I have to "hide" my teardrop!

[IndyMatt]

Last year I purchased a Little Guy teardrop. I have always enjoyed camping, and the teardrop only added to the experience. I love being able to take off on a moment’s notice and have everything already packed in the teardrop.
The problem that I have is that so many people at each campground are drawn to the teardrop. It seems that everyone is curious and wants to see inside. I don’t mind giving “tours” of the camper – but here is my issue – I am a gay man and I travel with my partner. I do not force who I am on anyone – but when someone stops by and wants to see the teardrop they quickly put two and two together – such a small space for two men to sleep, etc. I have lived my entire life with people judging who I am. I have a very thick skin; however I go camping to get away and relax – not to be stared at by disapproving campers.
Now when I pull into the campground the first thing I do is put the EZ up over the teardrop and put a windscreen all the way around – thus “hiding” the teardrop. For me having a teardrop is both a blessing and a curse!
Does anyone else have a similar experience?

[Senior Ninja]

Same here.
The TD is a real conversation starter.
Hardly anyone builds anything themselves, they write a check or sign a loan.
I guess they find it difficult to believe that someone would do such a thing.
Too much of life is spent chasing the next thing and worrying about things that never happen. Most people have very short attention spans, lack the ability to wait for anything, and fail to plan beyond the next weekend. Most of the news today is sound bites and fear, fear, fear. Most of the stuff we see has little or no bearing on our lives, it just serves to keep us watching and to be very afraid. It's all about control of the population.

Just an old man's take on today.
Steve

[Darren]

The constant requests for tours does get annoying from time to time. At one of our teardrop group camp outs last summer we probably had 30 or more people stop by to look at the campers. Maybe it would help if you put up a sign posting what time the next tour is or one that just says no tours today. As for judgmental people, can't help you out there. People are just like that.

[BillandMarijo]

IndyMatt,
Havent taken our Tear out yet except to a friends camp but we did take it to a Walmart and several people walked over and can you believe even tried to open the door. People can be bold. Actually I think the sign "No Tours Today" is a good idea. Ya shouldnt have to hide your Tear. Anyways as my mama used to say "When people start payin your bills only then should you care what they think."
Enjoy your Teardrop!
Bill and Marijo

[Gerdo]

Camping down fire roads and trails keep people away from me. I still get a handful of people with curiosity in it. It's part of owning a TD.

I can only guess how you feel when people make their assumptions. The heck with them. It's not their life and I'm sure you don't judge how they live their lives. I know, that is easy for me to say. It's your life and if this is you then you shouldn't be ashamed or have to feel like you have to hide it.

[S. Heisley]

I've been thinking about the 'strangers visiting' dilemma, too, as I am a woman who often camps alone. I plan to take lots of pictures and put them in an album, with small descriptions of how everything works and offer that to people who want to see. (..."I have an album of pictures that shows the inside and how all the features work, would you like to look at it?"....)

Another thing you could do is introduce your partner as your best friend. I doubt it would be a lie; after all, he should be. Best friends sometimes share small spaces.

Something that I've been known to do is put up an extra tent or an extra chair so people will make assumptions. You wouldn't need the extra chair but you could get a small, cheap easy-to-put up tent (pup tent?) or add a sleeper-recliner with a cheap or old sleeping bag or blanket and pillow on it under the easy-up. That way, people could assume what they want....

It's your life and it's really none of outsiders' business anyway; but, if any of my suggestions make you feel more comfortable, I'm glad I can do that.

[tonyj]

I agree with the sign idea, or do what this artist did in Caseydog's post: http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=29652&highlight=&sid=6d0723a13f83f4cba9dd553ea6f9bf00

You would of course have to repaint every time you camped in a new campsite.

[GregB]

Matt,

I have some idea of what it is to feel like a social pariah. Though it is not the same, when I was back East and it came up in conversation that I am Mormon, I've had people seriously ask me where my other wives were. They get that look on their face like they've had an unexpected attack of gas and start to edge away from you. Its almost as if they're afraid that I'm going to grab them and forcibly baptize them or marry their daughters. As though religion (or sexuality for that matter) is somehow communicable via proximity. It's often convenient when you're not that interested in conversation anyway.

Note to self: Stop casually mentioning that "the rest of the 'girls' have to stay home and look after the beets and ankle biters and besides, then I'd have to buy them shoes!"

GB

[starleen2]

Try mentioning that you’re a minister and see how many campers flee the scene – I can’t tell you how many times I hear the shuffling of bottles, the hiding of cans, or the explanations that start flying – I just tell people that I’m here Just like they are to camp and get away (now where did I put the wine bottle?)

[hiker chick]

On the privacy matter, a cheap, 2-person tent would lead people to assume one of you was sleeping in it. The tent would also provide some storage space.

As for tours, that's the price teardroppers must be prepared to pay. Teardrops are not for the unsocial. Keep it clean and tidy, that's my biggest challenge.

It's similar to having a Samoyed. She's popular with strangers and I think that's half the fun of her. But she gets weary of the pawparrazzi. Put 'em both in a public campground and I make slow progress on books.

[Gerdo]

The heck with having to "trick" people to think that one of you will be sleeping in a tent. When it comes to my camping with my TD I go with the minimal amount of add on tents. I don't have a canopy tent. I do have a basic side awning and some tarps if weather gets bad. With the TD I want to keep cleanup as minimal as possable.

[BillandMarijo]

The heck with having to "trick" people to think that one of you will be sleeping in a tent. When it comes to my camping with my TD I go with the minimal amount of add on tents. I don't have a canopy tent. I do have a basic side awning and some tarps if weather gets bad. With the TD I want to keep cleanup as minimal as possable.

I agree w/ Gerdo. Why should you have to pretend for anyone.
Id be darned if Id buy and drag extra gear along. I still like the sign and Im gonna steal that idea. Camping is a getaway. Right?
Marijo

[Rob]

sign: TEARDROP TRAILER TOURS: $1/PERSON or $5/GROUP; NEXT TOUR AT 3PM

I don't have an unusual lifestyle, but you shouldn't have to hide it.

[Rem]

since your in indy why dont you introduce yourself to other members of this group if ya'll gather as a group maybe some of the other trailers will attrack some attention. I am a 350 pound tiny trailer person. I got lots of stares when my big butt was backin out the door of my last trailer.I like the idea of the tour sign along with a "
please Do Not Disturb"sign or in my case "Please Don"t Feed The Bears"

[caseydog]

Try mentioning that you’re a minister and see how many campers flee the scene – I can’t tell you how many times I hear the shuffling of bottles, the hiding of cans, or the explanations that start flying – I just tell people that I’m here Just like they are to camp and get away (now where did I put the wine bottle?)

Maybe people don't know you are a preacher because of the people you hang out with?

CD