[A/S] WBBCI - a Caravanning Club!

["Richard McFarland" <estatewagons@xxxxxxx>]

Jerry - you offer some very good points regarding Caravanning

I am not a WBCCI member yet as I've yet to find the Airstream I want.

In the meantime I find it very interesting to read along with all the input.

I started following the Airstream phenomenon back in the early 1960's - as a
kid sitting in study hall reading back issues of The National Geographic.

It obviously makes sense that the folks who set out on a real long haul
caravan - generally exhibit a better approach to "group dynamics".  They
know they need to work together more or less.

It would seem to me that more of the negative comments we read center around
Airstream owners in RV Parks and at Conventions.

One of the most common tales we read about is the "crabby comments" and
"crabby looks" people have gotten from Airstream owners.  Quite often the
"crabby people" tend to be portrayed as long time owners....looking down
their noses at younger owners or newer members to the Club...along with
"crabby people" who take great comfort in being "old timers"...and making of
a point of their seniority.  It's a necessary social situation for many
people.  They grew up with the concept that a person works hard - then
retires....(and enjoys being crabby)....

Sadly...there are some unfortunate and overlooked details that go along with
that thinking.

All too often people discover (too late)  that working hard and "then"
retiring...well...it just does not always work out.

Sadly time and health and fate step in and mess up good intentions.

You mention that Caravans are sometimes thought of as being too expensive.

I spent my professional life working as a tour director - operating tours
that were considered very expensive by most people.

Funny thing is....if you broke down the costs of our tours...assuming a
person wanted to do everything that we included...our tours were pretty
amazing for what they included for one price.  I often pointed out that it
appeared to me that a lot of people who tried to travel "economically" on a
route similar to one of ours....and attempted to pay for everything
separately...and "do their own thing"...often ended up going home with more
money charged on their credit cards....than what it cost to take one of our
all inclusive tours.  (assuming a person was willing to take a "group" tour)

One time I was leading a fall foliage tour in New England...and a family
pulled up behind my motorcoach at a view point and asked where we were
staying that night...as they had been unable to find any hotel space...I
think they figured that if they followed me...they'd find something...(late
September in New England without a reservation...good luck!)

Then there were the times we'd pull into a picture stop/view point....and
there would be a family with a map spread out over the hood of their
car....and they'd be arguing....naturally they were lost.

So...it takes all types to come up with individual patterns for travel....!

But...yes....I would suggest that "if" someone is willing to travel with a
group (a well organized group) - that it would typically save them money in
the long run!

It sounds to me that the WBBCI should take note of your well made point -
"it's all about the Caravanning"....

As for those "crabby people"...well...sadly....they were probably crabby to
begin with...and now it's too late for them to change.

Here is a solution....how about a "crabby" division of the WBBCI!  Complete
with "Reserved Crabby Parking"....!  (RCP)

Take it a step further...and there would be the "Keeping Up With The Crabby
People - Division".  (KUWTCPD)

Getting back to the "retiring to travel - caravan concept".

That concept has changed quite a bit culturally....more people today work
different schedules and more people have disposable incomes at earlier ages
and on and on.

(there are probably a lot of older seniors out there...who are "ticked off"
that the culture has changed around them...while they worked long and hard
to retire "by the book"...they are having to travel with a lot of younger
people who have run their lives to the tune of a different drummer) (maybe
that is why some people are so crabby?)

Has anyone suggested to the WBBCI to rethink the design of some Caravans -
to allow for this.  Maybe they already have?

It sort of fits the old concept of "if you build it they will come"...well
maybe if more Caravans were designed to allow for this....they might take
off.

Group travel takes a lot of ribbing (remember "If It's Tuesday This Must Be
Belgium...")...but believe me....when people do decide to travel with a
group - a group that is run like a Swiss watch - they often stop joking
about it and become believers.  In our crazy world of everyone doing their
own thing..(inefficiently)...I have found that there is a lot of respect to
be found from people who really appreciate what it takes to organize a
group...to lead a group diplomatically...and to assist in keeping that group
harmonious...(or at least relatively harmonious...)

Over the years I worked with way too many people who had (sadly) worked too
hard...and waited too long to travel.  They ended up with time and
money...but failing health.

So - as many of us have come to realize...it's important to enjoy a little
of everything along the way whenever possible!

I look forward to someday observing the WBBCI first hand...and in the
meantime...let's hope that the "Crabby Appleton's" sweeten up a little.

RL