Solo Travellers/Companions – Another Grey Nomad Message

From Queensland Doug has emailed PWF saying:

“Morning Gail

My god you’ve let yourself into something here girl!!

The reason I found your site was by accident Googling “Grey Nomads” & was pleased when I found your site, as I was contemplating starting something similar myself, so well done. It saves me doing it!!

There may be a myriad of ways to deal with this, but it seems to me that those wanting to contact one & other should be able to do so without going thru you, as your workload is going to be enormous, & I’m sure that’s not what you had in mind, & charging a fee just won’t work.

I also think that the enquirer/participant should be categorised by State, & links to contact them provided so that each has their own responsibility to follow up if they want to, but I do agree that some filtering questionaire should be used to minimise unintentional contacts to people unsuited, eg. age & status, smokers or drinkers, over-weight & unfit, politics/religion, country/outback vs city/highway travel, non-caravan parks as distinct from caravan parks & services, group arrangements/numbers, financial independence, own transport, same sex companions, separate travelling arrangements, commitments enroute eg. work or family or other time-lines etc. & this would help to narrow those that you know wouldn’t be suitable travelling companions.

I have meet a large number of people travelling but don’t keep in touch with most. Probably only one in 50 you would want to stay in touch with, so the odds of finding a compatible travelling companion is about as difficult as finding a permanent partner, except with this arrangement you have the option to drive off when you’ve had enough. It is extremely difficult to live with someone 24/7 so a group is preferable as it is possible to find compatible people in a group rather than individually, but if not, it’s a matter of moving on.

You won’t satisfy everyone Gail but I like your democratic approach in putting it all out there & letting the participants choose & have an input. There will always be those who think it is a great idea but will not take the next step to get involved, or will criticise no matter what you do, so my advice would be to set it up & stand back for a while & see how it goes & tweek it where necessary, later.

Other services such as mail collection & forwarding may also be helpful for those without family, or not wanting to involve their families, & of course a fee would be applicable here.

I am certainly interested in the scheme. I live in Chinchilla Qld., am a 65yo retired professional (Chartered Management Consultant), divorced, own 700 acres of bushland as a base & travel solo (now) for long periods, but would like to join a group of like minded people. I have found that nice people are where you find them, not when you look for them.

I have adult children who have their own families & problems, whom I have very little to do with, & prefer it that way.

Will subscribe & see how it goes. These are only suggestions. Good luck

Kind regards

Doug”

You can email Doug doug.w@harboursat.com.au