By Nanci Dixon
Do you know the secret meaning of two plastic pink flamingos and upside-down pineapples? They have been appearing in neighborhoods and RV parks lately. We didn’t know, either, although we have noticed a few dotting campgrounds as we travel. “Aren’t those cute?” I asked.
The true meaning of pink flamingos
We learned the true meaning of pink flamingos from our RV neighbor. He told us of a woman that was working in the office of a popular RV park. She welcomed a couple with a vintage trailer and mentioned that they just needed a couple of pink plastic flamingos outside their RV to complete the look. She was surprised when they acted rather offended, looked at each other, and said, “We don’t do that.”
Confused, she mentioned the incident to a friend. The friend laughed, asking, “Don’t you know what that means?” Nope. She didn’t and we didn’t either.
Invitation
The secret meaning is an invitation to “swing”—meaning to exchange partners and have an open relationship. Who knew? I certainly didn’t!
Our neighbor then mentioned a heavily partying couple in an RV park that had a painting of his wife as a topless mermaid on the front of his coach. It started to sink in when the neighbor saw the pink flamingos waving in the breeze on the man’s golf cart.
But not one to believe everything I hear, even from a fellow RVer, I had to look it up.
Googling “What do two pink flamingos mean?” I came up with LOTS and LOTS of information on swinging, swapping, and plastic pink flamingos and two pineapples. They are popping up in campsites, in front of houses, and even on cruise ships. More information on swinging than I ever, ever need to know.
But, if that tickles your fancy, watch for the pink flamingos or the pineapples, and try not to embarrass yourself (or them) if the couple is ignorant about the secret meaning too!
If you want some flamingos for yourself, you can find them here. And here’s a link to that funny pineapple flag.
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##RVT1114
Can’t it just mean that you like the nostalgia of “pink flamingos?” I have a sister-in-law that decorates her entire home in pink flamingos (including the plastic ones). She, most definitely, is not into swinging! 😆😂😆😂
And sometimes a pink flamingo…..or two, is just a pink flamingo
People keep slapping meanings on everything when you just like the way it looks. Can’t display a flamingo, pineapple or rainbow anymore without people thinking you’re into something you’re not.
Too funny! Makes one think . Recently camped next to a couple that had a yard full of wooden wind animals. We had no idea that could had a hidden message? We just assumed they were selling them.
Well, I hate to disappoint anyone that comes our way. We have a camping sign and flamingos that we put out. It’s just to make the spot cute folks. Nothing more. Unless Margot Robbie stops by, then we’re totally into it.
LOL! She’s super cute, especially as Barbie! wowza!
I don’t know what knucklehead started this rumor, but it’s B.S. We have some flamingos, two larger, two small (which represents the two adults and two kids here), and we do it for the kitch of it. Just like my vintage 1960s plate that says “God Bless Our Camper”. Honestly, some of the junk people make up… smh.
You shouldn’t spread this kind of garbage. I have had pink flamingos outside of my trailer for years. I am a monogamous man that has been married for over 43 years. Not only are we not swingers. Never in the past 3 decades of rving has anyone approached us nor have I heard this before. Absolutely Ludicrous!!!!! Maybe you should be disputing and dispelling this dribble!!!!!! You know why I have the Flamingos? Because I saw them in many old movies. Movies that were made when this Country still had values and morals.
Supposedly the gay community has now adopted flamingos as their symbol in addition to the rainbow. I’m tired of things I enjoy being co-opted by [bleeped] groups.
I have an airstream and pink flamingos are very popular with the airstream crowd. People bring pink flamingos with them and they “flamingo” other airstreamers. It’s done quietly and one tries not to be noticed. It’s just another way to connect with fellow campers, and to say hello to them and give them a smile. There’s even a facebook group for it, where people can post leaving them and finding them. All in good fun.
Never heard that pink flamingos were a swinger signal. I do know an upside down pineapple is a swinger symbol. No, my wife and I are not swingers.
A Crap meaning!
I think the pineapple thing originated in The Villages. Lol.
Nah. They co-opted bath scrubbies.
Pink flamingos
Pink flamingos, pineapples and rainbows are all gifts from God!!!
Just like rainbows I’m tired of stupid groups co-opting things I like. Flamingos also are symbol, supposedly of being gay. I don’t care. Not gay and will have rainbows and flamingos if I feel like it.
Right there with ya. I saw a banner at someone’s campsite a few weeks ago proclaiming: “we’re taking back the rainbow”….family with 3 littles and a puppy…
As a future Airstream owner, flamingos are a common piece of Americana that is displayed by Airstreamers to celebrate the heritage of the Airstream and traveling America.
https://www.airstream.com/blog/things-we-love-pink-flamingo/
Someone told us about the flamingos a couple of years ago. Now every time we see two flamingos outside a rig we laugh. We hope none of those we see are swingers but once you know the story you can’t help but wonder, haha!
If they were Swingers, there would be four flamingos. Just sayin’.
Oh please. Pink plastic flamingos have been around as yard art forever. Whoever told you this is just spreading an urban myth and you’re adding to it because there are lots of gullible people out there who will believe anything they read.
Furthermore, people who own Airstreams frequently gift pink flamingos to each other as a way to say “hi” to their fellow Airstreamers. It’s well-known among the Airstream community and there’s even a Facebook page for it. It’s known as “flocking” or “flamingo’ing” another Airstreamer.
