Saturday, December 16, 2017

Friends

Where Are We Today
Lake Havasu City Arizona

( written by me, myself and I )

It must be the time of year, because here he goes again, Bill that is. If you remember, it was about the same time last year that he got all mushy.
He said to me the other day that he doesn't know from what cache of his mind these thoughts/ideas come from, but they do. So the topic of this conversation was "Friends", who, how many and what kind, and by what kind, he meant personal, social media, life style and blogger friends, of which many cross all of those categories.

Before we go any further, he interjected, family is important here also, immediate family are more than friends along with in-law family, who he lovingly refers to as the out-laws, but because they are called friends on social media sites, they need to be recognized. It was also mentioned that the love and support for the life style ( which is full time RVing) that they have chosen is overwhelming.
Joan
So to start with, Bill said that thinking back to childhood/school days, there is one friend who he hears from on social media, that is Joan Wood, they met in 1966 as classmates at King Lear Public School and lost contact during high school. A few years ago, they found each other on social media and continue that friendship online. One day he hopes that they will meet again in person after 40 some years.

Friends come and go for various reasons, they come into your life for and through many avenues, work, play, marriages, divorces, family and social media, some stay and some leave. Bill partially remembered an old saying that goes something like this, " friends that stay were meant to be and those that don't, just fade away", a good way to look at it.
Kim

Heather, Pat, Laurie A.& Laurie B

Deb

Brenda

So taking a look at the various types of friends, he said that work friends cross a couple of those categories. While working, there were people who you call friends, not just work mates. He said that they were the ones that you looked forward to seeing each time that you worked together or crossed paths during a work day. Since retiring. he hasn't seen a lot of them, but most are on social media and keep in touch. Brenda, Mike, Fred, Steve, Deb, Kim, Laurie, Eric and Mark to name a few that came to his mind.
Kathy & Derrick Sumnall

Jim & Sharon May

Charmaine, Colin, Selina 7 Samantha

Next he said that play friends, meaning people who he met through his hobby, RC aircraft, are what comes to mind and some of these cross more than one categories. Some of them lead to friendship with more than the individual, but also their spouse and family. When spouses came into equation, that meant that Bill's wife Pat became part of that friendship also, which led to friendships outside of the hobby/play category. 
Pat

A few that came to his mind were, The Nashs', The Sumnalls', The Henrys', The Mays', The Carters', Keith, Kevin, Jack and many others. One thing about belonging to a club and meeting new friends is the support in that hobby that is given to each other.



Lina, Giselle & Chris Carter

Keith

Kevin

 Bill said that he can't thank them enough for that help and support  that continues to be given in and outside the hobby.
In Bill's mind, the last two categories are combined, because one evolved from the other, that being blogger friends evolved from RVing, so many of the friends cross from one to the other. Although Rving/ camping, started for both Bill and Pat before they met, it continued after a short time into their marriage. Having gone through tent, tent trailer, truck camper and now on their 4th fifth wheel trailer which led into full time RVing.


George, Gerry, Dee, Mike, Melinda, and Suzie

Ken & Nancy Adamski

The first to be recognized, Bill says, is a blogger who gave so much information into full time RVing then and after they met is George and Suzie Yates, whose blog is" Our Awesome Travels". From them, they have met so many other part and full time RVers, The Aljoes', The Whites', The Hicks', The Goodens', The Adamskis', The Denzlers', The Obergs', to name a few. Through blogger there are many who they have met and not met yet, Rick & Kathy, Deb & Tom, Al & Kelly, Deb & Riley, Ken & Shirley, Mike & Sandy and many more. Bill says, if you read his or Pat's blog, you can find the many friends on blogger down the right hand side of the page.
Rob & Pat Aljoe


