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Uninterested Cali Owners

Seasidesteve said:
We just had another Cali pitch next to us on a site near Padstow, once they were settled in I went over and said hello and was about to discuss how wonderful the Cali is but they had no interest in talking to me at all, they then went and locked themselves in their van and made a cuppa. I would understand if it was a hire vehicle but they said the collected it last week.

I always speak to other Cali owners and never met anyone as misserable as this before.

If you are on here, the invitation for a glass of wine is still available
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Yep, had a similar thing in Italy some three years ago... Didn't want to intrude on their time, just wanted to be friendly and warn them that the pitch they selected was in full sun during the 40 deg. days as they had arrived late evening. Didn't get a chance... Still, I did wave goodbye when we left.. Each to their own...
 
If someone offered me a glass of wine at their van I would still pop over even if I did not particularly want to go as it would be polite and for someone to offer is a very nice gesture. It is not as if you have to stay all evening, you can just make your excuses and go.

The Beauty of the California is we all instantly have something in common and all the people I have met at Cali meets have been lovely accomodating people.
 
cpjb@btinternet.com said:
Well said Eileen.

Where the hell did common courtesy disappear to.
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Ditto - we like to keep ourselves to ourselves most of the time but If someone made the effort to ask me round for a drink I think it would be very rude to decline, its not as if you have to spend your whole holiday with them.
 
Adamvanman said:
Ditto - we like to keep ourselves to ourselves most of the time but If someone made the effort to ask me round for a drink I think it would be very rude to decline, its not as if you have to spend your whole holiday with them.
Click to expand...

Yes absolutely... but what about the next evening, are you expected to ask them back to yours? Oh, the social agonies of being British. :happy

(And Adam, chuck, I've got to be honest and say that, from your avatapicture thingy, I think you'd frighten our young pup if we asked you over. :Nailbiting Sorry to be direct but that's how we roll down here in South Bucks.)
 
Ah! I felt like a bit of a tit at Sommerach am Main a couple of weeks ago. I stalked a very pretty Cali pitched nearby until I saw the owners. I speak kein Deutsch, but compensated by waving my arms around enthusiastically whilst booming "Hullo! Do you speak English?", after a nervous yes from the wife I gestured to my van then theirs and commented on their loveliness, she was friendly but her husband looked homicidal so I sort of scuttled off.

In my defence I do speak rubbish French, proficient Spanish and minimal Italian. I'm not one for making holiday friends at all, but I do like to share the love a little when it comes to our Californias.
 
Perhaps they were on the run and thought "S**t!! Another crimestoppers viewer"...
 
Perhaps they were just a pair of miserable old gits! :)

It takes all sorts.
 
We used to have a splitty before our Cali and the air cooled owners are much more friendly, we have met a few Cali owners on campsites that we have approached and they were not interested in making conversation at all so we left them to it.

Maybe these sort of people should have a sticker on their van so we know not to approach them?
 
Whilst I don't consider myself to be a miserable old git there are times when I prefer my own company. I can sympathise with the couple encountered by the OP and agree with BerndRos' reply.....,.

Maybe they just want to be left alone for whatever reason, it's their choice.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
 
jess said:
We used to have a splitty before our Cali and the air cooled owners are much more friendly, we have met a few Cali owners on campsites that we have approached and they were not interested in making conversation at all so we left them to it.

Maybe these sort of people should have a sticker on their van so we know not to approach them?
Click to expand...

Are splitty owners more friendly in case they some to help for a push. ;):bananadance I'll get my coat.
 
I think I'd use caution in assuming I had something in common with someone, just because they also owned a Cali. Have you never had a look at the 'Open House Chit Chat' section on this forum :Nailbiting
 
Seasidesteve said:
We just had another Cali pitch next to us on a site near Padstow, once they were settled in I went over and said hello and was about to discuss how wonderful the Cali is but they had no interest in talking to me at all, they then went and locked themselves in their van and made a cuppa. I would understand if it was a hire vehicle but they said the collected it last week. I always speak to other Cali owners and never met anyone as misserable as this before. If you are on here, the invitation for a glass of wine is still available
Click to expand...
How rude! They must have forgotten to drink their prune juice! I would have invited you for a glass or cuppa!
 
Seasidesteve said:
We just had another Cali pitch next to us on a site near Padstow, once they were settled in I went over and said hello and was about to discuss how wonderful the Cali is but they had no interest in talking to me at all, they then went and locked themselves in their van and made a cuppa. I would understand if it was a hire vehicle but they said the collected it last week. I always speak to other Cali owners and never met anyone as misserable as this before. If you are on here, the invitation for a glass of wine is still available
Click to expand...
Seasidesteve said:
No worries, I was only trying make polite conversation and asking if you and your wife fancied a glass of wine this evening with us. I won't bother in future, it is a shame as everyone was so freindly at the Cali meet in June. I will keep my gob shut in future so as I dod not offend any one.
Click to expand...
If you ever pull up next to us, I would chat away with you and share a drink. I think we are both adult enough to know when the time barrier would start to raise its head.
 
I guess it depends on the mood people are in... At the same time campers are famous for being chatty and proud of their cars... I have had "Cali chats" on queues for bread in campsites...
I have notice that from the "VW camper universe" Cali owners are the ones that wave the least on the road...
 
Thing to remember is a sizeable number of Cali owners don't come from the VW or specifically the VWbus scene where its the norm to talk buses and make new VW friendships at both small and large shows (well in my long involvement with the VW bus it has been what I have found)
Unlike many who buy a T5 conversion they are not buying a bus to be part of the VW scene but to do their own thing in a vehicle that suits what they want to do....and I must admit that we enjoy just getting out and about on our own in the bus more these days ... shows can be a bit full on!
I carry a stock of back issue VWBus (and VW Camper magazines for the classics) to give away and generally just approach a bus owner on a site and say you might like this, most look surprised and then we either talk for a bit...or not...:)
 
waved at Cali's from Hampshire to North Wales today in our rental estate car only got funny looks.
 
Seasidesteve said:
We just had another Cali pitch next to us on a site near Padstow, once they were settled in I went over and said hello and was about to discuss how wonderful the Cali is but they had no interest in talking to me at all, they then went and locked themselves in their van and made a cuppa. I would understand if it was a hire vehicle but they said the collected it last week.

I always speak to other Cali owners and never met anyone as misserable as this before.

If you are on here, the invitation for a glass of wine is still available
Click to expand...

Perhaps they were on holiday to be with each other.

Perhaps they didn't want to talk about VWs - why would any sane person? Nothing you say implies that these people were in any way impolite to you.

What makes you think you had anything in common with these people apart from owning the same model of camper van?

I find the most damning part of your moan "I would understand if it was a hire vehicle" ...

I won't conjecture on what you mean because most interpretations are pretty crass.
 
I see this is your first ever post Rob, very nice intro.

We do all have something in common, it's called a 'VW California' If we did not all like to talk about it then why is there always 500 news posts to read on this forum every time I login? Why are there gatherings every few months with hundreds of people attending?

I am assuming you are the type of person that would not talk to others if you met another Cali owner, I totally respect that and good luck to you my friend.
 
Can you let me know what colour van you have please Rob so I know neve to pitch next to you.

Great first post matey
 
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