My sister and b-in-law paid $10,500 for a new decked out pop-up.
I paid $9000 for a 20 yr old Airstream....and yet she says I am the snob?
My sister says, yes, you are the snob, you also had to buy a $40,000 diesel pickup to pull your trailer, and we didn't have to spend extra money to get a tow vehicle.......I said...
My wife and I like may others here work and have worked extremely hard our whole lives. Very few vacations and frugal lifestyle and long hours.. So we saved a little money and bought an airstream.... Purchasing something like this was out of character for us. life decisions.....like running our vehicles .....my every day van is a 1997 and I plan on a few more years I bought it used in 1998. My wife drives a 2002 explorer and will have it for a long time to come. We built our own house while living in a SOB on site in 1991. We refurbed some rental units in our spare time,,,,, Like many of you, we work very hard .Who were the snobs the last 20 years when those same individuals had all the time to go and do things and many of us were chained here to our work (by choice) Some play early....now we plan to start playing a little,,,,make the time Fnally. and we are doing it in a Airstream Snob......? How can we be blamed for being late starters then deciding to spend some extra money we coulda spent all along.
Last night we had dinner with some friends. They brought their Aunt that was visiting. At some point our friends started talking about my blog and what has been going on lately on the project. Well the Aunt, who was very dour and quiet lit up like a light bulb. She was so excited, that it was almost odd. She insisted on a tour. She was so insistent that when the waitress asked if we wanted dessert, see replied, " No bring me the check, we have an Airstream to go see" She picked up the bill and headed for the door. Actually turned, telling us to get a move on. When we got to the house I plugged Anna in unlocked the door. She jumped in like a 6 year old in the candy isle. The lady was actually crying. I was very overwhelmed by the experience. She told me it was the most beautiful Airstream she had ever been in. Then hugged me and said thank you. I have never seen anyone react to something like that.
I have never heard the snob comment. I only hear how lucky I am and weather I would loan it. Our friends 17 year old daughter asked if she could take it to the beach for week after graduation. My response was yes, after you give me $50,000 as a deposit.
I live in a double wide in a 55+ trailer park - Drive a new Porsche - Own a Airstream - Am retired - Have a good income to do what I want. I kinda enjoy being classified by different people, smile at the comments. From Trailer trash to snob, I guess I'm a mixture of it all.
Groups of folks, be they rich or poor, act amazingly the same when it comes to interfacing with folks outside their special "group" Only the folks inside the "group" are seen as the best! the benchmark to judge from, the elite. We start forming this attitude at a young age. You were either a Letterman in sports or a cheerleader or you were just, well - you know, nobody.
Are we Airstreamers snobby? Yes in a word - just read the posts about SOB's or the ones about Wally's bunch by the forum group - republicans about democrats.
Most of us, I suspect, even enjoy a little envy by others. Gotta go now, it's a nice day so I'm gonna put the top down on the Ssr and go for a cruse.
I think you get a little of that with anything that has the impression of being a more expensive. Lately I have been driving a 4 year old Jaguar that was considerably less expensive than the 300 or the STS but people treat you differently when you drive up in it which is kind of silly. I like it for the way it performs I didn't really care for the looks of that much.
Most of the time when I use an older Airstream people think it is new so I guess the reverse should work so try telling them yours is a 1987.
I think my favorite was a man I camped next to once who decried the Airstream expense. He was camping in a relatively new pop-up parked next to his trailered $40,000 bass boat.
Why is my Airstream more snobby than his (more expensive) bass boat?
Jim
__________________
Jim Gompper
WBCCI #5228
2006 25' Safari FB
After reading everyone's posts so far, it seems that those with vintage Airstreams receive warmer receptions at campgrounds than those of us with newer campers.
Perhaps people are more likely to approach an older unit for nostalgic reasons.
We've only taken our Safari out twice, so I really don't yet have much experience with other people's reactions, but I have noticed a cooler reception when we've camped.
That being said, we are really looking forward to our first rally in Bloomington that's coming up in a few weeks! It will be great to be among fellow Airstreamers!!
I just came in from polishing to post. I realized I am a snob. When we are on the road, if I see an SOB up ahead, well, I floor it. It is like something comes over me, washes over me with out reason. I set my sights and go hell bent for election to catch up and pass. Last rally we attended I saw an SOB miles ahead on 97 north. It took me close to 25 minutes to catch up and another 10 to full pass. I somehow must feel that they need to follow me, not the other way around. As far as being embarrassed to own an Airstream, well I am more embarrassed for those that do not. The fella I passed on 97 north was pulling a rig about as long as mine with a Ford F350. I pull with a Dodge 1500. As I came along side I gave him the two finger way and smiled. He waved back with one finger. I guess he was the one embarrassed.
Just wondering if this is a recent thing or has this been an ongoing thing since Airstream first appeared on the market.
It's almost embarrassing when talking to people and then telling them I own a 2007 Airstream. Do people really think we're snobs or well to do or something?
Don't get me wrong, LOVE the trailer and the lifestyle. Just hate talking about it to non Airstream owners.
I understand what you mean. We were very excited to get our Airstream. But now we tend to down play it in speaking to others if we mention it at all. In fact our own children don't even know we have a second Airstream.
My brother-in-law made comments that we may think their trailer is cheesy and an SOB when we were excitedly talking about our Airstream.
And this you may find unusual, I certainly did, but Airstreamers and club members themselves have made disparaging comments to me for trading up. I mean NASTY comments that really took me off guard. Not just one or two but several people have done that, not even in conversation or the context of discussing it, completely out of the blue, lopped as a charge against our characters as if a flaw. Believe it or not.
__________________ Carol
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” - Henry Miller
I just came in from polishing to post. I realized I am a snob. When we are on the road, if I see an SOB up ahead, well, I floor it. It is like something comes over me, washes over me with out reason. I set my sights and go hell bent for election to catch up and pass. Last rally we attended I saw an SOB miles ahead on 97 north. It took me close to 25 minutes to catch up and another 10 to full pass. I somehow must feel that they need to follow me, not the other way around. As far as being embarrassed to own an Airstream, well I am more embarrassed for those that do not. The fella I passed on 97 north was pulling a rig about as long as mine with a Ford F350. I pull with a Dodge 1500. As I came along side I gave him the two finger way and smiled. He waved back with one finger. I guess he was the one embarrassed.
Quick Links
I'm gonna put the top down on the Ssr and go for a cruse.
Not just one or two but several people have done that, not even in conversation or the context of discussing it, completely out of the blue, lopped as a charge against our characters as if a flaw. Believe it or not.
Linear Mode