Oscar & Judy Oberg

Lori & Rowland Denzler

Rick & Kathy

That brings to mind one last and important part of the RVing experience. That one being the dealer who you buy your RV from, in this case, their three last trailers came from CanAm RV, in London Ontario. Bill said that not everyone buys from a dealer or the same dealer, but in his opinion, if you find one that gives you excellent service and you can build a rapport with, he likes to stick with them. In Pat and Bill's case, this is CanAm RV. He said that this experience as customers first, then friends has now grown to a family feeling with CanAm. It starts with the owners, Andy & Kirk Thomson, then filters down through the staff, from sales, finance, service, parts and the unseen techs who prepare and repair our RV.
CanAm Family
The relationship with CanAm, led first to Pat & Bill helping out at RV shows, getting to know the staff and meeting manufacturer representatives, other RVers and those looking to become RVers. The second thing for Bill, led to a part time job, showing people through the trailer they have bought, new or used. If you know Bill at all, he likes to talk, and knows enough about trailers to do this. He will also tell you, that this is a learning experience for him, as new technology appears, he has the opportunity to see it. He will tell you that he gets to talk with the techs and learn from them, whether it is new technology or how to fix something on their own trailer.

While Bill has been rambling on here, I have been putting his thoughts into words. I get from all of this, that Bill thinks friends, no matter what category, are important. It doesn't matter whether they are personal, work related, play, RVers or bloggers, whether you communicate each day or not, whether you see each other on a daily bases or once every few years, as long as you keep in touch, that's what counts, that's what makes you friends.
To sum it up, he says, friends are friends, you don't have to be in touch 365 days a year, but stay in touch. If you decide to leave, no hard feelings.
This is the time of year that he says you should give some extra thought to all of those you call friends. 

Bill is thankful for each one and hopes that you don't take offense if he has missed you.
  

 

23 comments:

  1. Thanks Clemson for writing that friends story for Bill. It got me thinking just how many people we are subjected to in our full time travels across the country, who we fondly refer to as friends. It seems that in the RV world, you have to make friends fast because you normally only have a week or so to get to know some one. How often have you finally got around to saying hi to someone on the day you are going to leave where you are at, and find that they are interesting people and you should have talked to them earlier. They become quick friends. Is there a time requirement before you can call some one a friend? I don't think so. Friendship is a feeling of mutual understanding and can happen almost immediately. With that thought in mind, Clemson's blog got me thinking about how many friends we have, and how many more we will make as we travel this awesome country. Remember strangers are just friends we haven't met yet. As Christmas approaches Sue and I and Charlie would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and the best in the New Year. Say Merry Christmas to our friends Bill and Patsy too. See you on the road!!!

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    1. No truer words have been spoken. Bill, Patsy and I appreciate the heartfelt comment, it brought tears to my parents eyes. We are happy to include you, Sue and Charlie in our list of friends. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year. Hopefully our paths cross soon.
      Clemson

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  2. What a wonderful post not only are you cute Clemson but a thoughtful writer as well.
    It is so true that true friendships are not about seeing each other everyday, nor does it have anything to do about how long you have known someone, it is about a feeling you get when you meet someone and you just know they are someone you want to have in your life. You, Patsy, and Bill are three of those someones. Tom and I are looking forward to seeing you all real soon.

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    1. Patsy and I are fortunate to have you in our list of friends and we are looking forward to seeing you real soon. So happy that you are on your way south, safe travels.

      Clemson

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  3. We have so many friends we have met over the years I would hesitate to begin to name names. But is sure is nice to keep meeting up with them here and there in our travels no matter where we go and never know who we will meet or when we will meet again.
    Thanks for this lovely posting and sure glad that you are enjoying this lifestyle and meeting more amazing people.

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    1. Yes, I am beginning to realize that there are even more friends then I thought, and to sit and name them all without looking, would be impossible. I was hoping to meet friends from last year, but realize that you will not always see each other from year to year.
      We are for sure enjoying this lifestyle, and a huge thank you for all that you have shown us.

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    2. Your welcome glad we could give you a few tips, It is a different lifestyle and so interesting , just never know who you will meet next. Or when you will meet up again.

