I can see his point, that in the wrong place or way, it can be both irrelevant to the conversation; and /or controversial or worse. This is not going to be a post or thread to air any complaints. and I most assurely have nothing against men. So it won't be that kind of thing.
It would also be good for people who are part of a 'couple' to understand what it is like for an rver' who isn't part of a couple (male or female single) and for men to understand what we women go through at some places notorious for not treating us "the same" (ie. the places that work on and service our vehciles.)
What I would like to do is just to have an uplifting, educational, informational, positive discussion and what it's like to be a female rver. (or what it's like to be a single male or female vs. being a couple)
#1. My experience as a single female along is going to be different than yours, wither you're a couple or a single male.
That's not controversial, it is simply a fact. Nothing more. And I don't resent it, most times.
2, As a single rather than as part of a couple, I have to pick up the inside and the outside. I have to clean the kitchen and check the air in the tires and change the oil in the generator. I have to make sure everything, inside and outside, is tied down and put aaway, and most importantly (keep this in mind when you're at rallies with any singles) I don't have anyone to back me into a spot. I get to do it. Jump in and out of the vehicle to level it. Only one sets of eyes, can only be in one place at one time.
It's different. A little more work. But we do choose* to do it. this is just an educational thing.
3. When I need to get serviced, this is where I run into most of the differences. f. ex. When I was buying motorhomes, I was blown off by one sales guy (where's your husband?) and then shown a pop-up tent trailer (that my old car couldn't tow). Then just left alone so the sales person can get some other prospect (with a male in the couple).
I have no idea how often something like this happens. Well, his loss, and Born Free's gain because I promplty went to Iowa and bought the 26' Born Free.
I want to say, though, that this MIGHT be an isolated incident. I did hear of it once with someone else, but I doubt it's universal. Conversely, I am postivie there are good dealers out there that know how to make a fair deal with singles and women.
When I need work done though, I don't always have the option of shopping around until I'm taken seriously. Thankfully it hasn't happened often, but it does happen. I say, it's a wheelbearing or a ball joint. Well, Ihave had wheel bearings and ball joints go bad (in my poor days whehn I had to drive like that for months) and I know what it's like. I'm sure I know. But they ignore me. They check others. After 2 or 3 repairs I did NOT request, they find out it was the ball joing. I'm fuming because I would have saved so much money and time if 1) They looked at the part I told them or 2) I had a husband I could send over to set them straight.
(I actually wish I did have a husband to smooth the way many of these times instead of having to butt heads just to prove Iknew what I was talking aobut. It's never pretty by the time that happens.)
There are differences. You say, tell me what is going on with this, and they ask you if your husband is coming down...so they can tell him.
It happens way too often.
Or you pull into a park, (and here's how it's different....)...how many of you guys have a camper come up to you and aks you "you do this ALL ALONE???". Or do they only ask us women that question? What's really odd here, is that the people who ask me this the most are OTHER WOMEN! I'm not sure what to make of that.
I'm not complaining about being a women (I certainly rather enjoy it mostly). This is meant to be educational. You're not with me when this happens so you don't know it happens or how often.
There are fundamental differences in being a female lone rver and that of being a male lone rver or an RV'ing couple. And when we are cognizant of the differences, we understand one another on the road more and have empathy for one another. Which all starts getting soft and fuzzy
What will make it all a richer and more fun experience for all of us is for us to know these differences, and to appreciate them. Then we can all go along being enlightened.
Say we're all in a caravan. The rigs with 2 or more people doing all the work together will the first ones out the door. Naturaly. Same work/2 people. Those of us who travel alone, we have same work, one body to do it. So we will be not right out in front, unless we don't spend any time just resting and enjoying , prepearing in advance to be as far ready in our preparations as the couples are by leaving time.
Just so you know....it's more to do and fewer to do it. So we will end up pulling up the rear in setting up camp, packing up and pulling out and driving. After all, we did all the driving and now we have to do all the rest.
So in a way, this is multifaceted. Let's just all try to realize that each of us has a unique experience, and let's all try to appreciate and celebrate all those differences. Our differences don't make any of us any better or any less than others, only different.
But maybe those who have more time for one thing can lend a hand to someone who has less...or maybe just be patient is enough. As for the ability to handle the technical or whatever, I think those things are split pretty evenly...those who LIKE technical do technical and thos who don't, do other things. And travelling style has precious little to do with it.
So, although I know someone found it rather distressing that I suggested that we were different (men and women in this case)...there are differences and if we refuse to bury them but rather acknowledge them and learn to work around them, we're going to go alot further...and everyone will benefit.
I'd love to hear from single men what their particular challenges are (one o fthem for all of us is nobody to go get us something when we're driving...we gotta pull off and get it ourselves.
And I'd love to hear from couples what it's like RVing as a couple that would be very different from what I've posted.
Do I make sense here?
Viva La Difference
Trish
