When we acquired our first RV, I expected to travel. I hoped to discover interesting places and enjoy new experiences. What I didn’t expect was to form long-lasting relationships through RVing! Now, after several years of traveling with our RV, I can say that the relationships made while “on the road” are some of the best in my entire life! What’s more, these fellow-RVers (even some we met during our first RVing years) still hold an important place in my heart today.
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Who, me?
As a self-proclaimed introvert, making new friendships while RVing did not even enter my realm of expectations (more on that here). I knew my outgoing husband would make acquaintances no matter where we traveled. Turns out, both of us met and remain friends with many of the people we got to know in campgrounds, project locations, and even an occasional boondocking experience!
Commonalities
I suppose part of the reason RVing relationships form is because RVers have a lot in common.
- RV rigs. Even though we all travel in different styles and models of RVs and may come from vastly different areas of the country, most of us have a lot in common. Just a few of these similarities include important RV “stuff” like white, gray, and black tanks, along with the joy that camping in the great outdoors brings.
- Challenges. Something else RVers have in common is the various challenges we all face, like rough roads, RV malfunctions, bad weather, and other troubles that can happen while traveling. The friendships we’ve made often began because we had a problem with something related to our rig. Many of our RV relationships solidified when other campers generously offered more than their tools and advice—some physically diagnosed and even fixed our RV problems, too!
- Gripes. RVers have similar gripes or pet peeves, as everyone else. While there aren’t many, the things that bug us tend to really rile us up. Take for example bright lights shining all night through our windows, smoke or noises drifting into our RV after hours, or barking dogs that keep on barking and barking and barking and … well, you probably understand.
Mellow fellow RVers
- Age. Many of the long-lasting relationships we’ve made through RVing are with fellow retirees. Being of a certain age means we’ve lived a full life and have learned that people are all pretty much the same when you get right down to it. Money, status, and physical possessions begin to mean less when you’re on the downhill side of life. We no longer feel the need to prove ourselves but are free to be honest—both about our life’s wins as well as losses. This honesty seems to cement friendships much more quickly than those formed earlier in my life.
- The great outdoors. We’ve also enjoyed long-lasting relationships with younger RVers. Somehow, even though they haven’t blown out as many birthday candles, they’re still easygoing. Maybe living in the great outdoors just does that to a person. The sunshine, fresh breezes, and new sights as we travel help everyone relax and act friendlier somehow.
How about you?
Have you formed long-lasting relationships through RVing? Take the poll and then feel free to comment if you like.
##RVT1110
Yes, Me and my heavy truck mechanic. He fixes the RV and I fix his plumbing. Not only that but a great friendship as we are both self employed and think alike.
We lived on our sailboat for 22 years from 1983 to 2005, we still maintain friendship with several folk. We then rv’d full time for 8 years, still maintaining friends from those years. One couple we met in Mexico from Vancouver BC, liked our new digs they bought property a mile from us as a winter place.
Yes, some remotely in fact because many of them are right here on RVTravel, day in and day out. I hope to meet many them in person someday too. You’ll be able to spot me in my CANCELPROOF tee shirt. I carry extras on board for all my new friends. Say hi or go ahead and throw an insult my way if you prefer, we may become friendly over a cold one, just maybe.
We have made many friends not strictly through RVing, but through volunteering in state and national parks where we live in the VIP Village, work together, and sometimes party together.
We have made some very close friends while attending a motorcycle rally in Lake George NY. Of course we and them were there for over 20 years in the same campground. We still communicate often.
We have met many people with whom we got along well, but only one couple have we ever seen again. We regularly correspond with them as well. I send Christmas cards to a few others, but we rarely, if ever, hear from them and we haven’t seen them beyond that initial meeting.
Absolutely! We are fortunate to belong to the Grand Design RV family and through our rallies have met scores of wonderful people. Several years ago we were randomly parked next to a couple who have become dear friends. We now travel extensively with them in and out of our RV’s.
We have met a couple people who we’re still friends but not close friends. There was one couple who lived close by who started attending the church where I was a pastor. When the wife died from cancer, I did her funeral service but he stopped attending there.
In our 4 years of full timing we have made a few long lasting friendships. Usually it only works when we find other full-timers, as weekenders are already busy with friends and family, except for those camping by themselves.
I usually spot nice people when they sit outside and smile at everyone. That is usually a clue they are open to meeting strangers. Also, don’t be afraid to strike a conversation, just imagine them as long lost friends.
So smile away if you want to meet new people and make long-lasting friendships.
We have some very good, lasting friendships cultivated over our 10 years of volunteer camp hosting.
As volunteer Hosts at Oregon State Parks we have established good friendship with 2 other couples and 2 singles. The Park Rangers we have worked with are also top notch folks so we look forward to spending time with on return gigs.
Absolutely! As a Winter Texan (Texas term for what everyone else calls Snowbirds) there is a group of seasonal (and a few full-year) RVers who come back year after year. We keep track of each other throughout the year. A number have met up with our friends in the off-season … or made the sad trip to the RVers hometown upon their death. The ones who make that kind of trip are ambassadors for those who cannot.
We feel fortunate to enjoy long term relationships with couples from several states. Some are still RVing and some are not. We keep in touch with texts and visits.
I have formed long-lasting friendships by hosting boondockers but not as an RV traveler.