A Very Reluctant Spouse

[C&G in FL]

Being somewhat cynical and having read all the suggestions proposed to convince OhTom's wife to "change her attitude" and to embrace RVing, I have to wonder if the OP's wife were trying to get him to take up knitting and joyfully go to knitting classes (or in other words, do something in which he likely has no interest), how many members here would have forwarded suggestions to get him to "ease" into the knitting lifestyle, with the hope or intention of him ultimately embracing it and becoming an avid knitter. George W. Bush often stated he didn't like broccoli. Would taking him to a broccoli patch or convincing him to sample a small portion lead him to change his mind? The OP will not change his spouse's opinion; any change will have to come from her. It sounds to me that she is rather adamant about her feelings.


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[honda03842]

As an aside, I generally don't like broccoli but....

We go to a little farm here in FL where we pick strawberries. Her strawberries are not for 'store selling', simply selected and grown for sweet eating. One day we bought some of her broccoli. it was like a different vegetable. I now eat 'fresh' broccoli.

[C&G in FL]

Originally Posted by honda03842

As an aside, I generally don't like broccoli but....

We go to a little farm here in FL where we pick strawberries. Her strawberries are not for 'store selling', simply selected and grown for sweet eating. One day we bought some of her broccoli. it was like a different vegetable. I now eat 'fresh' broccoli.

Precisely my point, Norm. You had to decide that broccoli wasn't so bad; not your spouse. And that came from your willingness to try it. Some people are not willing to try things they do not like or think they will not like.
Incidentally, most strawberries here are awful; they have been hybridized to be large, colorful, and to travel well done but flavor has been lost in the process, all in the attempt to supply the rest of the nation with "fresh" produce during the winter months. The same can be said for Florida tomatoes; flavorless in comparison to tomatoes grown in the 4-season states.


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[honda03842]

Originally Posted by CPW

Precisely my point, Norm. You had to decide that broccoli wasn't so bad; not your spouse. And that came from your willingness to try it. Some people are not willing to try things they do not like or think they will not like.
Incidentally, most strawberries here are awful; they have been hybridized to be large, colorful, and to travel well done but flavor has been lost in the process, all in the attempt to supply the rest of the nation with "fresh" produce during the winter months. The same can be said for Florida tomatoes; flavorless in comparison to tomatoes grown in the 4-season states.

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It's in the trying that we find out for ourselves.

I happen to dislike most tomatoes, The local tomatoes are the way I remember them from my childhood.

FL bought tomatoes are great. There's a guy who has a stand right at the Walmart exit where he sells gloriously deep red tomatoes and watermelon, just a different product from what one finds in stores.

Of course I'm sure you know every state has four seasons. FL has four growing seasons, and each is longer (in days not sunlight hours) than more northern climates. Virtually everything can be grown in FL. Blueberries is the latest crop spreading thru the state.

We've already had fresh corn, strawberries, tomatoes, watermelon, of course oranges, .... fresh and generally inexpensive.

I admit we live in one of the most agricultural counties in FL. Tourists are relatively rare where we are. Cattle and oranges dominate. We are seekers of the rural.

My point in posting the broccoli story was the 'discovery aspect of life', the benefits of seeking. I understand that you can be comfortable where you are and that is enough for many. If it were true for all, the human species would still be in Africa and never have spread across the world.

P.S. Another magical property of FL is the long 'availability season' of many items. For example, strawberries are available from Dec- April., Fresh from the tree Oranges for a similar period.

[Tom Cantrell]

.....you can lead a horse to drink but you can't make him water...................

[Bob Miller]

I think the point of the suggestions is to make a trial FGRV experience as palatable as possible to encourage his wife to take a taste.
I avoided Chinese food until I was almost 35, after finally trying some I am now a Chinese food junkie.
Same for Broccoli, RV's and Children, until I tried them myself........


Early decisions as to what to like and not like are often mellowed with age, but ya gotta take that first step.


Of course, the OP could always let his wife know that, if she doesn't want to at least try, that her twice a week walking friend had expressed an interest in travel... LOLOLOL

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by CPW

Being somewhat cynical and having read all the suggestions proposed to convince OhTom's wife to "change her attitude" and to embrace RVing, I have to wonder if the OP's wife were trying to get him to take up knitting and joyfully go to knitting classes (or in other words, do something in which he likely has no interest), how many members here would have forwarded suggestions to get him to "ease" into the knitting lifestyle, with the hope or intention of him ultimately embracing it and becoming an avid knitter. George W. Bush often stated he didn't like broccoli. Would taking him to a broccoli patch or convincing him to sample a small portion lead him to change his mind? The OP will not change his spouse's opinion; any change will have to come from her. It sounds to me that she is rather adamant about her feelings.

This describes us. My wife and I have lots and lots of different activities that the other does not have interest in doing. I have interest in what she does, just no interest in doing it myself. We also have a lot of interests that we share, and fortunately one of them is camping.

Oh, and I loves me some broccoli. Well actually, I love all food.

Originally Posted by Bob Miller

I avoided Chinese food until I was almost 35, after finally trying some I am now a Chinese food junkie.

I am pretty much the opposite. When younger I used to love gorging on Chinese food, but as I aged and learned both all the bad stuff that goes in some of it, and how great other well prepared foods taste, I now eat it way less than I did before, just a couple times a year.

But your point is right on, we need to constantly try new things, even things we once did not care for. Our tastes, in food and everything else in life, change. I am willing to give just about anything a try (twice) to see how a respond to the experience, rather than just relying on my perception of it.

[Bob Miller]

The secret to good Chinese food is to: a) Eat in restaurants well populated with Asian folk and b) Never eat where there is an "A" inspection rating in the window. Real; Chinese restaurants seldom have an "A", usually a "B". And real Chinese food is very healthy. Chinese/American, not so much.....

[Kai in Seattle]

Originally Posted by CPW

Being somewhat cynical and having read all the suggestions proposed to convince OhTom's wife to "change her attitude" and to embrace RVing, I have to wonder if the OP's wife were trying to get him to take up knitting and joyfully go to knitting classes (or in other words, do something in which he likely has no interest), how many members here would have forwarded suggestions to get him to "ease" into the knitting lifestyle, with the hope or intention of him ultimately embracing it and becoming an avid knitter. George W. Bush often stated he didn't like broccoli. Would taking him to a broccoli patch or convincing him to sample a small portion lead him to change his mind? The OP will not change his spouse's opinion; any change will have to come from her. It sounds to me that she is rather adamant about her feelings.


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Wait--this is a different thread than I thought. This is about a reluctant spouse, not camp cooking. OK. Point well taken...our attitude has been that he should go, by himself, enjoy it, leave her to enjoy herself at home, and then they'll have lots to talk about when they rejoin each other. Separate vacations can be energizing to a relationship that's already sound--which theirs seemed like at the beginning of this thread.

As for the dog, you can always ask it which it prefers. Guess? It'll enjoy itself wherever it is, whoever it's with.

[C&G in FL]

I have friends who's dog gets super excited when she sees the trailer in the driveway. Loves camping!


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