For some grey nomads meeting and greeting fellow travellers at the campsite is one of the absolute highlights of life on the road, while others prefer to ‘keep themselves to themselves’ and enjoy the relative solitude the lifestyle affords.
Of course, there is no wrong or right and people have different personalities and different preferences. And most nomads fall somewhere between the two extremes of inveterate Happy Hour organiser and campsite recluse.
The Big Lap though is perfect for just about everybody.
For the super sociable, caravan parks offer near endless opportunities to make new friends with like-minded people, whereas the Happy Hour-avoiding ‘hermits’ will find no shortage of places in the bush to enjoy their own company.
“And then my wife said, ‘left hand down’ and I backed the van into a tree!”
In the end though, humans are social creatures and research repeatedly shows a link between social connection and happiness … and longevity.
Recent studies have also shown that even simple interactions with strangers like saying ‘hello’ and thanking someone results in greater life satisfaction. In her book Once Upon a Stranger: The Science of How ‘Small Talk’ can add up to a Big Life, Psychology Professor, Gillian Sandstrom, outlines how small daily interactions build a greater sense of community and personal wellbeing.
Not every minor exchange though, whether it be with someone you bump into at the amenities block or who is checking you in at the van park, will lead to a life-changing event, but the book’s blurb says all these moments still have a role to play.
“They will give you a tiny moment of joy, a spark of connection, the recognition of a fellow human,” it said. “Just start small … look up, and say hello – you never know where the conversation will lead.” Some grey nomads, of course, find small talk easy and it’s just an everyday part of life whereas for others it feels more ‘forced’.
Meg, who long travelled in a 25’ Jayco Sterling with husband Greg and dog Banjo, is a self-confessed extrovert who likes to bring people together.
“When we are on the road, I often put a table out somewhere and go and knock on vans and let people know we are having a get together and to bring a drink and chair,” she said.
Meg said it was amazing how many friendships had started at Happy Hour … but she said she completely understood that not everyone wanted to join a campsite gathering every night.
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