Dear Dr. R.V. Shrink:
I think you need to schedule campground office hours. We just spent a night in Rocky Mountain National Park next to a couple in a large tent. Their campfire circle was directly out our motorhome bedroom window. They spent a few hours around the campfire discussing their relationship loud enough so that we could not help hearing the whole sordid mess very clearly. It was a warm night so they had to know everyone around them had their RV windows open. I think they needed a confessional more than a couch. Things escalated into yelling. We were not going to pull out and move at midnight, but we were hoping we weren't going to end up in the middle of a domestic violence scene. I tell my husband we should stay in private campgrounds where the management might be on top of this drama before it gets out of hand. He says the parks have law enforcement, but I have never seen them ask a noisy group of people to quiet down. Do you think I am over-reacting to an uncommon event? I do use ear plugs but they don't block out the loud voices or noises. Maybe we have just been in the wrong places at the wrong time in our short stint on the road so far. --Soap Opera in the Rockies
Dear Soap:
I think your campfire confession couple is rare indeed. It is not uncommon to find a campsite neighbor that is annoying, but often it is just rude people making too much noise. I have recently commented on the musical types and those with automotive alarm systems. Domestic disputes are less common and could become violent. They are also often alcohol fueled. I would advise staying completely out of those situations. Moving would not be out of the question if the scene started looking ugly. Campground hosts have the ability to contact law enforcement as would private campground management. It is not a perfect world and those things do not always happen in government or private campgrounds. You have to gauge your comfort level and make your own decisions to relocate or stand your ground. I can guarantee that these annoyances will be a small percentage of the campground experiences you will have in your travels. Most campgrounds will be filled with wonderful people, many of which will become lifelong friends.
--Keep Smilin’, Dr. R.V. Shrink
##RVT857
5 comments:
Luckily after 2+ years on the road I've never encountered a domestic dispute.
I've had some annoying neighbors, but surprisingly it's been a very small percentage of the people I've camped near. Most people try to keep it quiet, and if they do have music or loud voices, they quiet down by 10:00.
I always have TV or audio books or the radio going, so most outside noises don't bother me. So far, anyway. :)
I think tents should come with a permanent warning sign on the inside that reminds campers that the walls are cloth and people can hear you through them.
I am amazed at some of the things we've heard when camped by or even walked by tents!
Moms will take a child inside a tent to scold them, saying things they would most likely be appalled if they knew every word was being heard. And, oh yes, lovers! Nothing like an X-rated audio program next door.
We're full-timers, so don't too often park by tents, but when we do, it's entertaining at the very least.
We traveled 8000 miles last summer all over the USA and never had a problem with noise or bad neighbors. We stayed mostly at KOAs and private rv sites. We where going to try some boon docking but did not think it was worth the worry about security. Sounds like a unlucky experience. I probable would have gone over and asked them if they could take it down a notch or two but then again I am 6'2" and about 240...then again if they give you a hand gesture and attitude you just dial up the local police or get the camp security if there is one. The problem with getting that going is they retaliate and then bad goes to worse at the expense of your rig or tires! Sometimes the ME generation is more than one can deal with.
If a domestic dispute nearby sounds as though it's escalating, authorities should be notified before someone gets hurt, don't you think?
As a camp ground host, I keep a vest and hat handy wherever we travel. If we camp next to a noisey neighbor, I don my outfit with flashlight and radio in hand, tell them they get this one warning: "If I hear them again, I will radio for the ranger, sheriff, Mountie, etc and have them evicted. " it's a bluff, but usually works.
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