Is Socializing a Dying Thing in the RV Community?

[Powertour]

Was excited to get back into RVing in the last year as both the wife & I had done a lot of RVing in past lives going back a # of yrs. One of the things we were looking forward to was getting to meet new people along the way. So far in a 1/2 dozen trips or so back into it, with the exception of 1 trip we've only seen what I would call 'shut-ins'.

Understand not everyone wants to chit-chat with strangers / some might prefer peace & quiet, but it's really been kind of a drag not running into neat / interesting people while camping.

Never thought one would have to join a club in order to have some social interaction out on the road but I'm beginning to wonder if that's just the way it is nowadays....

[philh]

Our first camping trip Six years ago was to a campground where my wife essentially grew up. I heard about the "community" there. Holiday weekend and NOBODY was outside. Couple more camping trips, same thing. We ended up on a fluke at one campground that had a strong sense of community. We loved it so much that we bought a park model there a few months later and sold the TT.
.
We have a new TT, and on our 3 week trip, we've seen a mix. Right now, we're sitting in our TT, I'm playing here, she's dealing with her dad's estate. Watching bowl games 🙂

[irishtom29]

Ahh, never mind.

[CFerguson]

Agree with the trend you noted. But not all is lost- there are still outgoing folks about.

What we do is just smile and say hello to folks walking by the campsite or when we are on our way to the bath house/etc. Sometimes a nice comment on their décor, Rv, dog, or whatever. Sometimes that starts a conversation and those are the folks I want to talk to anyway. The grumps can stay inside and isolated if they want.

[mooky_stinks]

DW and I have been camping for the better part of 30 years and we've discussed this a couple times in the last year or so. We've noticed people are definitely keeping to themselves more over the last 5 years or so. In that time, I could probably count 15+ minute conversations with fellow campers on one hand. Even when you offer help to someone that may be struggling with something. Most of the time you just get a look like you've insulted them. And I promise you, we're just as friendly as we've ever been!:W

[ksg5000]

Things change. When most of us started Rving we didn't have social media and RVing was a way of getting away of from the office/social status. I still find that walking a friendly dog has a way of making friends - young/old and even teenagers will put down there cell phones to pet a nice dog.

[Grit_dog]

I don't think it's changed at all. Been camping since we wuz little kids and I don't recall any more or less random socializing now than then.
Sometimes it happens, sometimes it don't. It typically takes 1 party to be more forward than the other and make introductions, etc.

[Lwiddis]

For the first time in a while I met a crackerjack couple when in Monterey's Veterans Park...Carl and Diane. Nicest people...of course he's is retired military...USAF.

[Second_Chance]

In our experience, it depends a lot on where you're staying. In nature settings (state and national parks, etc.), people are there for recreation and tend to be more relaxed and interactive. We stay in Escapees parks and military campgrounds as much as possible. Both of those are community situations and we find people very friendly and conversational. We have a number of friends we've made in these situations that we've ended up staying in contact with - and even meeting up with - over time.

We are spending a couple of months this winter in a privately-owned park in southern New Mexico. Some of the people in the park are still working and live in RVs because it's convenient or because they have too. Those people generally don't have time or aren't inclined to socialize. Another contingent in the park are the retired snow-birders. They, like us, tend to enjoy talking with each other and we frequently engage with or are engaged by them when we're out and about in the park.

Rob

[Powertour]

azdryheat wrote:
I never have problems finding people to talk to. Maybe it's you, lol

You know the reason I started this thread is b/c I was starting to wonder if it wasn't me (& the Mrs). Never had an issue for years before (neither did she) & judging from a # of the responses here it seems it might not just be me (&/or the Mrs). 😉

Used to be if you were hanging outside with a beer/drink, bbq'ing etc, nearby people would see that as an opportunity to interact some.

[azdryheat]

I never have problems finding people to talk to. Maybe it's you, lol

[ependydad]

bobsallyh wrote:
Now you get either "that deer in the headlight look" or the facial expression of "what the heck are you waving at me for"? It also carries over to being on the road.

This is 100% the opposite of our experience. We wave and almost always get waves back.

I'm not good at talking to strangers so I won't instigate a discussion unless you have something specific that I have questions about.

I'm OK with talking back if someone else talks to me.

[zigzagrv]

Started noticing that'syndrome' about 10 years ago as DW and I were hiking on a well traveled trail in Glacier NP. Most would turn their heads or just look straight ahead as we passed as if we didn't exist. Mentioned it to my wife and she began to pay attention to it. In campgrounds, it became more prevalent since then. We recently spent 10 days in a campground with the same neighbors during that time. The only folks we talked to were the campground owners during that time. Even close encounters with other campers failed to elicit any response other than a quick 'hello' usually followed by a hurried departure. Began to think it was me.........nah! :h

[RandACampin]

Powertour wrote:
Was excited to get back into RVing in the last year as both the wife & I had done a lot of RVing in past lives going back a # of yrs. One of the things we were looking forward to was getting to meet new people along the way. So far in a 1/2 dozen trips or so back into it, with the exception of 1 trip we've only seen what I would call 'shut-ins'.

Understand not everyone wants to chit-chat with strangers / some might prefer peace & quiet, but it's really been kind of a drag not running into neat / interesting people while camping.

Never thought one would have to join a club in order to have some social interaction out on the road but I'm beginning to wonder if that's just the way it is nowadays....

Maybe they don't want to be bothered by people trying to chat them up.

[opnspaces]

I don't think the resistance to socializing is isolated to just RV'ng. On my entire block where I live only two other people besides me are ever out and talking. Everybody else just parks and goes straight indoors.

I'm a social person and like to talk to strangers. But many times people, even when outside the camper really don't want to talk.

So if I see you outside I might say hi as I walk by. If I see you again then I might stop at the road and say a few words to gauge if you really want to talk.

Here's something you can try when camping. Instead of just sitting at the table or in a chair by the RV, move your chair closer to the road. I'll bet that gets you more people stopping to talk. To me that seems to be a universal indicator that you are willing to talk.

[Powertour]

Cloud Dancer wrote:
Social media, as in internet forums,....or join Escapees BOF or Family Motor Coach Association. There's plenty of events there, where you meet real people.
Today is the last day of the year, time's a'wasten...

Ya know I've looked into those but it seems to me like these are way more useful for retired / full-timers rather than for weekend warriors like the wife & I am.