By Gail Marsh
What would you do? A conversation erupted in a Reddit group recently. An RV boondocker posted this:
“Thousands of acres to camp in. Why do they have to camp right next to us? They came over and introduced the whole family. It was hard to be rude and ask them to move … They had a bunch of outdoor lights on … They ran the generator all night. It’s still on this morning … We are packing up and moving.”
Boondocking opposites
Reddit members quickly chimed in. Sentiments from fellow boondockers were split. Some respondents admitted to doing the same thing as the offending camper. “I’m a ‘fraidy cat. I want to know that someone is nearby if we need help,” a newbie boondocker confessed.
Other RVers clearly opposed such behavior. One RVer freely acknowledged, “I boondock because I want to be away from other campers; I don’t want to hear their noise, see their RV, or befriend them. I crave peace and solitude. I want to enjoy nature without human interaction.”
Comparisons
Many folks who joined Reddit’s discussion compared the “intruding boondocker” to the following situations.
• “It’s like sitting in an almost-empty movie theater and someone decides to sit directly in front of you—or right beside you. Ugh!”
• “This incident is exactly like church. Many seats are available, yet they choose the seat right next to you.”
Why it happens
A few Reddit users opined that some people are just hardwired to interact with others—no matter the circumstances. They are social butterflies who crave human interaction.
Others, like many boondockers, simply enjoy solitude. One Reddit commenter said, “There is something magical about solitude. We spend most of our lives in a hive-like existence… The presence of another human being may feel very reassuring to you, but it can feel very disruptive to somebody trying to find that emotional silence.”
Psychology Today has an interesting article about this topic if you want to learn more.
What should a boondocker do?
Put yourself in the original boondocker’s place. Would you try to explain your need for solitude and encourage the other RVers to move along? Perhaps you’d try to school them on proper camping behavior (no lights or generator at night)? Or would you just pack up and leave?
What would you advise the original boondocker to do? Tell us and explain your reasoning in the comments that follow.
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RVT1249
In my opinion, the same “rules” of etiquette should apply when boondocking within hearing or seeing distances of other boondockers as in a campground.
I would pack up and leave and move to some other spot.
I find myself going deeper and deeper into the outback (harder on my small rv but worth it) in order to be able to commune with nature. As a retired biologist, I love to see native wildlife in their habitat. If I want human interaction, I will stay in a campground or park closer to the highway.
Lighting up an area with dark night skies is sad but generators are the worst. Go solar folks, done right you won’t regret it.
I’ve never “boondocked” but after watching a number of YouTube videos of people who do, I’d like to give it a go. However, we camp in state parks where the campsites have enough space between sites, which suits me just fine. What I absolutely refuse to do is camp in an RV cg where the sites are so close we can hear our neighbors talking, snoring, etc inside their campers. Why those who like those types of campgrounds would be interested in boondocking is beyond me. Find your sweet spot and camp there- it’s really not that difficult. All that said, respect others privacy and property. It’s not that hard
I move away.
I spent 3 years of my professional career working on outdoor projects entirely alone. I loved it: my own boss on my own schedule in both suburban and rural locations up and down the Front Range of the Rockies. When we boondock, I enjoy not having any other RVs or tents in sight. If someone set up camp right next to me and ran a generator all night, I would be gone 15 minues after breakfast. I consider that in the same category as staying in a USFS dry campground where an RVer sets up in the next site, builds a giant campfire, and invites several friends over to drink beer and talk and laugh loudly until the wee hours of the morning. No consideration for anyone but themselves!
Before they got parked where they wanted. I would introduce myself and politely suggest that there is a really nice spot about a half mile down that road if you want to have peace and quiet. If they don’t take the hint, then the next morning I will be gone.
This. Speak up before they get set up, be polite but direct.
We had a spot out in Nevada, neighbors about 200-300 yards away. A woman in a van came along and parked about 30 feet away. I walked over and asked her if she was staying or just passing through. She said staying, and I suggested some spots a bit further away from us. She asked “is this too close?” and I said yeah, a bit. She got instantly angry, furiously gunned her van out of the area in a cloud of dust.
This, and a handful of other experiences, have convinced me that interaction is risky. Generally, we just move.
BUT… (there’s always a But) we have met some grand people in our travels, one or two long-term friends, who have camped “too close”. You never can tell.
I try to boondock away from others, but on the rare occasions I arrived late or was not finding a spot with a lot of separation, I always ask the nearby occupant if it is okay with them if I stay the night nearby. I completely blackout my rig and make as little noise as possible (no A/C unless I asked). I’m intruding on their space and want to be a good neighbor.
I wish that was the norm. It hasn’t been, so I’ve checked the next morning if my noisy new neighbors are staying and, if they are, I pack up and find a new spot.
I wonder what you think of this … With as crowded as things are nowadays, if there is a unique and obvious camp spot, it’s fair game to a large degree. Countless times I arrive early in the week and leave room, only to see the better site that is closer to existing neighbor taken by the weekend. If you truly are in an uncrowded area, then explore and get some distance. This from a very quiet solo camper who doesn’t use a generator.
Designated dispersed, all fair game.
When I was younger I would properly think like many commenters. Now being older and live where I am now for eleven years. I understand why people like being close differently. I found one guy laying in his driveway still in a coma. A month and a 1/2. I found a guy sitting his side walk liked like he was dean in the winter. He fell in his driveway and could get up. No telling how long he was there. Helped him up but was difficult. My friend visited his wife’s grave and his new hip replacement screws came loose and fell. Luckily a guy was there to help and get an ambulance. My died working out in a gym, now one would help him, but a young girl who gave him CPR. Then somehow a Dr saved him.
IMHO,
If someone is positioned in an area away from others, I believe they are trying to make a statement.
If they want company close by they would park closer to other campers.
I would move further out to a more secluded location.
I would not confront them and ask them to move. That could start an argument. Not worth it.
Obviously, they don’t understand the reasons for boondocking. To get away from it all.
We are quite responsible people who enjoy nature. Some of my best times were backpacking in Rocky Mountain National Park. 28 miles and up to 12,000 ft, and the Grand Canyon (spent a week down there. The best time ever.
While we boondock pretty much 90% of the time and really don’t like neighbors, I understand some just need to be close. Be it they don’t like being alone in the boonies or are just social butterflies and need the interaction.
My wife and I boondock to be by ourselves, The same reason we hike on trails that most people wouldn’t. A good day hiking is not seeing another soul and while camping, we retire early as we are up early hitting the trails or I’m fishing. We refuse to stay in RV Resorts just for this reason and the few FS campgrounds we do stay at, we know the sites that gives us solitude we enjoy.
We boondock primarily for the low cost and convenience compared to campgrounds, but it’s often and Boondockers Welcome locations where space may be limited. We still do our best to leave lots of room between ourselves and others, so that we don’t intrude into their experience. We often introduce ourselves if we see our neighbors and may socialize with them if they’re amenable, but we also respect their privacy. This has worked really well for us and seems to keep everyone happy.
Maybe it was their spot… and they got it back Humm very sly!!!
I try to stay away from everyone