We on these boards lost a good friend recently, who died in his sleep of heart problems while RVing. I unfortunately never met him, but in photos, he looked quite healthy. With guys, especially, the tendency to want to "fix things" and climb on ladders goes way beyond logic, sometimes. I'll never judge...
Judy & Bud (Judy usually the one talking here)
2004 Pleasure-Way Excel TD
co-pilots, Rosie & Poquita
Deen>>I have MS and five knee surgeries so far. NONE of this is evident from looking at me.
More power to you ... since you are doing so well, I hope you'll consider not camping in the handicapped spots in case someone who isn't doing so well comes along. I have two friends with MS (a husband and wife team, actually) who are totally confined to wheelchairs. They certainly would need the handicapped spots more than you or me.
>>Others who have already posted have heart problems that are not readily evident.
Deen ... while traveling RV solo a couple of years ago, I ended up in Intensive Care in Monroe, LA with cardiac problems (throwing multiple PVC's ... it was the last solo trip my wife allowed me to take.) I've been under cardiac care for more than 20 years ... and every cardiologist I've ever had has encouraged me to get as much exercise as I can.
And I trust that others are told that by their heart doctors ...
As are most orthopedic patients encouraged to lose as much WEIGHT as they can. I, too, have had multiple orthopedic surgeries on my ankles, knees, hips and back (more than I can count over a lifetime of fighting polio) ... and the only reason I'm able to walk with forearm crutches is I keep my weight way down (can't pinch an inch on me! Ha!)
Because of bulbar polio, I also have had pulmonary problems since I was a young child. Again ... the lung doctors have always encouraged me to get as much exercise as I can tolerate.
So, all I'm saying, is you are selling yourself short if you take the easy way out. Push for all you are worth. Don't park in handicapped parking. Don't camp in handicapped spots. Try your darnedest to leave them open for folks who are worse off than you.
And because I had polio at age 18 months old ... I learned a long time ago, you don't have to go far to find someone who has it worse than you, no matter how bad you think you have it.
Judy, I, too, sometimes push myself "over the edge" by biting off more than I can physically do ... but to me, that's the "fun" of being disabled.
Now, I have to admit, I've never climbed up on top of any of my RV's ... and I applaud those disabled folks who are able to do so ... even if they are extending their reach.
But, as I said in my original message ... if they can climb on top of their RV ... then they can ... they should ... they could camp in a non-handicapped spot.
Guess I don't understand why folks are so "tender" about this issue.
I have consistantly said I am not casting doubt on anyone's disability. I have consistantly said that I understand there are "hidden" disabilities.
I just know this beyond any shadow of a doubt ... one of the main reasons you don't see more profoundly physically disabled folks out camping is the fact too many folks feel "entitled" to camp in those nice, clean, level, concreted campsites ... folks who with a little effort could camp in a non-disabled spot.
I guess I just don't understand how someone who COULD camp in a non-handicapped site WOULD camp in a handicapped site, knowing full well that someone worse off could be coming along.
Sure, it takes a little effort ... but hey, a little exercise is good for your heart, lungs, body and yes, your weight.
I_rv2 wrote: CA Poppy >>> sometimes the urge to fix things
Judy, I, too, sometimes push myself "over the edge" by biting off more than I can physically do ... but to me, that's the "fun" of being disabled.
While I appreciate that you go above and beyond what your disabilities would dictate for you, I think you are being rather condesending toward others who would make a different decision. We don't find much "fun" in DH's severe lung disease nor in DS's mobility & mental handicaps. When DH challenges himself by doing more than he should, he pays for it, and then *I* pay.
But, as I said in my original message ... if they can climb on top of their RV ... then they can ... they should ... they could camp in a non-handicapped spot.
You won't catch DH or DS up on the roof, but you might see me. Does that disqualify us for that handicapped site? I hope not.
Guess I don't understand why folks are so "tender" about this issue.
I have consistantly said I am not casting doubt on anyone's disability. I have consistantly said that I understand there are "hidden" disabilities.