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  4. What a beautiful posting, made me tear up to be included in your friends list is special. Thank you. You, Bill and Patsy make our mornings with the blogs. We are really looking forward to meeting up with you all later this winter when we head south. We feel like we know each other (and other bloggers) without meeting yet. Glad you are enjoying the lifestyle and the atv where you're at now.

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    1. Thank you for your kind comments, Bill and Patsy & I appreciate them along with reading your blog daily. We also are looking forward to meeting you both later this winter. Until then, take care and safe travels.

      Clemson

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  5. Clemson this is really nice, friends are treasures. Bill and Pat do love you very much and so do all your friends including us! Benno & Marlene

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    1. Thank you so much, it is a blessing to be loved by so many.

      Clemson

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  6. What a wonderfully thoughtful post, the collaboration between Bill and Clemson worked flawlessly. Thank you for the inclusion in considering us friends, the feeling is very mutual. We too consider a number of folks from social media to be friends, even though we haven't yet had the pleasure of actually meeting them in person. This is an amazing world, with fantastic technology that allows us to connect in so many ways. Bless you Bill/Clemson Richards for having such a wonderfully inclusive insight into life and thank you for sharing it with all of us. We are all fortunate to call you friend.

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    1. hank you so much, Bill ( dad as I call him )appreciates your comments. We hope that we get the chance to meet this winter. Until then, take care and safe travels.

      Clemson

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  7. Clemson, you got me choked up.Good dog.I'm honoured to be included in this blog.Laying here in the sun, poolside, I recall those walks in the snow from King Lear and Northwestern. Good grief, I could never do it now. I am blessed to have the 3 of you in my life. Safe travels and peaceful journeys.

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    1. Thank you Joan, Dad is filling me on those walks also and agrees, he wouldn't want to be doing them now either. Enjoy the pool time and take care.

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  8. What a great post Clemson ����
    Love your title friends
    We could not be more proud to be on the friends you meet list . And you Clemson have more furry little friends as well , you sure have stole our hearts .
    It’s amazing that in such a short time of RV life you all have made some great friends . Sorry no it’s not amazing as you guys meet people so easily .
    Bill and Patsy are so easy to like they make you feel right at home , Right from day one .
    Patsy with her big smile and happy face Bill with his big hugs . So many people come and go in your life . Then those are those friends that you just connect with . Friends are a treasure . Friends are another family that you choose .
    They watch over you and look after you .
    Bill and Patsy have showed this to us over and over again .
    You both have such a wonderful insight on the lifestyle you have choose and dreaming of . you truly are happy with your decision . Shows in your faces .
    So thank you for your friendship and coming into her life .
    Merry Christmas Bill and Patsy and of course Clemson ������
    Lol Pat & Rob Aljoe

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    1. Thank you, and your right, I have many furry friends too. Mom sure does know how to write a good post and you know dad, he loves to talk and will talk to anyone.Dad says that us and you guys are the same kind of people, that's why we get along so well. I know they have said many times since we left home, that you are missed and wish you were here with us. S we all hope that will happen next year.
      Merry Christmas Pat and Rob.

      Love Clemson, and mom and dad too.

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  9. A great friends write up. We have been off the grid and offshore for a week or so, great fun but glad to be back too:))

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    1. Thanks guys,good to fun on the water, but always nice to come ashore too.

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  10. A great blog! Love it! MB

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  11. It was about 7 years ago (my memory sucks) that I started talking to Bill at work about Rving and not to my surprise I received a positive spin filled with the ins and outs of the lifestyle and where to find good/great advice and support. We depart in 9 days for our first long-term adventure and I believe that this would not have been possible without the free advice, support, and honesty that has led us down this path.
    Hope that all is well, happy travels, and Merry Christmas.
    Cheryl and Steve Kerr

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    1. Thank you Steve. In this life style, you will find that most RVers are willing to pass on tips and help with problems. Some tips are good and some not. Take everything with a grain of salt, if something doesn't feel right, then ask someone else what they think about it. I will always listen to someones advice as there is always something new to learn.
      All the best with your first long - term adventure, travel safe and Merry Christmas.

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