Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2020 07:45:06 -0600
Reply-To: Ralph Meyermann <ralphmeyermann@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Ralph Meyermann <ralphmeyermann@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Friday subject - are we on the list just old farts?
In-Reply-To: <071135CD-7E84-4CB1-9D1D-A907C5AE4E90@suddenlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Is 44 qualified for old fart status?
On Sat, Feb 15, 2020, 12:59 AM Lloyd McClelland <lloydmac@suddenlink.net>
wrote:
> I also retired 5 or so years ago and am now growing a small goatee after
> 35 years of staying air pack emergency qualified - what a change . Side
> note I still have a Westfalia I bought locally (California) in 1999.
>
> > On Feb 14, 2020, at 8:48 PM, Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
> >
>
> I retired five years ago and for my last day of work shaved off my beard
> of 32 years. Been off ever since. I spent the last ten years of my
> working life at that IT company in which I was the eldest employee. Most
> of the young guys drove Ford Fusions and voted Republican, making me
> despair for the upcoming generation. One of them bought a motorcycle, none
> of them rode bicycles, none of them had "hobby vehicles." Fantasy football
> and Call of Duty reigned. I was glad to leave and haven't missed it a bit.
> Somewhere there must be young Vanagon drivers but I don't know them.
> Stephen
> On Friday, February 14, 2020, 10:31:47 PM EST, Alistair Bell <
> albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>
> I go on and off with beard. Every time I go on it gets whiter...
>
> Alistair
>
> > On Feb 14, 2020, at 7:07 PM, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net>
> wrote:
> >
> >
> > I remember a List entry years ago. The question was: Do most Vanagon
> owners have beards? Seemed so to the inquirer. And....I think the answer
> is ... Yes. Only now...the color has changed from Salt and Pepper....to
> mostly Salt. True for me! But I still change my oil and filter, and I've
> got a bitchen 2.2 Subaru motor in my backside. So...Take that you
> youngsters! Ha-Ha!!!
> >
> > Rich
> >
> > San Diego
> >
> > On Friday, February 14, 2020, 6:56:36 PM PST, Alistair Bell <
> albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Eric,
> >
> > I can totally see and concur. I suppose my shorthand had made two
> groups, the young and naive and the old and jaded :-)
> >
> > As with all things, it’s more nuanced.
> >
> > But the mailing list is old tech. Sheesh, us old guys still hang on to
> listserv as cutting edge :-)
> >
> > Alistair
> >
> >
> >>> On Feb 14, 2020, at 6:47 PM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net>
> wrote:
> >>
> >> When I go to VW bus gatherings most of us are I believe 50 and older.
> Still In my VW closest group there are folks in their 40s.
> >>
> >> At these same events there are always a few 30 somethings even
> folks in their late twenties but not as many as the older groups.
> >>
> >> The younger groups seem to be a mix some working hard to keep a bus
> nice and functional. An a few with busses that look like they were already
> parked in the weeds and could not possibly start up and move, yet they do.
> >>
> >> A lot of the younger folks purchased vanagon or busses I would not have
> recommended. They are just learning about the care and don’t have this
> list or someone to guide them. I’ve seen many yellow 1980 air cooled buses
> brought back from the dead by these younger folks. Then again, that may
> have been the only starting van they could afford.
> >> So, I’m guessing we are a older bunch but the younger folks are still
> in the mix.
> >>
> >> As for this list I don’t think it is easy to find or know about.
> And the younger group is all about facebook.
> >>
> >> Eric
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>> On Feb 14, 2020, at 9:23 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Now don’t get me wrong. Don’t think I’m accusing anyone or if this has
> to do with any recent list subjects.
> >>>
> >>> It’s ti do with my own experience, day to day. I work where I’m the
> oldest person. This is a first for me. The other guys are half my age and
> pretty well twice my smarts. And we do a lot of Toyota Tacoma and
> forerunner accessories and mods. And some jeep stuff.
> >>>
> >>> These vehicles are all within 5 years old, many are brand new. The
> purchase price of these toys is high, and what we put on them isn’t cheap.
> >>>
> >>> Customers all younger than me, all enthusiastic and energetic. And all
> want that off road ( overland) look for the trucks.
> >>>
> >>> As an owners group, they all are much younger and more willing to
> spend money than what the average vanagon owner is. They vast majority of
> vanagon owners I meet are around my age(61). Yes, I know there are younger
> owners, some of the van life types, but majority are old farts. And we old
> farts are tight with our money. And often we have the btdt attitude that
> I’m finding, in myself, to be a negative attitude.
> >>>
> >>> What do you folk think? I know there are younger list members, even
> now with the list being much much much quieter than the hay days of the 90s
> and 00s.
> >>>
> >>> Just a Friday musing eh?
> >>>
> >>> Alistair
> >>
>
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