And then you come back with a superior tone because you've never seen anyone more disabled than you at a campsite. I'm sure we can't top that, but I contend that if someone needs a handicapped site and they get to the campground before us, then we're just out of luck, whether or not they look more disabled than my family does.
I just know this beyond any shadow of a doubt ... one of the main reasons you don't see more profoundly physically disabled folks out camping is the fact too many folks feel "entitled" to camp in those nice, clean, level, concreted campsites ... folks who with a little effort could camp in a non-disabled spot.
I guess I just don't understand how someone who COULD camp in a non-handicapped site WOULD camp in a handicapped site, knowing full well that someone worse off could be coming along.
Then I will tell you why. We *can* camp in a non-handicapped site and we often do. If the sites are very uneven or on gravel, however, it makes the experience quite difficult for DS who falls easily and gets hurt frequently. It is much, much easier on DS and DH when our site is paved, level, and close to the bathhouse because it puts less stress on all of us. Certainly someone worse off could come along and if that happens, well, I'm sorry for them. We don't hog the handicapped site for more than a few days and it makes all the difference in how tiring or relaxing our trip is.
Sure, it takes a little effort ... but hey, a little exercise is good for your heart, lungs, body and yes, your weight.
"Those who dwell...among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life."--Rachel Carson, environmentalist, 1956
I am disabled with a spine injury that has left me numb from the neck down, total nerve damage and in constant pain equal to that of slamming your hand in a car door. Also I have degenerative spine disease caused by the surgery that they did to repair my neck, I have the same type of injury as Christopher Reeves, but not paralyzed. I do have to use forearm crutches to walk, I use one for short distance and both if I have to walk a lot. I have good "minutes" were most people have good days. I also have a Rotty service dog but that's another post!
Anyway to the comment about climbing on the roof of an Rv, well I did it, and hurt like hell, just put a Max air cover on new TT, even though I am not supposed to because of balance issues. DW says I'm hard headed but my mental problem is I am to head strong and determined to do things that need done and not pay someone to do it for me! It just takes me longer to do it LOL. Since we have been camping I have never used a Handicap RV area never knew they had them! But at department stores and convenience stores I do. I see more people (teens and older) taking Handicap parking because they are lazy and ignorant. In fact I am putting together a web site and I am going to be posting pictures of the illegal parking!
I am stubborn because I refuse to use a wheelchair and also sitting makes me hurt more sometimes. I use my crutches,and a walker when I camp, and my Rotty to help me get up from a kneeling position. So when I'm out most people see my malfunctions and sometimes they are ignorant about them and make rude comments, especially when they don't see my crutches. exe ("Look at him he must be on crack")
You people that take Handicap parking because you will only be a minute, wait till you break your spine and need that space cause you can't walk and in a chair or using Larstrand Crutches, then you will understand what the Blue sign with the wheelchair on it means!
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.
Carl and "D"
Drago the Rotten Rotty (Service Dog)
2007 4x4 Quad Cab Hemi Ram/ 2008 Keystone Hornet 26 RBS
That's good, because you sound really judgemental.
I never ever use disabled spaces. Why? Because I'm not disabled that way. I use a service dog, but I am physically capable of jogging from my campsite to the restrooms. But I get a lot of stupid comments -- sometimes mumbled behind my back that I "don't look disabled" or people ask me if I'm training my dog, as though I'm training him for a "true" disabled person. (My service dog is for a *physical* disability, and I do have a doctor's note I carry with me in my RV, in case you're wondering.) The thing is, as Steve points out, we just don't know anything about each other. Most of you do things on a very regular basis that I don't, that I can't, not ever, not without seriously risking my life. So yes, trotting across the campground is very nice, and I do appreciate it. But it really bugs me when people start to play the "his disability is worse than her disability" game.
