks.
My thought is, "Accept me as I am because you won't like me as someone else."
We are free to choose. Caravan park vs free camp. Meeting and socialising vs privacy and seclusion. Chops vs sausages.

blaze · Guru

Cruising Granny wrote:
Chops vs sausages.

CG

problem is I dont mind either, Ill talk to any one if they want to snob me, well who cares. I think the happy hour has been born by groups of vanners turning up at a sight together as a pre arranged group and the myth has been carried by magazine and promotoers. I have been Night manager at this park for about 3 months now and people do gather and solilise in the kitchen but only while preparing and eating and then go their seperate ways (moreso when its cold). I have always found like minded people to sit and have a yarn to in all my years off travel, a lot of those where as a solo in a swag (cant get much lower than that). Be your happy self, smile and give a nod and like minded will come

cheers

blaze

Vic · Guru

Ma wrote:
Maybe a LOT of grey Vic...

Join the club Ma........no black ones left for me now I'm afraid..... confuse

barrie · Guru

We are currently on the Seven Day Adventist site in Broome and the people here are very friendly and the hosts Jim & Lyn are very helpful

Ma · Guru

Where abouts in Broome is that Barrie?

barrie · Guru

It's inbetween Broome and Cable Beach and is the overflow park in the Seventh Day Adventist grounds Ma .

35 bucks a nite with power toilets .showers, water and 7 nite max stay

Ma · Guru

Thanks Barrie, will keep it mind for next year

Cruising Granny · Guru

You access it from Reid Road, off Port Drive in Broome. It's actually an overflow area and a fundraiser for the church.
I've heard nice things from them during the peak season.
It's better than the $55/night I've heard for a site in the former Broome Caravan Park out by the speedway, now called "Frangipani" I think.
Such horrendous rates for a spot and a plug, (if you want power), and access to the amenities.
Travellers should boycott Broome just one season, and they may learn it doesn't pay to rip off the tourists.

Vic · Guru

barrie wrote:
We are currently on the Seven Day Adventist site in Broome and the people here are very friendly and the hosts Jim & Lyn are very helpful

Here's another SDA park near Perth Barrie, from memory last time I checked it was about $30-$35 a night......see;

http://adventpark.adventist.org.au/photo-album

I haven't been there yet, but will before too long. smile

barrie · Guru

Cheers Vic

Vic · Guru

Cruising Granny wrote:
It's better than the $55/night I've heard for a site in the former Broome Caravan Park out by the speedway, now called "Frangipani" I think.
Such horrendous rates for a spot and a plug, (if you want power), and access to the amenities.

I stayed there when it was owned by the council CG, tired as hell and decided to have a "nana nap".....then the loud speakers started," testing, testing 1,2,3.....how does that sound Harry?".........asked the gardener where it was coming from, "oh it's the speedway on the other side of the hedge".......then the Demolition Derby started that night, more loud speakers, dust and fuel fumes coming over the hedge near my site.....just my luck the Derby was on that night..... furious