Nanci you are spreading ridiculous urban legends. Jeez, some people need to get a life!
Hi, Bill. I just Googled this out of curiosity. There are many references to flamingos symbolizing a swinging lifestyle. In fact, here’s a quote from RV Lifestyle on April 3, 2023, after some discussion on the topic: “So, yes, flamingoes could mean that swingers are currently residing at that campsite. However, chances are, it’s just happy campers that like the brightly-colored birds.” And this is from Drivin’ & Vibin’ on December 28, 2022: “The less obvious reason campers put flamingos at their campsite is to identify themselves as a part of the swinging lifestyle.” So Nanci is reporting the facts, and educating the non-swinging public, whether you want to believe it or not, and is not spreading an urban legend. Have a good night. 😀 -Diane at RVtravel.com
“Nanci is reporting the facts, and educating the non-swinging public”
Nanci is reporting one person’s/vlogger’s opinion. Did she ask any actual Swingers?
Hi, Parker. If there are several (I didn’t count them) websites that are reporting this as a possible indication of someone’s lifestyle, and those websites are from around the world and from the past several years, I would say that backs up Nanci’s report. So, that’s a possible meaning of the flamingos, but obviously not everyone agrees. In fact, I think that people who just like pink flamingos without any “hidden” agenda are in the vast majority. This is just pointing out the possibility of a different lifestyle, especially if there are upside-down pineapples present. And I like your idea of four flamingos as being more illustrative of a swinging lifestyle. (Whodathunk I’d be defending an article on pink flamingos and alternative lifestyles when I was moderating comments this weekend?!🤣) Have a good night. 🙂 –Diane at RVtravel.com
“possible” /= “fact”
She reported it as a fact.
Again, I ask, did she talk to any actual Swingers? Or did she just report on rumors and conjecture?
Probably not, Parker, but that’s just conjecture on my part. But she heard about it from someone and then, as she wrote in her post: “But not one to believe everything I hear, even from a fellow RVer, I had to look it up. Googling ‘What do two pink flamingos mean?’ I came up with LOTS and LOTS of information on swinging, swapping, and plastic pink flamingos and two pineapples.” So she did research it, as did I. You’re saying unless she asks an actual swinger that question, all of her research on the matter doesn’t count? I’m certainly not going to go around asking people displaying pink flamingos if they’re swingers or not. However, we don’t have very many pink flamingos in yards up here in the Pacific Northwest. Although now if I see them I’ll wonder whassup with those? Have a good night.🦩 (That’s the closest I’m coming to a pink flamingo.) –Diane at RVtravel.com
Nope. Flamingos are an urban myth and are NOT a swinger symbol. Pineapples are generally a symbol of Southern hospitality. #IYKYK
We learned this a couple of years ago in our first year of FT I read a post in one of my RV FB grps..I was reading post comments to my DH as he drove…he kept saying no way. Then I googled it and it was confirmed. We arrived at our camp ground (a casino for 2 nights) when a couple backed in next to us. They dropped the trailer, went to work setting up .
They had patio furniture, bean bag loungers, candles a table with ice maker and a bar of top shelf liquor set up! There was lots of phone button pushing going on the whole time..yes there were pink flamingos…and a new couple there overnight each night. I don’t think it’s urban ledgend!
Thank you, Sandi! Have a good night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Well, birds of a feather. . .
Perhaps so as generally we stay at family rated camp grounds and in 3 years, that was our only “witness” to the pink flamingo “rumor”. Like my mama used to say “you are judged by the company you keep.” Have a great week!
And as Ann Landers observed, “You are also judged by the company you avoid”.
Wow! The 50s and 60s in Florida, I wish I had known, every other house had pink Flamingos in the front yard!! Who knew grandma and grandpa were swingers?? I was always told there was a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I guess that turned out to not be true too. Now I wonder what that RX means out front of pharmacies? I’m crawling back under my rock.
Well this whole conversation made me laugh. Out loud. Very amusing. Whether it is true or not, I’m now not going to display nor never have displayed any flamingos or pineapples.
DW immediately went outside and took her flamingoes down. Lol
The unofficial mascot of Airstreams is a flamingo or two, we even share them! The upside down pineapple, now that’s another matter!
When I see flamingoes I think the owners just want to share a smile, a recognized emblem of fun. To suggest it advertises the owner’s not-so-private behavior is hijacking it beyond it’s intended purpose. So much for the pink flamingo industry.
Ha ha. The “I saw it on the Internet so it must be true” crowd strikes again. Get a life folks. 😂😂
single white female who loves flamingos and is not a swinger just someone who loves the birds. Geeze people get a life.
Research a story about the Villages in the Palm Beach Post.(other stories too) Not just Flamingos and Pineapples, but Loofahs on your golf cart too, each color has a different meaning. Very common knowledge in Florida.
Reading all of this makes me wonder if there is no pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, but a different class of Leprechauns.
Oh dear! We have a pair of vintage flamingos in front of our house, LMAO! Nobody has ever told us this. Flamingos are dear to us. We honeymooned on Bonair, and they have a sanctuary there.
No “dandies” for this cat.
Glad I stuck with koko Pelli and Sasquatch!
Thank you, Nanci! 🙂 Well, I no longer can claim to be totally naive. 😉 Have a great day and safe travels! 🙂