The digital revolution is changing the world in which grey nomads live and travel at ever more dizzying speeds. Technology is constantly reducing the need for human interaction, even for those who would normally seek it out.
It’s becoming harder to avoid supermarket self-checkouts, campsite bookings are routinely made online, and people in public places often choose to interact with their phones rather than people next to them. And the trend will continue.
For example, the Check Inn Systems company is now offering caravan parks automated check in and check out systems.
“24/7 check in kiosks eliminate the need for timely face-to-face check in processes,” the company’s website states.
But what are all of these efficiency savings potentially going to do for the grey nomad experience? Nothing good, says the science. Long-term travellers who have already left behind the support network offered by friends, family, neighbours and the wider local community commonly crave contact with others … and there’s a reason.
American academics Matthias Mehl and Simine Vazire conducted a study involving more than 450 individuals with a range of personality types last year, and the results – published in Psychological Science journal – concluded that the more interactions people had with others, the higher their sense of wellbeing.
Previous studies have also shown that the more substantive the interactions, the greater the sense of wellbeing. In other words, having a friendly word with a shop assistant or a brief chat with someone at the amenities block is nowhere near as morale-boosting as sharing an in-depth Happy Hour conversation with a fellow traveller.
John Wright from Victoria has been staying at Townsville’s Black River Stadium Caravan Park every winter for the past eight years and knows exactly what makes him happy.
“The reason I keep coming back here is because of the friendship, the security of the park, and the Happy Hours every night,” he said. “Everyone is so friendly and helpful.”
And places like Kunnunurra’s Town Caravan Park don’t need academic studies to tell them what grey nomads want.
“We love to have a chat with customers at check-in and find out where they have been, where they originate from and where they are heading,” said Business Manager, Vicki Lee Smith-Ince. “Interaction around the park is fantastic with many people making new friends and enjoying social nights organised by themselves or by us.”
Yes we do interesting to other peoples travels.