Old grumpy guy

[Oasisbob]

I realize folks camp for a variety of reasons. Mine are simply to get out and enjoy the great outdoors spending quality time with my family making some good memories.
My tolerance seems to be about gone for people who have outside speakers and feel the need to share their music with the whole camp ground. Or the folks who get drunk & loud after quiet time and just don't care about anyone else. It is turning me into an old grumpy guy. Is this part of gettin older or what? I almost feel it is better to put the camper away in the summer and camp exclusively in the winter. Boondocking might be the solution but our mini van is not much on off road adventures and the spost we have done this are usually trashed so we have to clean up on arrival. Anyone else feel this way or am I just gettin old?

[Moderator]

Oldcat1, excellent example of manners. And they do, at least should, apply in all campgrounds. Some don't necessarily agree but at rv.net we believe in that philosophy. Unfortunately some have been trying to make the topic a personal argument and it just isn't going to happen. So, let's all at least provide a good example and put our good manners forth and enjoy camping. 🙂

[oldcat1]

My wife and I are in our mid 60's and can be a bit "grumpy" with loud and inconsiderate people.

We were at the Farmers Market yesterday. There was a young father there with his two kids - boy about 10 and daughter maybe 8. We we're looking at the produce and joking around. I asked the boy if he liked the turnips, his reply was "no sir I don't". My wife had asked the girl if she liked strawberries and she replied "Oh yes ma'am"! When was the last time you heard heard a kid say "sir" or "ma'am"? Where did that go?

I wanted to give the father a hug! Instead I asked him if we could buy the kids a shave ice. We enjoyed our treats and made some new friends. Maybe there is still hope.

[RayUSMC]

2gypsies wrote:

RayUSMC wrote:

It's about courtesy and manners. You don't have loud music and drunken shouts after quiet time as the OP said.

You don't have loud music and drunken shouts at ANY time. That kind of noise should not be carried off your campsite. Walk around and test it. Why should your neighbors have to listen to YOUR music? YOUR profanity?

You're misreading my post. We don't do that. Read my full post again as a reply to the quoted person.

[time2roll]

As bad as it is try to enjoy these days. It is all you have.

[2gypsies1]

RayUSMC wrote:

It's about courtesy and manners. You don't have loud music and drunken shouts after quiet time as the OP said.

You don't have loud music and drunken shouts at ANY time. That kind of noise should not be carried off your campsite. Walk around and test it. Why should your neighbors have to listen to YOUR music? YOUR profanity?

[RayUSMC]

gbopp wrote:
Yesterday I commented on a post about people being rude by taking their time at dump site when others were waiting in line.
I called it the 'all about me syndrome.'

Another member replied that the 'hot heads' who get frustrated while people wash their RV's, etc. and hold up the line also suffer from
the 'all about me syndrome.'

Apparently, if we don't like the actions of others, we either put up with it or leave the CG.

I guess we all want it our way or, want everyone to follow common sense rules.

Others don't see it that way.

Are we all wrong?? Just saying. 🙂

It's about courtesy and manners. You don't have loud music and drunken shouts after quiet time as the OP said. You don't let your kids run through other people's campsites, you teach them courtesy and respect for the space others occupy. We have 2 kids: they were both taught courtesy from a young age and we always kept them under our supervision. These are simple courtesies of behavior and everyone is expected to abide by them to make vacays a pleasant experience for all.

[2oldman]

noplace2 wrote:
2) We are parked under 5 poplars and 2 oaks. They release enough daily sap to ...well, you get the idea. The shade and the beauty more than counterbalance it all.

That I will not do. Trees are very dirty creatures.

One thing I'll look for to avoid noise is being on the gas-water-heater side of another RV. Incredible how loud those are at 3am, and of course the owner sleeps like a rock and can't hear a thing and leaves it on all night.

[pnichols]

Since the U.S. population is aging so fast, maybe it's time for a lot more campgrounds to switch over to "over 55 only" campgrounds? I'd pay more for campgrounds like that for the DW and myself. We'd use the remaining campgrounds for when we have the grandkids along.

Myself and my kind of friends did not "act the way" the OP describes when young, either. Decency toward others should have no age range ... in fact it should be taught to, and modeled for, children right from the get-go.

[noplace2]

restlesswind wrote:
noplace2...So, where is "HERE"?
Several hundred of us would like to join you in that place called "HERE" !

And that's PREZACTLY why I ain't givin' it up! :B

[restlesswind]

noplace2...So, where is "HERE"?
Several hundred of us would like to join you in that place called "HERE" !

[southernsky]

I know not all can do it but that's why we camp during the week. All the weekend warriors are at work.

[noplace2]

2oldman wrote:

noplace2 wrote:
We have to spend some time seeking out places where there aren't kids, drunks, excessive noise/lighting etc., but they are out here and we are happy being in them. The search is time well spent.

Yep. Quiet is becoming a rare commodity.

Not as rare as one might think. Takes looking in the right places as I'm sure you are aware. But for those that aren't and are truly looking for peace and quiet without bells and whistles, I offer the following simple advice:

Do area searches for small, privately owned campgrounds. Refine that search to include/disclude your priorities. This initial search will frequently lead you to something suitable but more frequently lead to a local entity that might be even more useful. We found our current digs this way.

We started by selecting a relatively broad area. In our case it was the mountains of NC and followed that with the search parameters: "small privately owned campgrounds". After that we had to redefine "small" to mean less than 30 RV sites. We then zoomed in on weather, locale and amenities. We had literally dozens of hits. It's amazing the number of places that cater to people who just want to be left alone in peace and quiet! But of course, anyone can have a website. We went then to local venues and asked about what was available in this particular area. That's how we got here.

HERE is one of the best places we've been in 14 years of fulltiming. Check it out: 22 very widely spaced FHU RV sites, 20 of them seasonal from 4/1 through 10/31. 50A at each, 90 channel cable and good WiFi included for the princely sum of $270/mo plus metered electric.

To be sure, there are no kids, no pool, only about one "activity" a month and not a single person uses outside lights or sound. We are all friendly, but with no need or desire for "social" affectations. We like it so much that for the first time in our venture, we're likely to stay here for the summer.

We're at 2,000' amidst heavy woods which engender comment re: 2 drawbacks: 1) The myriad birds get up REALLY early- 0600 and they are really loud. OK, OK, we have 3 feeders out! Hummingbirds don't really drink that much and the doves (including an albino) are adorable. But I digress.

2) We are parked under 5 poplars and 2 oaks. They release enough daily sap to ...well, you get the idea. The shade and the beauty more than counterbalance it all.

We've been asked many times throughout our journey these many years about how we spend our time. We've never needed an activities director. We walk these gorgeous mountains 15 miles/week. We slopped into a free gym with thousands of dollars of equipment just 3 miles from here, and between us, we read, either physically or electronically, about 5 books/week. I love to cook, we eat very well. Am I missing something not to like? 🙂

[ddndoug]

In my opinion it's all about a lack of respect for others.

We are at Yellowstone right now, and yesterday my wife commented the "did you see the little kids throwing stuff in the pools?" I missed it because I was taking pictures, but I wish I would have seen it because I would have absolutely said something to the mother that was paying no attention to her children as she sat on her a55 with her back to them. How in the world do you allow your children to destroy or deface something that God and nature took thousands of years to create???

And yes, I am that guy!

Doug

[MaverickBBD]

Sort of like the old joke: I broke my ribs in six places. Well stay out of them places.