A Large Family

[Janets Husband]

I just read Chas's good bye.
I guess he felt it was necessary because he bought another brand of trailer. Strangers would not feel that obligation.
This got me to thinking. Why is it necessary for others to say their goodbyes to people, some they have never met except in
cyber- space.
Is it a since of loss, an emotional debt?

Until we purchased an Airstream, I did not know that people such as the ones, I have met on this forum even exsisted. I have corresponded with people from around the world. I have asked questions and received answers. I hope I was able to contribute in some little way myself.
I have yet to meet Forum members face to face, but someday I hope to.

It is interesting to me that I am starting to learn about the personalities of various Forum members through their writings.
What a group; banker, bum, soldier, salior, indian chief.

I find that my deffinition of Community is changing for me.
Being of the age of pre-home computers, pre-internet, I would have never thought that this was possible.
I guess I am starting to feel that I am part of this Community.

So if you find it necessary to say your Hi's or your Goodbye's, I believe that someone will always be here to help, tell a joke or just say hi back at ya.

[markdoane]

Originally posted by Janet's Husband

It is interesting to me that I am starting to learn about the personalities of various Forum members through their writings.
What a group; banker, bum, soldier, salior, indian chief.

. . . . and guys in boxes!


Nicely said.

[Stefrobrts]

For the past ten years I've been involved in 'communities' on the 'net, in fact it has been my primary use for the net. We are a little remote where we are, and it seems I am always needing a little help and advice with the strange projects I am taking on. On the 'net there's always a forum for whatever your interest, and it's open 24 hours a day.

It started when we bought our first puppy, an American Eskimo. She's not like other dogs, and I quickly found an eskie email list full of experienced owners to help us train her and learn to deal with her, um, special issues. She grew up to be the best dog I've ever had, no doubt because of all the help I had getting her off on the right foot (paws). I quit using the forum though once I got past the hard part of raising her, because I was really just using it while I needed help.

Since then I've participated in the vintage mustang forum regularly when I restored my two pony cars, and the corvette forum for that little adventure, and more recently the miata forum when I brought home my litte scratch-n-dent miata last fall. It's interesting because each forum has it's own personality. The mustang people are eager to help, and often check back on you - I sold my mustang three years ago and I hear they still occasionally talk about me there and reference my webpage. The vette people hardly have time to talk about anything but themselves, but are occasionally helpful. The Miata people are obsessed with the tiniest little details (they can spend a week discussing if you should leave your factory tow-hooks on), and the moderators are constantly butting in, telling people to lay off certain topics and moving messages from one section to another.

But the Airstream forum is without a doubt my favorite. I don't have all that much on my trailer that needs work right now, but I still come here first thing every morning just to keep up with my new friends. I have met some of you in person, and am glad I did. This is probably the most friendly, open community I've come across. People can debate and discuss hot topics, and just keep going over the old ones. Newcomers are always treated nice, even when they ask the same questions we've all seen a bunch of times. Not all forums are like that. This really is a nice place, and a nice group of people.

To me it doesn't seem odd at all that we get together and chat over the net and build relationships and miss each other when we're gone. After all, it's all real people on the other end of the line. It's just a new way of staying in touch. Hopefully we still all get out amongst the 'real' folk now and then too.

[Porky Pig]

Originally posted by Janet's Husband
It is interesting to me that I am starting to learn about the personalities of various Forum members through their writings.
What a group; banker, bum, soldier, salior, indian chief.

Hey ... don't forget us barnyard animals.

[05ModPod]

And can both Peter and I relate to this camaraderie on this forum.

Although he has to work for a living and I get to play all day - he gets the full update as soon as he walks through the door. He is better at remembering names and know quite a few of you buy your handles.

We can relate to Stefroberts comments - as we have bombarded this site with question after question - many of them I can just here the whispers ("oh not that again ) And our excitement just can not be contained about the future our new lifestyle will bring.

In just over a month - we have been so lucky to have found an A/S in what we think is excellent condition (with only looking for 2 weeks) - indirectly through this forum. (read a thread that said check out Airstream Classifieds and provided a link and off I went).

Was extremely lucky to receive the assistance of a fellow Forum member From a simple PM that said "We are only an hour away - we can help if you like!" to negotiating on our behalf and getting her ready to roll before we even got down there. (I missed there location in that long thread about who can offer help) and just when I thought it was hopeless we received a PM - which by the way I had no clue what PM's

We have driven our first ever long haul of 4500 miles in 5 days to meet our new Friends and pick up our new A/S baby (okay so we don't have kids and everything remotely obsessive is our "baby").

And met fellow Airstreamers in the next community over from where we live. Had a wonderful breakfast together and already making plans to bulk order parts for our A/S refits, and possibly caravan together to the rally in May - all from a simple PM - "Hello Neighbours"

(Now that is what I call a trusting, caring and open arm forum - Airstream community)

And since we have been home- I have literally not moved my butt from the computer - pestering this community to no end with ? after ?. I have spent hours and hours reading all your posts all the way back to 02 and looked at 1000's of photos...

