Camping/Boating (Rudeness)

You can buy yourself a nice $30,000 RV, but that doesn’t make you a camper.

Camping is a country thing. Country people like to camp because they can set up a tent or a nice pop up and call it their summer home. City people don’t get that. City people like to spend as much money on a camper as you could spend on a nice double wide mobile home and still consider themselves campers.

Don’t get me wrong! You can still be a real camper no matter how nice your recreational vehicle is. It is neither the price nor the quality of your vehicle that makes you the camper (or the boater). That is just your shell. It is your behavior that determines how appropriately you fit into the category.

I only mention the country people vs. the city people for one reason. City people know nothing about country respect.

This brings me to the first piece of etiquette you must learn before you can consider yourself a boater or a camper. When somebody waves at you, wave back! You can also add in a nice “hello”… make small talk about the weather… but do not stare at them, wondering why they’re waving because you don’t think you’ve ever met that person before.

Some true campers would never consider anybody who sleeps in even a pop up to be a real camper. To some people, camping is about carrying a tent on your back. Camping is about the real outdoors, and not a social retreat into a semi-wooded campground.

But this particular rule is for those city snobs who want to show off how much money they have and blow over $20 grand on a nice camper or boat. When somebody waves, and you just stare at them, wondering why they are waving because you don’t recall having met that person… then you have much to learn before becoming a true camper or boater.

The people you offend don’t care how much money you have. In fact, the people you offend are the best type of friends there are, and you would be missing out to turn your nose at them!

Ignorance when Boating (down a river)

The second unspoken etiquette applies mainly to boaters. When you are travelling down a river, slow down! Too many boats (usually city drivers are the cause) are as reckless and rude as, well, city drivers.

When you are travelling down a river, notice all the houses that you are passing. Chances are high that 3 out of every 5 house has a large group of people, sitting by the river. They live there. That is their home. It may seem backwards to you but that river is viewed to those people as their front porch. You are crossing it, and so you owe those people the utmost respect as you pass.

Not only should you wave and say hi, you should not send large waves. This can tip over smaller boats that are resting by the shore, as well as cause damage to property. I can’t stress it enough… you are crossing their yard!

Cookouts, Grills, Barbecues, Picnics, Etc.

One of the best things about summer is the often weekly tradition of cooking outside, playing outside, and eating outside. Summer activities that involve food are often the most common place where unspoken etiquette is broken, because it takes place most often.

Bring a dish! Just because the host(s) didn’t ask you to bring a dish when they extended an invitation to you… does not mean it isn’t expected. It is the host(s) who sink a lot of money into hosting this summer get-together and it is up to you, the guests… to help out.

This is what you should always do when asked to attend a cook out.

1.) Ask “what should I bring?”

Asking this gives the host option to include “Oh yeah, I need hot dog buns” so you can pick them up on the way over. No host should have to run to the store for any forgotten food items.

2.) Make something!

You will rarely hear “Oh, can you make some macaroni salad?” Chances are, there will already be macaroni salad. Maybe not, because people these days have become so rude that it is nothing for over 75% of the guests to arrive empty handed. Either way, macaroni salad and potato salad are always the worst things you can bring… because you always want variety at a successful cookout.

It’s too easy for a cookout to include a menu of hamburgers, hot dogs, 5 versions of macaroni salad, 2 versions of potato salad, and 4 versions of fruit salad. Why don’t you look into some different recipes and make something new for everyone to try at the cook out?

Check the following for tasty recipes you can try!

Party Food Recipes

Summer Party Food Recipes

Quick and Easy Crowd Pleasers

3.) Stop at the store, grab a few other things to bring!

This includes: condiments (mustard, ketchup, etc.), chips and dip, pickles/olives, cheese & crackers, etc. Then beverages!!!
Bring at least one of each of the following, especially if you know there will be lots of people at the cook out.

Soda (for adults not drinking alcohol)
Juice (for the kids, even if you’re not bringing any kids)
Beer (just goes without saying)
Wine (because some adults may want something besides beer, and it is a party but that’s not a good reason to get slammed on whiskey at 2 in the afternoon on a Sunday!)
Liquor (because it is a party. If it’s the right kind of group getting together on a Sunday afternoon, there’s nothing wrong with drinking a little whiskey! Just don’t get hammered if you are helping operate the grill!)

One more thing!

Now the following is for everybody. It’s summer. This means people wear much less clothes than any other season. We hear enough complaints about people who should wear more than they are. You know who you are. One person may look gorgeous in a tube top and mini skirt. That doesn’t mean you do.

But something needs to be said to those who do look gorgeous like that. Men with a 6 pack and a golden tan… it’s okay for you to take your shirt off! It’s hot… I don’t mind. Men with a full keg may try to copy you and give me nightmares, but it’s worth it. Just like females with the perfect body and want to show it off. Go for it. You know if I had it, I’d do it too!

But don’t catch an attitude when others are eyeballing you! If someone of the opposite sex catches a glimpse in their peripheral vision, they will break their necks to admire a better view. That’s human nature. It’s also human nature for their partner to look as well, searching for some flaw about you they can use to make themselves feel better.

What I’m trying to say is, don’t catch an attitude because someone is staring. And if you have an oversized nose, don’t show off your legs or a jealous girlfriend will point out your trunk.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 3:16 pm and is filed under Manufactured Homes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.