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Post by ianali on Apr 24, 2024 7:04:31 GMT
15/16 years aboard owner. Since retiring(early) some 10 years ago we have spent 6/8 months a year travelling much of the system. Infrastructure is a little more creaky than it was 10 years ago, but not so bad. Biggest change Iβve noticed is there are less obviously happy boaters around. I suppose this just reflects UK life in general. Still enough happy ones to make most of our days good ones.
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Post by dogless on Apr 24, 2024 7:25:36 GMT
Thanks for the responses.
It seems generally that there's more concerns about the future and dissatisfaction with the number of boats, and the temperament of other boaters.
Is that a fair assessment ?
Rog
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Post by ianali on Apr 24, 2024 7:34:29 GMT
Thanks for the responses. It seems generally that there's more concerns about the future and dissatisfaction with the number of boats, and the temperament of other boaters. Is that a fair assessment ? Rog Maybe itβs just that as we age, we become less happy. I have noticed that when Iβm out with my children and friends, or out with the car club, that there is generally more fun and laughter to be had.
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Post by Telemachus on Apr 24, 2024 7:53:01 GMT
Thanks for the responses. It seems generally that there's more concerns about the future and dissatisfaction with the number of boats, and the temperament of other boaters. Is that a fair assessment ? Rog Maybe itβs just that as we age, we become less happy. I have noticed that when Iβm out with my children and friends, or out with the car club, that there is generally more fun and laughter to be had. Iβm sure this is true - Jeff and I donβt go around laughing and having fun. Well not in public anyway! But we are always courteous and friendly towards other people. However there do seem to be an increasing number of grumpy miserable people on the canals - not hirers, but private owners.
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Post by dogless on Apr 24, 2024 7:59:57 GMT
Since Easter we've seen quite a lot of hire and share boats, maybe more than private, I guess because Easenhall is restricting travel and we've been saying it's good to see them around again ... equal measures of excitement terror and fun π
Perhaps some lose the fun in every day activities onboard, and become cynics.
But I find it interesting that there appears more concern about boats and boaters now ... coupled about concerns for the system going forward.
Rog
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Post by ianali on Apr 24, 2024 8:25:44 GMT
Maybe itβs just that as we age, we become less happy. I have noticed that when Iβm out with my children and friends, or out with the car club, that there is generally more fun and laughter to be had. Iβm sure this is true - Jeff and I donβt go around laughing and having fun. Well not in public anyway! But we are always courteous and friendly towards other people. However there do seem to be an increasing number of grumpy miserable people on the canals - not hirers, but private owners. You were both laughing when we had drinks in Newbury(?) I canβt believe Jeff has lost, to quote Ali, βhis wicked sense of humourβ since then. Hope not anyway.
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Post by ianali on Apr 24, 2024 8:28:48 GMT
Since Easter we've seen quite a lot of hire and share boats, maybe more than private, I guess because Easenhall is restricting travel and we've been saying it's good to see them around again ... equal measures of excitement terror and fun π Perhaps some lose the fun in every day activities onboard, and become cynics. But I find it interesting that there appears more concern about boats and boaters now ... coupled about concerns for the system going forward. Rog I still think itβs age related. Asking on here, where the average age is probably over 60, will get answers from us miserable old guys.
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Post by brummieboy on Apr 24, 2024 10:46:36 GMT
Since Easter we've seen quite a lot of hire and share boats, maybe more than private, I guess because Easenhall is restricting travel and we've been saying it's good to see them around again ... equal measures of excitement terror and fun π Perhaps some lose the fun in every day activities onboard, and become cynics. But I find it interesting that there appears more concern about boats and boaters now ... coupled about concerns for the system going forward. Rog I still think itβs age related. Asking on here, where the average age is probably over 60, will get answers from us miserable old guys. Don't you find that it's not just here that the average of boaters is rising? In my experience, boating does not attract the younger generation for the same reasons that it did when we were younger. As Telemachus described, boating was looked upon as an adventure and craft were often little more than floating tents. Nowadays, central heating, washing machines, microwaves, kettles and toasters are 'de rigeur' for craft, which must be at least 57ft long. I think similar has happenned with other recreational pastimes such as camping and caravanning. New recruits to boating see their vessel as their country cottage and often 'guard' their privacy in selfish isolation. Back in the 60's and 70's, the cohesive efforts of boaters did much to improve the system and highlight problems with cruises to overcome navigational difficulties. There are still boaters who have a handy oilcan to lubricate seized paddle gear, and similar to ease the way. These days it is always someone elses job to fix things and protest by keyboard has become the norm.
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Post by β on Apr 24, 2024 10:56:21 GMT
Yes things have changed.
I was rather shocked how grateful a bloke was when I did one of the Thames locks for him and his other half. I was going through in the fleet auxiliary launch. They were in a modern day Boat of their own. Expensive thing. He gave me a bottle of wine and said me doing the lock made their day a lot more pleasant.
I really like doing the locks but for some people it is a chore.
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Post by fi on Apr 24, 2024 10:59:19 GMT
Come to London! The oldest boater on my moorings is 90+, the youngest is 3. Most of us are below 60 and all enjoy a laugh and mickey take out of each other.
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Post by Andyberg on Apr 24, 2024 11:33:33 GMT
all enjoy a laugh and mickey take out of each other. Probably all spaced off their tits on smack or pissed up on special brew!π
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Post by Aloysius on Apr 24, 2024 11:36:47 GMT
all enjoy a laugh and mickey take out of each other. Probably all spaced off their tits on smack or pissed up on special brew!π It's practically obligatory south of Watford.
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Post by Clinton Cool on Apr 24, 2024 11:38:59 GMT
Thanks for the responses. It seems generally that there's more concerns about the future and dissatisfaction with the number of boats, and the temperament of other boaters. Is that a fair assessment ? Rog Maybe itβs just that as we age, we become less happy. I have noticed that when Iβm out with my children and friends, or out with the car club, that there is generally more fun and laughter to be had. There definitely can be less fun and laughter as we age. We've seen most of it before, right? We might balance this though against the feeling of contentment. In my case at least, this is off the scale, compared to when I was younger.
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Post by β on Apr 24, 2024 12:08:30 GMT
The CRT is a wellbeing organisation so it will probably all be fine with no issues.
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Post by dogless on Apr 24, 2024 12:19:01 GMT
Some folks do rather stand back a bit and not wish to 'get involved' ... assume this isn't just my face frightening them π
For example going down Hillmorton , I noticed a share boat following us, so as nothing was coming up I set the lock for them. Did the same at the second lock as we were there first.
They did thank me, but they were a bit taken aback and kept their distance ... looked like I'd demanded their wallets.
By the third lock one of the men (two middle aged couples on board) actually got chatting with us.
Maybe they simply don't know about helping out and socialising at locks?
Rog
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