Preference? Alone or in Group?

[mayble]

^^
that's how i feel.
i have enough friends and family to keep track of.  there won't be an opening unless someone dies or stops speaking to me

but like some others, my job forces me to be in contact with people 40 hours a week, so when that's gone i might feel differently.

 

[everett ruess]

Put me down for being in the 1-3 people range. I'm drained not charged by large groups.

I like how it's so openly talked about here and that it's okay. I haven't seen that much in life. I've always felt that introversion was one of the last traits that's okay to ridicule and ostracize. It's not PC to discriminate against someone about their race, disability, sex/preferences (and I totally agree). But not being social is not okay and fair game for attack. It's something to hide and be ashamed of. Not acceptable.

I've seen studies that say 16 to 50 percent of people are introverts. With that range I think it shows many won't admit it. It's not cool.

Anyway, thanks for a safe place to be!

 

[DuneElliot]

I also think that people misuse the terms "introverted" and "extroverted" to mean "shy/quiet" or "friendly and gregarious"

I'm mostly introverted but I'm definitely friendly and gregarious...not shy at all.

 

[everett ruess]

I also think that people misuse the terms "introverted" and "extroverted" to mean "shy/quiet" or "friendly and gregarious"

I'm mostly introverted but I'm definitely friendly and gregarious...not shy at all.

Yes. 

And introverted is derogatory and extroverted is admired.

 

[Queen]

I also think that people misuse the terms "introverted" and "extroverted" to mean "shy/quiet" or "friendly and gregarious"

I'm mostly introverted but I'm definitely friendly and gregarious...not shy at all.

Exactly. I cannot get people to understand this distinction.

 

[waldenbound]

Now see, I want to camp with people, but I do need my alone time too. I mean, I go camping by myself, and everyone around me is talking to the people in their site, and I'm sitting by myself, puttering with the fire, or something. It gets boring, and frustrating when people are socializing and having fun, and I crawl into my sleeping bag because there's nothing else to do.

Solitude and alone time is normal, natural , and healthy, but being isolated is not. I hope I can find company on the road, somewhere, somehow.

I guess that's a sign I aint' right.

 

[DuneElliot]

Now see, I want to camp with people, but I do need my alone time too. I mean, I go camping by myself, and everyone around me is talking to the people in their site, and I'm sitting by myself, puttering with the fire, or something. It gets boring, and frustrating when people are socializing and having fun, and I crawl into my sleeping bag because there's nothing else to do.

Solitude and alone time is normal, natural , and healthy, but being isolated is not. I hope I can find company on the road, somewhere, somehow.

I guess that's a sign I aint' right.

I love to backpack alone...I dislike camping alone for that very reason...get bored, nothing to do, crawl into sleeping bag at 8pm and then toss and turn because it's too early. There's something about being around a campfire with other people.

 

[rm.w/aview]

Now see, I want to camp with people, but I do need my alone time too. I mean, I go camping by myself, and everyone around me is talking to the people in their site, and I'm sitting by myself, puttering with the fire, or something. It gets boring, and frustrating when people are socializing and having fun, and I crawl into my sleeping bag because there's nothing else to do.

Solitude and alone time is normal, natural , and healthy, but being isolated is not. I hope I can find company on the road, somewhere, somehow.

I guess that's a sign I aint' right.

You see a camper or campers close by, within easy walking distance. And, as you're walking easily, something of interest garners your attention. Now, & you are considerate, you inquire of its purpose/use/ease of maintenance/cost/efficiency/color choice/weight/adaptability/usefulness/obtainability and perhaps one to eight hours later you're knowing something new after meeting someone new, and, respecting their privacy while maintaining your own, you crawl into your sleeping bag because there's nothing else to do. You may be going in the same relative direction and cross paths again, or never meet again. Either way it's a day in the life that you are living, the only one you get.

 

[blmkid]

I dislike camping alone.......There's something about being around a campfire with other people.

ditto

 

[SoulRaven]

I originally asked the question mainly because I was surprised a little by how much I choose to NOT join a group of other CRVL followers to convoy or have gtg's.  

I've been off the "sticks and bricks" grid since Jan 3.  I've been to the RTR, camped at the Q' Casino, then at Pilot Knob, (by myself). 
Then went to a friends house in Colorado, way out in the country and stayed in his 5th wheel for SIX MONTHS! 

I left there around mid-August, and since then, have been camping by myself.   I do not feel lonely.  I DO like people, I love to converse, but I prefer to be alone.  (Right now, there's this very nice couple down the hill, with their adorable dog, and that's great). 

I don't get bored, which is something I THOUGHT would happen.  I can do some piddling around in the morning, making mods to my trailer or site, take a nap, sit in the shade in the afternoon, and stare at the stars at night.  I'm still trying to figure out questions I used to ask when I was 18, like "What is the nature of what we see?", "what IS reality?", "where the hell did I put my car keys?" ... stuff like that.  

Sometimes I use the Mobley that my mentor and spiritual leader, jimindenver (actually, it's Max) , recommended and watch stuff on Netflix at night.  Or if Redbox has a new DVD I want to watch, I'll watch that.  But mostly, I just think.  about stuff.  and where that stuff came from. 

It has been interesting to see what a response this has sparked.  I'm enjoying it immensely.  Thanks to everyone who has responded, and who will in the future.  We certainly are a mixed bag of personalities. 

Regards,

Pat

 

[Duke]

I framed this as a question because I've watched so much Jeopardy in the past.  
 
It is a little puzzling, since I'll talk your ear off ; until you look at your watch and say, "Well, I really have to go ! "...   

Depends: which day/which moment...

 

[SoulRaven]

Depends: which day/which moment...

Thanks, Duke... Now I have another thing to think about when I look at the stars at night:  "Wonder what that guy Duke meant?" 

