Campground protocol - RV-Dreams Community Forum

cherylbrv · RV-Dreams Family Member

Campground protocol

SnowGypsy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Having stayed long term and just overnights, I can tell you my thoughts. What I have found is that most will give "signals". Different types: 1. They ignore you - keep walking 2. They look at you, feel it out and if they look interesting say "Hello" (some people give you a look that says, "Keep moving.") 3. If the person seems friendly after you say "Hello" and you'd like to talk, mention something about their dog, rig or the weather and see where it goes. If they answer in one word each time like they are trying to end the conversation..... So, RV park is like just about everywhere else when it comes to socializing. I have found over the years that a lot of people have become more reserved with strangers across the board. I would be careful about giving a lot of personal information to anyone unless I was staying longer term in an area with more familiar people. I always walk our dogs so always end up picking up other walkers with and without dogs. I am endlessly fascinated by others and their stories of travel so I'm out their scouting for "input"!

GENECOP · RV-Dreams Family Member

I never just stroll into someone's campsite....and I don't expect people to stroll into ours....if someone passes by and has reasonably people skills and common sense they can tell how open(private) someone is or not...If I am feeling private as I often do, I will avoid making eye contact as some people seem to think if you look at them it must mean you should have a campfire and roast marshmallows together...If I see someone who interests me and we make eye contact I will say hello, sometimes approach the site without fully entering and strike up a conversation...if things start to flow and a good connection is made I will move in closer ....Even though this sounds calculated the process is actually very natural and easy....This is a general practice while walking around the CG......usually i will make a point of saying hello to the person directly next to us...We have met some very nice people while camping, we have also met a few annoying intrusive people, you never want to become one of them....

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

Cheryl, don't tell me you don't already know the secret RVer "handshake".

Brian

MPMomof3 · RV-Dreams Family Member

cherylbrv wrote:
Ok, kind of a dumb question from someone who has only had tent camping experience some 30 odd years ago....
Being the social creature that I am, is it appropriate to strike up a conversation with anyone I see sitting outside their RVs? Or is the polite thing to do just to wave, or say hello with a nod of the head and continue walking unless they invite me to stay? Do most folks prefer to be left alone at their sites, or do they like company?

I agree with SnowGypsy's advice.

TRAILERKING · RV-Dreams Family Member

GENECOP wrote:
I never just stroll into someone's campsite....and I don't expect people to stroll into ours....if someone passes by and has reasonably people skills and common sense they can tell how open(private) someone is or not...If I am feeling private as I often do, I will avoid making eye contact as some people seem to think if you look at them it must mean you should have a campfire and roast marshmallows together...If I see someone who interests me and we make eye contact I will say hello, sometimes approach the site without fully entering and strike up a conversation...if things start to flow and a good connection is made I will move in closer ....Even though this sounds calculated the process is actually very natural and easy....This is a general practice while walking around the CG......usually i will make a point of saying hello to the person directly next to us...We have met some very nice people while camping, we have also met a few annoying intrusive people, you never want to become one of them....

X2......................Much the same. Also may compliment their rig or something. I've been invited to sit down and visit at peoples campsites. Even though not intending to do that, start chatting and time flies. Just got to feel it out. Every situation is different.

SnowGypsy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Annoying, intrusive people? I think this is more an issue when you are staying longer term or that is how we experienced it. I would define them as those people who spot you, even from a distance, and pin you down 9 times out of the 10 that they see you. Although I understand that many are lonely or have nothing to do with their time, sometimes you end up looking out every window to see if they are anywhere in the vicinity. I know that sounds bad but for me, I sometimes have so much to get done and subtle hints go unheeded by such people. You're wondering if YOU are one. If you are wondering this, you aren't one for sure because they would never recognize themselves as such. Also, you can come across people having a bad day, either work, health issue, etc. and they just aren't up to conversation that day but maybe tomorrow might be a different story. Also, some people are just shy and perceived as "unfriendly".

-- Edited by SnowGypsy on Tuesday 26th of August 2014 12:39:41 PM

cejones4210 · RV-Dreams Family Member

GENECOP wrote:
I never just stroll into someone's campsite....and I don't expect people to stroll into ours....if someone passes by and has reasonably people skills and common sense they can tell how open(private) someone is or not...If I am feeling private as I often do, I will avoid making eye contact as some people seem to think if you look at them it must mean you should have a campfire and roast marshmallows together...If I see someone who interests me and we make eye contact I will say hello, sometimes approach the site without fully entering and strike up a conversation...if things start to flow and a good connection is made I will move in closer ....Even though this sounds calculated the process is actually very natural and easy....This is a general practice while walking around the CG......usually i will make a point of saying hello to the person directly next to us...We have met some very nice people while camping, we have also met a few annoying intrusive people, you never want to become one of them....

After staying in the same two campgrounds for 4 months, I totally agree with Genecop. We have always had wonderful experiences in our pre-retirement days camping, but maybe I am just getting old, but there are some really obnoxious and rude people in campgrounds anymore. Some people have no respect for your "space" and I could go on and on about rude behaviors. I will smile and say hi to everyone I meet while walking the dogs, but will not stop unless they make comments or ask a question that requires me to stop. Even then I will not walk onto their site unless specifically asked. I would hope that others would extend the same courtesy.

My biggest irritation is people that think when they take their children to the campground the kids can go anywhere at anytime!!! URG!!!! And no manners!!!

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

We were in Compton Ridge Campground in Branson over the weekend. We chose the older section because of the shade (100 degrees every day here) and only saw one other person in our part of the park the whole time. He had a ladder out and was obviously working on his trailer, and we were headed out in the car to visit relatives. There was one couple who is also in RVillage that we met.

RickandJanice · RV-Dreams Family Member

I agree with SnowGypsy's advice. We handle thins almost exactly the same ways.

cherylbrv · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks for the advice. I know it is mostly just common sense. It's been very empty here so far and I've only passed folks walking and a simple "hello" has sufficed. My next door neighbor pulled arrived in his truck and I just said "hello neighbor" and he said hello and went inside. So the protocol (and what, at least to me, is very natural) is to just get a read on people first. I don't think I need to worry that people will think I'm rude if I don't stop and socialize; quite the opposite I'm sure. But like Cathy, I also want to hear people's stories and get to meet interesting folks.