Simply put there is no other forum quit like this - there are no other people quite like Aistreamers - be they first- timers, part-timers, full-timers or old-timers, vintage units or spanking new units.

We love it and we have not even started!

Aistreamers for Life...

Sharon & Peter

[ALANSD]

when I bought my Airstream 2 and a half years ago, I had not the slightest clue what I was getting into. I had seen one and just had to have my own.

Lucky for me a few months after I began my odyssey, Andy emailed me and asked if i would like to help with this new web site he was going to put up. I had gotten most of my previous knowledge from RV.net, our own Fred's classic motohrome site which came up about the time I was looking for mine...

well we made predictions about how many members we might have, and amazed ourselves at what happened, never thinking we might actually have 4000 people registered here.

Needless to say I have learned SOOO much from all of the great folks here, and saved a ton of money in silly mistakes and in repairs/upgrades that I was able to do myself.

No doubt, I am a confirmed Airstreamer and this forum has a lot to do with that. although I have looked at a few other brands for possible future ownership, I feel a bond to this group and to this brand for all those reasons.

[Davydd]

I'm marking 20 years in participating in online discussion forums starting with dial up BBSes, the old Compuserve and GEnie networks, the anarchical newsgroups, AOL and now the WWW. This is been one of the most civil and interesting forums that I have participated in.

Most forums don't go beyond the online experience but I have already met two forum members in person and I haven't even pulled my Airstream anywhere yet.

[Big Dee]

I have to say I have been addicted to this forum since I found it in a few months ago. It sucks up all my time and I love it. I find myself rushing to the computer when I wake up or when evr I've been away. I love it here. Thanks you guys!

Davydd: I was a member of GEnie. Those are memories!

[Photobitstream]

This forum is different than the others I've participate on. I used to help moderate a photography forum, and had to delete a lot of threads due to different reasons, among them the threads devolving into rancorous discussions.

I spend too much time at rv.net too, and after reading a new post about the best love songs, I have to say I fit in much better here. Those people were praising John Denver, Michael Bolton, Perry Como, Fleetwood Mac (the Christine McVie version, not the blues-based Peter Green version), ad nauseam. Just comparing the musical tastes here versus rv.net convinced me I like y'all better than the run-of-the-mill square box owners.

My wife and I are planning to buy a new travel trailer in two years, and the choice has come down to an Airstream Classic or an Automate. Just this afternoon I was thinking if we buy an Automate I should keep my Overlander so I could remain a member of the Airstream community.

We Airstreamers are a bit different than the rest of the RVers out there, and have a common bond in our trailers. That's why people feel compelled to say goodbye when they buy another brand.

SWMBO and I are thinking of buying some land outside Alpine, TX, and building a house with two RV pads. Even if we buy an SOB we'll welcome any Airstream owners who need a place to stay while traveling in that area. We'll especially welcome Airstreamer musicians, or those who have well-stocked bars. Musicians with well-stocked bars will receive priority treatment.

[jcanavera]

....and if you think its fun here in cyber space, come to the Midwest Fourms rally and meet the folks behind the cloud.

Jack

[idahosafari]

Originally posted by Big Dee
I have to say I have been addicted to this forum since I found it in a few months ago. It sucks up all my time and I love it. I find myself rushing to the computer when I wake up or when evr I've been away. I love it here. Thanks you guys!

No kidding!! My experience has almost been identical to Big Dee. Only difference is I check in about every 30 minutes during the day to see if there's been any interesting new posts. Thanks everyone for being so friendly!! Hope to see some of you in person in the future!

- Charlie

[biggerbadbrad]

Those people were praising John Denver, Michael Bolton, Perry Como, Fleetwood Mac (the Christine McVie version, not the blues-based Peter Green version), ad nauseam.

So can I still participate in this forum if I'm a Fleetwood Mac fan?
I promise I won't tell any more "Little Lies"
I hope you say "Dont Stop"
But maybe you will say "Go Your Own Way"
I hope you will "Say You Love Me" and just "Hold Me"
Afterall, I have such "Big Love" for this forum and all of its members because "You Make Loving Fun"
Okay, this is starting to get "Over My Head" ...

bbb

[Photobitstream]

biggerbadbrad:

"Dont' ask me what I think of you, I might not give the answer that you want me to."

Oh Well.

[Silvertwinkie]

Originally posted by jcanavera
....and if you think its fun here in cyber space, come to the Midwest Fourms rally and meet the folks behind the cloud.

Jack

Yea, we only turn Jack loose once per year on the local Airstream folks....so much adventure for a few days!

[jcanavera]

Originally posted by Silvertwinkie


Yea, we only turn Jack loose once per year on the local Airstream folks....so much adventure for a few days!

Yep I only have so much to give and the the folks at the home only give me a pass a couple of times a year....

Jack

[Silvertwinkie]

Caffeine first Jack, then computer! Just think of the alphabet Ca comes before Co!

LOL!