Regards,

Pat

 

[BobBski]

I enjoy camping with one or 2 other people every now and then; but much prefer just me and the girls, solo. I’ve wont travel with anyone else though; like the individual choice of time and route too much.

 

[Duke]

 another thing to think about when I look at the stars at night:  "Wonder what that guy Duke meant?" 

Regards,

Pat

 Pat- yer "jeopardy question" got processed by me with an initial: I prefer solitude; then the hampster wheel upstairs in me noggin said but-but the joy of camaraderie & exchanging with others is best....

Guess I feel equally strong about both....until: I don't  :huh:

 

[SoulRaven]

 Pat- yer "jeopardy question" got processed by me with an initial: I prefer solitude; then the hampster wheel upstairs in me noggin said but-but the joy of camaraderie & exchanging with others is best....

Guess I feel equally strong about both....until: I don't  :huh:

I think that for me, I've spent the last 30-35 years as a cog in the corporate machine.  To me, that was putting up with a lot of nonsense.  My BS-meter is super-sensitive.  I guess.  But I do enjoy BS'ing with people.  

I think that, like I said, I was a little surprised at how much I DO like being by myself.  

Anyway, thanks for your input and clarification. 

Pat

 

[casper]

I think it just means you are a classic introvert.

Many introverts like people and enjoy good company. The difference is that an introvert needs solitude in order to recharge the batteries, and extroverts need a crowd (the noisier and happier the better) to get recharged. 

I'm an introvert, but no one who knows me would describe me as shy or retiring. But I need A LOT of down time.

jacqueg
I think the key word here is good company, not all company is good or desirable. With the world in decline we must seek out the people we feel comfortable with, who nurture and heal our souls, who make us feel good about ourselves and are willing to try and make this shit hole of a world a better place. I truly feel the van dweller community is the way of the future, they are the ones sensitive, and intelligent enough to see and feel whats happening all around them, and are doing something about it.
casper

 

[FlowerGirl]

Mind if I ask a question here? Not yet being familiar with road life, I am wondering this: 

When you are camped at a site where there may be others near (but never too near, of course) because perhaps you've all conjointly decided to go camp at Ehrenberg, or the RTR or wherever: 

How does it work when you are inside your rig in either the daytime or very early evening hours-- Do well-meaning acquaintances or people you might have tipped your hat to earlier that day feel free to knock on your door to chat or to borrow a cup of sugar, or ask for a hand with unhitching their rig, etc.... Or do people mostly respect the fact that you're inside and that automatically means: do not disturb?

I live in a city, behind the locked front door of the apartment building, then there's the locked vestibule door once you're inside the front door, then you go upstairs to whatever floor you live on. From there you walk down a hallway to your actual apartment door, which of course, is also locked. No one would even be able to "drop by" because they wouldn't have access to knock on one's actual apartment door unless they had the keys to get into the building. And in some really nice buildings, they'd have to be announced to you via phone or intercom by the doormen and/or concierge desk down in the lobby in order to be allowed access to your floor, and then, your apartment door. So the set-up is ideal if you relish your privacy. 

Your question about spending time alone versus with others, prompted me to wonder if, using myself as a city-dwelling example, all that nice distance between myself and the public just disappears once you live in a mobile rig, allowing people who might be feeling lonely, or like sharing a meal to just assume it's ok to knock on your door?

I pictured a scenario where someone you might have seen a few sites over sees the lights on inside your rig in early evening, and feeling friendly, they might feel like asking if you'd want to join them for a walk, or join in their campfire sing-along, so they tap on the door of your rig to invite you? Would that ever happen? 

What's the generally-accepted etiquette here for those who might actually come out of their "extreme boondocking" from time to time to be part of a group for some time? 

Most everyone here (myself included) is an introvert, so I would imagine there must be some social propriety code that's observed when camping amongst others who would be considered more like acquaintances, not necessarily good friends where there is often a mutual understanding about how you "do" privacy and how you "do" shared time with one another. 


I appreciate your contemplating this question (while gazing at the stars, of course....) 


Thanks, Pat and anyone else who might care to jump in and respond ....

 

[blmkid]

1. Alone or in a Group? Now was this question meant for full timer's? As not being a full timer or even a part timer. I do not like camping alone. The rare times I do get to go, I enjoy 1 night with the camp fire and the cold winter air. It is enough for me to enjoy the stars and camp fire alone. I have no dog or cat. 

2. Alone? I do need my alone time. I enjoy going for a long ride in the country. I like riding down along "the forgotten coast". Hwy. 98: https://www.katestraveltips.com/2015/06/09/10-things-to-do-in-floridas-forgotten-coast/. I like interacting with the people anywhere along the drive. Human contact.

3. As a full timer? I would love it. Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Montana, Idaho and New Mexico. So many places to camp on BLM land. I like the idea of being able to camp within an hour's drive of a town, yet still have total isolation close by, as in Flagstaff, Az., Leadville, Co, Sedona, N.M.,etc. I like to have access, for when I would need human contact and places go to, community swimming pools (small towns), a library to do research on the old west, to people watch ,sitting outside a cafe eating taco's...etc.

4. So the question was meant for Full Timer's ?

 

[blmkid]

..so they tap on the door of your rig to invite you? Would that ever happen? 

NO. Approaching the camp, you stop within just a low hollering distance and ask "is anybody home?" You Never walk up to any camp, even if you know them well and "tap". If they do not respond, turn and walk away. They may be busy or just want to be alone. don't take it the wrong way if they do not answer. Just respect there space when no "holler back" is given. Come back at some later time. Then try again. IMHO.

 

[highdesertranger]

if I don't see someone outside I leave them alone, unless something has caused me to be concerned for their health/safety. highdesertranger