ATOM feed
According to Cindy Gough writing in the APIA Beyond50 Magazine, Australia’s so-called grey nomad army is growing in astonishing numbers. The article calculates that there are more than 150,000 mobile nomads over 50 doing the rounds, and that many of the travellers help to pay expenses by working along the way.
Check out these links for more info...
Workabout Australia
and here:
No Boundaries
Working Holidays Downunder
[Picture courtesy of No Boundaries and John and Pat Brookfield]
We met one such couple when we were camped at Boonaroo last year (or was it the year before? time flies..). Seeing this article reminded me. They were birdwatchers, and had spent the last 5 months camped and working as camp administrators at a forest reserve somewhere in the wilds of Western Australia or the Northern Territory, I forget which.
I am in two minds about whether I would enjoy doing this, or not. I like the ‘idea’ of it; but the practicality might be a different thing. We enjoy our little jaunts here and there, and seeing and doing new things, but I am always glad to get home, and there is a limit to the time I enjoy being away from my comfortable surroundings.
This is a strange generation I think, we definitely seem to have a strong ‘herd’ mentality. I wonder why? Remember when it was the ‘thing’ to go overseas to work, going OS it was cleverly called, and everybody did it, or that was the impression but probably, again, not necessarily the fact. And of course there were the sixties, flower children and free love, and sex and drugs and rock and roll - and everybody did that .. didn’t they?
And now, it seems, we are all busily spending our children's inheritance as quickly as we can, and roaming around the countryside fruitpicking and cleaning toilets. hmmm...
I am in two minds about whether I would enjoy doing this, or not. I like the ‘idea’ of it; but the practicality might be a different thing. We enjoy our little jaunts here and there, and seeing and doing new things, but I am always glad to get home, and there is a limit to the time I enjoy being away from my comfortable surroundings.
This is a strange generation I think, we definitely seem to have a strong ‘herd’ mentality. I wonder why? Remember when it was the ‘thing’ to go overseas to work, going OS it was cleverly called, and everybody did it, or that was the impression but probably, again, not necessarily the fact. And of course there were the sixties, flower children and free love, and sex and drugs and rock and roll - and everybody did that .. didn’t they?
And now, it seems, we are all busily spending our children's inheritance as quickly as we can, and roaming around the countryside fruitpicking and cleaning toilets. hmmm...
Other Nomad Photos by: Mark Rhodes and Brad Nichols,
and courtesy of Tourism of Western Australia
12 Comments
I totally believe in folk 'spending the kids' inheritance'. Why the hell not, I say! They earned it...let the kids make their own fortunes. A parent's job is to give the children strong values and principles...it is then up to the kids to work their own ways through the life awarded them. So many siblings fight over the estates anyway...so it solves that problem once and for all! ;)
I don't have children so I don't have to worry about that bit...I've nothing to leave anyway, other than two libraries full of books and other memorabilia of my own...the cats can have all that!
I think it's wonderful for 'others' to pick up and head off...but I'm a true Scorpio, I think. I like being home with my things around me, including my two cats...sometimes I wish I could wriggle my nose like Samantha did...and experience a couple of life choices but as I can't do that, I'll stick with the one I've got. I'm pretty reclusive and get more so as the days go by...enjoying my own company...I read, write and paint...try to bother no one and hope they won't bother me! ;)
But to the 'Grey Nomads' I say...Good on ya, mates!
Oh...the sixties were great! I wouldn't mind them again....the 1960s that is! ;)
I'm with Lee. I love going on holidays but I'm always glad to get back to my own turf. Anyway, I don't want to do what everyone else is doing. I did enough of that when I was younger lol!
As for spending the kids' inheritance, I'm all for that myself. Mum's spending mine, I'm spending the girls' and so it goes. Great fun!
We were one of many out on road,with caravan on tow we headed north to Darwin For winter for 4 months for the last 6 years and sign writing on many caravans having a SKI (spending kids inheritence) holiday . they were the best holidays we had, also meeting and making new friends all with something in common (travel)
Hi,
We have nomads here too, they live on their retirement that is automatically deposited into there checking accounts then sell the house and hit the road. After so many decades of kids and responsabilities they can say goodby to all that and just be.
be alone, be a couple, be free?
Janice~
There's no way in this world that my husband would tow a caravan anywhere, not even to the end of our street.
We own several weeks of TimeShare accommodation per year and enjoy the opportunity to either spend a week at a time at the coast or some other resort in Australia, and could use them overseas if we wished.
However, I too love being home, especially in the garden and doing some crafts. If I go away, it's only a matter of a few weeks before I start hankering to return home. So I'd prefer go to a variety of places for a short time rather than stay on the road for months as a time.
some lovely photos there, would love to caravan it one day
Hi Lee, I agree on the reclusive, I can be quite happy alone with my thoughts; my kids expect nothing from me, luckily they have their father, in fact I think the arguments have already begun 'you have her' .. 'no, you have her' .. re my promise to spend my last days being taken care of by them!
puss, a family tradition! now that's a good one...
Jen, that sounds ideal... best of both worlds...
Hi Janice, thanks for visiting, Alice I am with your husband, I am never comfortable travelling and towing anything, I would have to go the Winnebago if I could afford one. Timeshare is good, my son's in-laws have one at Port Macquarie they go to regularly.
littlejen, thanks for dropping by, the photos do tell a 1000 words, don't they...
Gidday Dellab, Thanks for having a look at my post on Peter. I'd love to be a nomad, I'm grey (well heading that way) but still working so it'll be a while before I become that way. Mind you one can still visit those places while on holidays except there is never enough time to see all the things you want to see while on holidays.
Hi Della, sorry I haven't been around for a while, I installed Bloglines recently and have been relying on it to tell me when folks have new posts up, your site for some reason (maybe because it's a web site) doesn't show up.
Loved being a nomad and would certainly do it again.... but not alone.
hi
we are semi retired and are starting to think about leaving the grown kids at home and wandering around for short periods.
What is the best way to do that? We do not want to sell up, change our car or buy a van. (sounding like toooooo many don'ts when I read it. LOL!
But anyway have you guys got any thoughts at starting off. Just to see if we like it, can stand each other for 24/7 and indeed afford it.
What would you recommend?
with thanks grummy
Hi Grummy, if you use the link in the main post, go and have a look at some of the sotries on the No Boundaries site, people write in and tell how they did it and where they went.
thanks for visiting..
Della
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