any one been scared to attend there first teardrop gathering

[wagondude]

Slow,

I know how you feel. I can be a little shy around new people myself. Just remember that you have already been chatting with your new friends for quite some time. You have your tear and many will want to check it out in person (instant ice breaker). You will be fine. You have been working so hard this summer, you deserve a good camping weekend. Go have some fun. I still need to get to a gathering, but I'm still tenting, so I will be the one getting the tours. Who knows, you may even meet the future Mrs. Slow.

Bill

[bonnie]

Been where you are. Do you really want to stay home? Really? Go. You won't regret it. I took off and drove to a dulcimer festival -- knew absolutely no one. Had as much fun as I allowed myself. I think you will too. Nice thing about camping. You can have as much or as little 'people' time as you want.

[Gerdo]

Slow
Come on down. I'm pretty reclusive my self. I typically have my TD further away from the center of activity, visit the group and hangout for a little while. I'll head to the TD earlier than most. I'm just not big on crowds.

I will say that the Colorado group is a great group. As are most of the TD people that we have met over the years.

[Maureenm]

Go for it! I was a bit nervous going to my first gathering without knowing a soul, heck, I barely knew my teardrop as I had only had it a month. I have never met a more welcoming and gracious group of people in my life....you'll be fine and have a great time!
Maureen

[nevadatear]

Best decision I ever made was to attend our first gathering. And besides, these folks here on the forum are already your friends, you just need to put a face and a voice to them. Take a chance, go for it. I am really a shy person myself, but there is nothing to be afraid of!

[Wolffarmer]

Slow, don't be scared. I just returned from my first Burning Man. If an old fogy like me can do that for the whole week you will be just fine. People for the most part are very friendly and accepting.



Randy

[Alan and Lianna]

but there is nothing to be afraid of!

Or is there?

Depending on the crowd, you may need to watch out for the occasional Atomic Wedgie, indian sunburn, wet willy, tatty twister, purple nurple, or noogie! And lock your doors at night, someone may be making the rounds with a warm pot of water! Yes, be very afraid!!!


Ok, Just joking, or am I?
Alan

[hazelc]

I'm going to a gathering and I don't have a tent or a TD. This will be the first time for me, getting my toes wet. Just close your eyes and go.

Hazel

[pete42]

Been where you are. Do you really want to stay home? Really? Go. You won't regret it. I took off and drove to a dulcimer festival -- knew absolutely no one. Had as much fun as I allowed myself. I think you will too. Nice thing about camping. You can have as much or as little 'people' time as you want.

slow I too feel different joining in on some campouts but that disappears very fast when your with friendly people.

Miss Bonnie I took my first Dulcimer lesson today, we have a festival this coming sept. 17 here in Ohio I may or not go sounds like fun.

pete

[Mightydog]

Slow,

Go. You will meet the nicest people you have ever met in your life. Before our first gathering, I pulled over to the side of the road and threw up. I hate groups of more than three, maybe four, people. Thirty five or forty trailers worth (maybe eighty) people came close to killing me. My wife talked me in to the car and going to the gathering. That was three years ago. Now, we look forward to trailer gatherings to see our friends. The same people of whom I was afraid a few short years ago.

Go to the gathering, Slow. Step outside of your comfort zone and you will be rewarded.

[madjack]

Go to the gathering, Slow. Step outside of your comfort zone and you will be rewarded.

slow, I can't think of better words than those spoken above...you already know all those folks, you just haven't actually met them yet...GOFORIT!!!!!!!!!
madjack

[Shadow Catcher]

We were a bit concerned a couple of years ago when we went to a Buckeye Tearjerkers gathering. We found them to be very inclusive and friendly. What I have noted is that there is a huge range of folks and interests with one shared interest and that is these tiny trailers. That shared interest means something more than would be immediately apparent, we do not spend a large amount of time inside our trailers and given a chance will get together and talk around the camp fire, and you will find interesting folks with interesting stories. So go

[mechmagcn]

My wife and I were never "group" campers, we always went during the week and while kids were in school to avoid the crowds. When I built my teardrop folks told me that I couldn't be anti-social and own a TD, now I know what they meant.
We made our maiden trip to LCGIII and loved it. Actually it was the only gathering my wife was able to go to before she passed, but I have been to many since.
So, slow, get out there and meet some of these very friendly people who you have gotten to know online, just about everybody is even better in person.

[Woodbutcher]

Slow, just go! You will not be sorry. I met several of the Colorado people at the ITG gathering in June. They could not have been nicer. Remember that everyone there has a common interest. I would never think of walking into a non-teardrop strangers campsite without being invited. No so with a teardrop camper. But we are part of an informal fraternity of sorts. We feel we already know each other, we just had not met yet. You can be as private as you want to be. But my guess is that someone with over 2000 posts will not have a hard time talking to a fellow teardropper.

Make sure you take plenty of pictures and let us know how much fun you had!

[Alfred]

Slow, don't be scared. I just returned from my first Burning Man. If an old fogy like me can do that for the whole week you will be just fine. People for the most part are very friendly and accepting.



Randy

Don't be scared??? You just got back from Burning Man and from your icon it looks like you lost 1/2 your beard!

My first trip was like first day in kindergarten, a little nervous but excited to be there - Met some great welcoming people, who provided support for my build in progress, only razzed me a little about sleeping in the van because my teardrop wasnt finished and it was too rainy for a tent!

The potluck was great. Good folks, good food. A lot of fun. I might add that although I do not generally partake, the libations were there and plentiful.

You should go - Another thing it is great to see some of these campers you've seen here, in real life!

You should go an enjoy it. Take some pictures for the Appalachian folk, like me!

AL in Asheville