After reading the forums for a while now I see there are many RV folks who like to "get away from it all" in the woods, and distance themselves from the hustle and bustle of people and all the commotion it brings.On the other hand, there are RV folks who like commercial campgrounds with the concrete pads and the 'campground' atmosphere and all that it brings.For years we got away from it all - literally - by backcountry backpacking. We would hike in the mountains or woods for hours (or days) and set up camp along the way. Often not seeing a soul at all.However, now that our DD is 10 we actually prefer the crazyness of the campground. Kids on bikes, watergun fights, barking dogs, the ice cream man driving through, people walking up and down chatting and sharing an adult beverage or two.Since DD is an only child it affords her the ability to make campground friends about 3 minutes after getting out of the truck.That's what we need right now.What does everyone else prefer and why?

Are those the only two choices? Seems rather constrictive for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people to be limited to two choices.

The fewer the neighbors the better is my preference. I don't mind returning a wave, or a good morning to my neighbors, but I'm not that interested in small talk.I don't mind a sparse NFS campground, where the sites are huge and there's only a few dozen. State parks with larger sites are OK, as long as it's off season. Peak season, no thanks.I've never had a bad experience at a commercial campground but in the four years I've been in this hobby, I've only stayed at three. Two in Alaska and one in New Mexico.

I prefer solitude. I get the ice cream trucks, dogs barking, kids playing, etc., enough at home.I can be social, but it exhausts me. I use the solitude to recharge. Once I retire, I may find the socializing more appealing, but for now "take me away calgon".

fj12ryder wrote:Are those the only two choices? Seems rather constrictive for hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people to be limited to two choices.From reading here that's the gist of what I gathered. Perhaps I am wrong. Yes, there are travelers and sightseers that hit the campgrounds and stick to themselves if that's what you're referring to.Do you dislike both choices?Why don't you just add your opinion of what you ACTUALLY prefer so we don't have to guess.

Enjoy conversation with folks from different ares, and lifestyles, provided......it’s at a remote area boondocking. Campgrounds are the occasional....”necessary evil”! If it’s remote enough....we generally only have each other to talk to each other and the dogs. :)

Do you prefer to "CampOUT" or "Socialize" | Good Sam Community

winnietrey
Explorer
Mar 18, 2018
toedtoes wrote:
I'm not really sold on the personality types - they come across more like astrology in that you can find some identified traits in any category that fit, but no category fits everything.

I don't remember where I heard it, but there is a definition of intovert that says you are introverted if you recharge by getting away from people and you are extroverted if you recharge by being around people. All the other concepts of introvert and extrovert; like not being the center of attention, being the life of the party, etc.; don't really have anything to do with it. It's simply how you recharge. I think that makes more sense than all the personality types that try to categorize the basic range of human behaviors into finite types.

It's an interesting subject though.

Your post is true, I am an introvert in the people business, and have been in the people biz, for ever and ever. Although, it is part, of what I do to listen to peoples stories, there are times, I would like to set my hair on fire, and run off into the hills.

As I mentioned in a earlier post, for the GD we go to places like KOA's, but I rarely talk to anyone, and never more than I have to.

Some may think I am unfriendly, and an old grump. Truth is sometimes I just can not stand to listen to another story. And just need my alone time.

They say introverts need 2 hours, for every 1 hour they spend in a social situation, to recharge. That is certainly the case with me.
BizmarksMom
Explorer
Mar 18, 2018
I vastly prefer quiet, remote camping. If I'm at an established campground, It's up a dirt road and has good screening between sites. Even the big annual Thanksgiving campout / potluck is boondocking in the desert with family and friends who are close enough to be considered family.

I never have understood the appeal of the commercial RV campgrounds I've been in. They're handy for an overnight stop to water up and service the tanks, but I don't see the appeal of parking right next door to the next rig.
Trekkar
Explorer
Mar 18, 2018
The reason you're at a certain location sometimes affects how much you interact with fellow campers. Staying at a festival or similar gathering sometimes makes it easy to "hit it off" with folks that share your interests. However, we usually prefer quieter areas for just "getting away".
toedtoes
Explorer III
Mar 18, 2018
I'm not really sold on the personality types - they come across more like astrology in that you can find some identified traits in any category that fit, but no category fits everything.

I don't remember where I heard it, but there is a definition of intovert that says you are introverted if you recharge by getting away from people and you are extroverted if you recharge by being around people. All the other concepts of introvert and extrovert; like not being the center of attention, being the life of the party, etc.; don't really have anything to do with it. It's simply how you recharge. I think that makes more sense than all the personality types that try to categorize the basic range of human behaviors into finite types.

It's an interesting subject though.
pnichols
Explorer II
Mar 18, 2018
For what it's worth, here's the four main personality types: http://fourtemperaments.com/4-primary-temperaments/

We're all probably some combination of the four. It's those folks that are predominately the second one down - Sanguine - that like to socialize.

The world needs all four types, but both myself and the DW don't prefer to camp around Sanguines too much. ;)
toedtoes
Explorer III
Mar 18, 2018
If I want to socialize, I'll camp with friends. Growing up, our camping included friends. Either we brought a friend with us or we met friends/cousins at the campground. I don't think we ever socialized with campers we didn't know and hadn't arranged the trip with. We certainly never joined a stranger's campfire. We might say hello as we passed folks, but that was it.

As an adult, I behave the same way.

I don't think it's as much about being social as it is how you internally charge your energy. I'm not a loner or anti-social, I just need to break up my social time with alone time to recharge. Even if someone is quietly doing their own thing in the same room as me, it drains my energy after a while. I need to be people-free for a while.

Others need to have someone around to recharge. Their energy is drained when they are alone. Doesn't mean they are more social than I am, just that their energy builds off other people being around.
Fizz
Explorer
Mar 18, 2018
brianosaur wrote:
Fizz wrote:
People who like to "Socialize" are people who like to talk, yak, yak, yak.
Eventually get around to their second cousins hernia operation.
You can argue this out and you probably will, being a social person.

That's like saying people who don't like to "socialize" are creepy weird hermit loners who's anti-social behavior makes it impossible for them to carry on a normal adult conversation in polite society. Pretty much Uni-bomber types.

Yeah, neither statement is sensible or realistic.

So.
When did your second cousin get his hernia operation?
bigorange
Explorer
Mar 18, 2018
We enjoy both...depending on the situation. Not really a fan of really tight campgrounds though...a little space is nice, but don’t have to be all alone to enjoy it.
westend
Explorer
Mar 18, 2018
I like to find secluded areas that aren't on other folks radar. I have a fair bit of tent camping in my blood so I'd rather park in the woods rather than a parking lot. The socializing is what you make it. I've had a great time with all sorts of folks around the campfire.
brianosaur
Explorer
Mar 18, 2018
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