And Deen, while the law is the law, if those parents want to bring their kid into the store with them (and I don't want them leaving him into the car), if the child is that severely disabled, isn't it nice that they can park so close and not schlep the child all the way across the parking lot during our 360 rainy days a year? So maybe the DOL made an exception? Or perhaps, having a severely disabled child caused Mom so much stress and caused her to have a heart condition and you just can't see it? Again, why are we judging people? Except for the day before Thanksgiving at the grocery store and the weekend before Christmas at the mall, I almost never see all disabled parking spaces completely full (except for at small shops). So why are we monitoring who is parking in them? If they have a placard, then they can park there. If they're borrowing Grannie's placard, well, I believe in karma, and that there's a special place in hell for people that do such things. But there's simply no way to know if the 20 year old that's parking in that blue parking space is working with a borrowed placard or has terminal lung cancer, is there?
How about we change the way we approach each other? If we see someone parked in a disabled spot, go up and say "hi," chat for a while, and say, "if you need anything, let me know." And then do the same for the person on the other side of you, the guy that looks perfectly healthy. Because he may be worse off than the first person. You just never know for sure. So let's all stop being judgemental and start being neighborly.
Dh, our 2 year old German Shepherd, 15 yr old Beagle/Spaniel and me.
Exploring every National Park (and Monument) in USA, Canada, Mexico & beyond.
3 well-used backpacking tents.
2008 Itasca Impulse, 24'
I can and do climb the ladder to the roof. I'm not the disabled one, Oscar is. He had polio at age 8 months. He can no longer use the crutches, take any steps, etc. He is now confined to his power chair.
We use handicap sites if we need. The MH has a full lift that has to have level ground for him to get out. Also the picnic tables with chair access lets him safely sit at the table with the rest of us.
If all sites were basic level, had table with chair access, etc, there would be no need of seperate "disabled" sites.
Gramma Ann
The Texas Gypsy
New to us - 1988 Shasta 32ft with full handicap accessibility. Move over world Gramma and Grampa are on the road!!
One OLD Hubby, Logan the dog, and Baby the cat ( both left over from the granddaughter !!)
My disability is not apparent to look at me. I never park in a handicapped space. I can get around fine. I do however am required to treat myself daily so that I can lead somewhat of a normal life. Not something that I can do in a public restroom or shower. This requires water and sewer unless it is just for a weekend. I will be camping at a COE campground for several days next month and I would need full hook ups for that long of a period. There are only a few sites with water and sewer and at the time I reserved the only site open was the HC site. I feel guilty that I will take a campsite that may be needed by someone that is physically handicapped but this is my only choice. If another full hookup site were to become available I would take it instantly.
I do feel guilty but I am not going to beat myself up over it. I do have a problem and I've learned to live with it and it's not up to someone else to judge my disability, unless I can figure out how to make them live with it for a few years.
I forgot. Yes I can climb on my roof and I do ride a motorcycle. This is not a dress rehearsal and I'm going to do what I can while I can.
* This post was
edited 05/13/08 07:59am by Retired andLoveIt *
It is decidedly NOT true that it's good for everyone to 'push' themselves physically. What's good is to to extend your own capabilities and self-reliance no matter where you have to start from. That's no different than driving your car instead of walking because it allows you to travel farther. And if that can be accomplished by using the publicly-mandated facilities, then go to and God bless. That's what it's there for.
The 'touchy' thing is caused by people like OP, and there are plenty of them around. As you see here again and again, we encounter them regularly and often. If ONLY they were as subtle and well-reasoned as they think they are!
If you see a person in a handicap space, camping or otherwise, the RIGHT thing to do is just say hello. The NICE thing to do is offer a hand, if you can. The POLITE thing to do is keep your personal opinions, remarks, and inquiries between your two ears. There's no gray area on this, because anything else puts you in a position where you will judge wrongly, sooner or later.
You don't even know how many people's day would go just a little bit smoother if you did. Maybe even your own. And, you get the satisfaction of knowing that you're not the sad clown who beat up on a disabled person verbally to make yourself feel better about who and what you are. So, that's another side-benefit. You can say to yourself that given the choice of being a hero or a jerk, you chose to be the hero. So that's one area where you can push yourself without doing any damage.
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