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We're just buying our first ever van and I've been really surprised by the responses from friends and family (none of whom have caravans).

A couple have been very positive but I can't believe how many seem actively horrified at the prospect - we've had a couple of people who looked at us blankly and then carried on talking about a different subject, never mentioning it again.

I just can't understand it - does caravanning have such a negative image? When we started camping last year, we got several 'oh, I could never do that' type responses but we're not even getting that from some people now. I feel like we've done something socially unacceptable which cannot be discussed - it's weird!

It's so bad that we've actually decided to not tell anyone else unless they specifically ask (some have noticed the new car, so we have to explain then). It's a real shame because we're really excited and want to tell people but no-one seems at all interested...they asked more questions when we first got the tent !

Anyone else experience this?

over one million caravanners cannot be wrong-go for it.we did and love it.

There are campers, and there are non-campers. The non-campers will just never get it - don't even bother trying to explain.

But in the way that some people think about camping, I think the same way about other hobbies. Potholing, for instance. Why do some people find it enjoyable to get filthy, cold and wet in a cramped little space where the only light comes from a tiny little torch? And potholing's even worse!

I keep my caravanning "secret" unless I know the person I'm talking to is at least interested. Fortunately, out of my four closest co-workers, three are campers and one used to own a canal boat, so understands the principle.

Defo the green eyed monster, people will always take the micky, but mainly cos they dont have a holiday home on wheels/extra bedroom/chill out palace.  Take nonotice and enjoy your caravan.

Shirley x

I would be one of them.Wouldn't be at least envious of you at all. Might say it looked nice and you enjoy the new found enjoyment and have many happy days in it.It  would be just another caravan to me.  If you had a new motorbike, well that would be certainly different.

WG

Quote: Originally posted by WilliamGeorge on 23/9/2009

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I would be one of them.Wouldn't be at least envious of you at all. Might say it looked nice and you enjoy the new found enjoyment and have many happy days in it.It  would be just another caravan to me.  If you had a new motorbike, well that would be certainly different.

WG

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I don't want them to be envious, I want them to be vaguely interested. If they told me they were buying, for example, a speedboat, I would be interested in asking all about it, even though I have absolutely no desire to own a speedboat and know nothing about them.

...and unfortunately, I can't now afford to change my motorbike...(Suzuki V-Strom, 55k miles in 3.5 years, probably worth about 10p now)  

ya mixing with the wrong folk

zinnia

I reckon it's a mix of envy and ignorance, they picture us driving at 15 mph everywhere then sitting in a cold, damp, rusty box when in fact our van is probably nicer than the house, lol, and its only since we've been towing that we've realised how many non-towers sit at 45-50mph on the motorway.

My hubby gets the p*** taken out of him at work for it and just says "how many holidays have YOU had this year??" We've only been at home 3 weekends since Easter, it beats sitting at home or trawling round the supermarkets on a weekend.

Quote: Originally posted by nelmo on 23/9/2009

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Quote: Originally posted by WilliamGeorge on 23/9/2009

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I would be one of them.Wouldn't be at least envious of you at all. Might say it looked nice and you enjoy the new found enjoyment and have many happy days in it.It  would be just another caravan to me.  If you had a new motorbike, well that would be certainly different.

WG

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I don't want them to be envious, I want them to be vaguely interested. If they told me they were buying, for example, a speedboat, I would be interested in asking all about it, even though I have absolutely no desire to own a speedboat and know nothing about them.

...and unfortunately, I can't now afford to change my motorbike...(Suzuki V-Strom, 55k miles in 3.5 years, probably worth about 10p now) <IMG alt=17 src="https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/forum_images/smiley2.gif" align=absMiddle> 

 

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Quote: Originally posted by nelmo on 23/9/2009

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Quote: Originally posted by WilliamGeorge on 23/9/2009

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I would be one of them.Wouldn't be at least envious of you at all. Might say it looked nice and you enjoy the new found enjoyment and have many happy days in it.It  would be just another caravan to me.  If you had a new motorbike, well that would be certainly different.

WG

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I don't want them to be envious, I want them to be vaguely interested. If they told me they were buying, for example, a speedboat, I would be interested in asking all about it, even though I have absolutely no desire to own a speedboat and know nothing about them.

...and unfortunately, I can't now afford to change my motorbike...(Suzuki V-Strom, 55k miles in 3.5 years, probably worth about 10p now)  

 

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I understand what you are saying and waht I'm trying to say is I  one caravan to me is the same as the other. If a neighbour bought one of  course I would look at but with out the enthusiam they would have.

In away my clumbsy answer explains probably how some others see it.

WG