First time at a Walmart

[ZoNiE]

Last night, I was up in Payson and needed to spend the night, so I parked my coach at the far end of the lot at the walmart about 50 ft away from another Motorhome and a van and 50 ft away from an old Neon that I didn't realize had an occupant until after I settled in. In the morning, a prius was parked one space in front of me and a subaru about 100 ft away.

What is the general "Space" one gives? I want privacy. Do some folks want togetherness? The Prius guy was so close It made it tight for me to get out.

I chose my location partially due to level ground and no bright light. Lots of spaces like that.

Just wondering about the closeness...

What y'all do?

 

[MrNoodly]

It depends on how popular the particular Walmart is. In my experience others tend to leave at least a parking space, usually more. Most times I've had four or five empty spaces on each side. Maybe my snoring keep them away.

 

[cyndi]

Mr. Noodly is right. It varies and depends. And you can't really stop other people from parking where they will. Just like camping on BLM, there are going to be people who park right on top of you, for whatever reason, in spite of the vast amount of space available.

 

[NickTheoBennett]

I have packed up my entire camp and moved when out in the boonies and someone parked too close. Wouldn't hesitate to do the same thing at a Walmart and just use another corner of the lot if allowed. Really I would only bother if they were noisy. I expect a little noise/more company than I would prefer if I am stuck camping in a Walmart lot. That's what good earplugs are for.

I'm like you, my ideal would be no one anywhere near me. Not much you can do about other people, though.

 

[ColdBrook]

I try to park many spaces away from other rigs. However if you ask permission to stay at a  Walmart they often tell you what part of lot to park in so that might be why others were that close.  You are staying there for FREE, so why would you expect no one to park right next to you. (I understand your feelings, I hate others to park near to me). I suspect sometimes people in other vans or cars park close to other campers thinking it provides them a measure of safety.   Also those might be the most level places for others to park too.  All these reasons are why I try NOT to park at Walmart unless I am desperate for a place to free park.

 

[LathrenJames]

We pitched our tent in a Park where there was absolutely no one other than the host. During the night we heard a lot of commotion and never got back to sleep. The next day we saw that Some guy and his little boy were right next to us in a tent the size of house. The host asked the man why he pitched I mean not five feet away from us. The man said his son was scared. We had to laugh. Made sense to them, we guessed. Still not too cool...We moved on.

 

[MrNoodly]

A few years back I was camped in the dispersed area of a NM state park. I was the only one in an area about a quarter mile by a half mile. Huge. Early the next morning a guy came and set up his camp about 15 feet from me, just on the other side of a tree. I thought, "Sheesh, all this room and you have to be right there?" I suspect he did it to get me to leave. Maybe I was in "his" spot. I was leaving anyway.

There seem to be people, though, who are uncomfortable all by themselves. Maybe they need that feeling of protection that comes from circling the wagons.

 

[lenny flank]

Humans are social animals. That instinctive need to be with someone.

 

[Theiznezz]

When I first started I would park next to people because I thought it was a friendly place to park because others were there. Now I know its Abbas idea. Especially if your trying to keep a low profile. Other people are too. And a cluster of vans together is the opposite of stealth. Now I hate when people park right beside me. Especially if they have generators. Its almost like they are trying to annoy me on purpose.

 

[jimindenver]

Sometimes I suspect that people that do not know where to park will do so next to you because you being there means that it is okay to be there.

 

[Weight]

I spent many mornings getting up to revelry. So at dawn I play Star Spangled Banner. I prefer Jimmy Hendrix, loud. I play taps at sunset. For some reason, most days I find myself alone with my demons.

 

[ZoNiE]

I boondocked at the Matazal Casino outside of Payson last night, and am back tonight. One guy parked less than 5 ft from me, which I thought was pretty close, but then after we chatted a bit, I realized he's a regular here and I was sort of in the area he usually parks. There were just some employee cars scattered a bit which sorta forced it.

I just got back here a few hours ago and he came back too. I'm in a slightly better spot than last night, he's in my old spot. I also saw a guy at the Walmart earlier who was here last night. Older 80's Airstream Motorhome. The kind that look like a regular class A with some curves. Nice. Don't see too many of those.

There are a few folks at the other end of the lot who have the awning and chairs out. I guess the Casino allows it. Figures you're gonna spend some money inside. I had dinner there last night, and will have breakfast there tomorrow before I head home.

I'm getting a lot of stuff done on my solar and other wiring projects this weekend.

 

[DannyB1954]

I think the real reason those others were there was because they wanted level ground and no bright lights.
Unless you were the first one there, the people before you might have thought why is this guy parking so close to me. I want privacy. Maybe according to their standards you should have been 300 feet away. All we can really do is try to be considerate of others. And when it seems that others are not, just go somewhere else.

We don't own the land around where we boondock. So nobody was invading your space. It was Walmart's space and be happy they let you be a guest. Thinking that we have rights that we really don't can get us into a lot of trouble. We do have the right to cover our windows though.

 

[DannyB1954]

There seem to be people, though, who are uncomfortable all by themselves. Maybe they need that feeling of protection that comes from circling the wagons.

They also may be used to RV parks and campgrounds. I don't know if I am allowed to camp here but if anyone says something I will say I thought this area was OK because others were here.

 

[JasonMcD]

I don't mind a few other vehicles around with folks sleeping inside. There is safety in numbers and you are usually less likely to run into trouble from members of the public, however it does draw more attention to you from store employees as its obvious what you're doing.

 

[maki2]

Store employees don't care unless they are concerned that you might break into their own vehicles. Or if they are asked to rout you out of the parking lot which would be a most unpleasant job assignment for the average person who prefers to live and let live.