Would this be safe?

I had been thinking of giving myself a vacation if I'd gotten the job, but I didn't.

A lot of times, when I'm really upset -- like now -- I just want to get in the car and drive. Would it be safe just to sleep in the back of my SUV at rest stops on the road? I am a 58 yr old female. Plus, I've never even been camping in my whole life.

this is probly a dumb idea

if you we're closer to PA we would have you stay here, anytime
Angie

no, it isn't safe. i've been single 16 years and put over 150k miles on my truck (just this last one) and it is no longer safe to stay anywhere near a highway........in fact, before Tippy died, i had already quit taking even a small risk and would pull off into small towns and find a place that looked safe. of course, i had Tippy, always, and maybe one or two more dogs.

i have Fayeroe now and she is MEAN. Tippy was just BIG.but it was much safer, even 6 years ago, than it is now.

Wants, i've been everywhere (cliche, i know) and done everything (cliche, i know) and i am very road savvy. the only way i would sleep in a camper in the back of my truck now is if i had a window that opened into the cab so i could transfer and get the hell out of dodge if i needed to. i would not leave the camper and walk around to the front of my truck, if i was scared.

KOA campgrounds have little "cabins" that are cheap. you can take bedding and sleep in those...locked up. there are tiny motels, off big highways, that are safe and cheap. and then again, remember, i've always had a dog with me.

i was awakened many a morning in KOA campgrounds by drunken ole farts who got up out of their $80k RV and started drinking beer. talking loud, laughing, showing off.......

i was never, ever scared on any rez.(well, that drunk guy did pee on my van wheel three times that night and i moved the van and he came back and peed in the same spot) if i ever get hurt, it won't be by Indians. it will be by some punk that catches me at the wrong moment in the wrong place.

sorry, sweetheart, i know i've rained on your parade.........xoxoxo pat

somehow i missed that you said RV........why don't you find a little mom and pop campground, with electric and water? i did that a lot, with Tip, and we had great times. those are safe.

i even camped at one where the man told Tip and i that we couldn't walk in the circle drive counter clockwise. we had to walk CLOCKWISE. the next morning i and other campers observed him cutting the grass with a pair of scissors. this was far, far away.......Wyoming.......he had a little bit of OCD, i think.

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Wants2Fly said:
I had been thinking of giving myself a vacation if I'd gotten the job, but I didn't.

A lot of times, when I'm really upset -- like now -- I just want to get in the car and drive. Would it be safe just to sleep in the back of my SUV at rest stops on the road? I am a 58 yr old female. Plus, I've never even been camping in my whole life.

this is probly a dumb idea

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The idea of wanting to get away is NOT dumb ... but you need to do it faerody's way my dear.

I know I am not in the US and don't know your state at all but here is my analogy:

Here, there are big road campaigns for drivers to 'pull off and have a nap if they are tired'.

To anyone half in their right mind, this is a ridiculous proposition.

I got a flat tire one night about an hour out of the city heading down to the beach, and I was lucky enough to have it happen by some LOVELY people's farm, and they were so cool - they changed to my spare of me and I had cups of tea and chatted with them a while - you know sometimes you just meet really nice people

Anyway, we started talking about this VERY thing - they live in the area and they're like, you as a young female pulling OFF THE ROAD into little tree-y grassy areas, and having this 20 minute power nap in your car is ASKING for trouble.

I actually feel like making a complaint to LTSA about what they are trying to do with the campaign - but *sigh*, I guess stopping tired drivers is their core message, not protecting ppl ... it's a perfect opportunity to get mugged really.

Anyway - I wouldn't stop in a 'rest area' for a 20 minute power nap, let alone sleeping in my car, and I would hate to see you put yourself in danger ...

Please take care xoxo

I can relate the feeling just wanting get in your car and drive—sometime I just want to just get away. I agree, sleeping at a rest stop is not the safest place. Maybe you could go online and find a campground to drive to. I do a lot of camping and I often go by myself. I have not had problems. Although everything has some risks—heck just waking up in the morning and walking out your door has risks. Camping is not hard—maybe you will find it to be a new hobby. Don’t forget to take a lawn chair and whatever else you might find useful…I generally take my own drinking water—you never know what kind of water you are going to get. But heck, get in your SUV and go—it might be fun.

If you are doing it for a vacation or to get away and think great…but if you are doing it to run from problems they have a tendency to follow. Know what I mean? I am not saying that is the case—just a thought.

I am sorry you did not get the job. Have any other prospects lined up?

No, don't do that. It isn't safe for anyone to do that!!!

Think of something else you can do. Maybe you could just stay in a hotel for a night. Right now the rates at state park lodges are low. Maybe you could do that and walk the trails there.

Hugs,

Jan

the little mom and pop campgrounds aren't very fancy......ever. but they're safe and cheap and you'd have everything you needed in your Rv.........

i've had incidents when i took small chances. i've always had a dog or dogs with me, plus i've been doing this for about 25 years. and i've always had a gun.

an good example would be I-40, according to a Texas State Trooper, it is the major drug conduit of the United States. i traveled on it constantly and had to really adjust to who was out there.

you can have a delightful trip in the RV...go online and find small RV camps nearby. google them.......google state parks. they always have nice facilities and they aren't expensive around here and in the southwest. and up north. you'll have a blast.......but you can't stay just off the highways............ xxoxoxoxo pat

I am like Wants2Fly...I want to get away, go to some of my fave spots, like Lake Erie on Kelley's Island State Campground, where I'd be camping alone, in my tent, or sleeping in my little hatchback car! Also, I would love to go to some WV state parks, and also roadside camping sites along fishing rivers! I would be alone, and am wondering if these adventures would be safe...maybe I should just make them daytime adventures! re/the fishing and then go find a motel!
I have traveled all the way to Canada, and stayed in one lovely, seemingly safe mom and pop campground in Sault Ste. Marie...a good stopping off place on my rock-hunting excursions into Canada. I love the Canadian provincial parks right on Lake Superior, but they are really quite secluded and remote! Kinda scared of that, but I could sleep in car there!
I wanna go!
Patty

BTW, Wants...I'm age 56!
Patty

i'm 60old..............

What a great adventure if us gals could meet and go camping...!
Patty

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...........i'd love that!

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Wants2Fly said:
I had been thinking of giving myself a vacation if I'd gotten the job, but I didn't.

A lot of times, when I'm really upset -- like now -- I just want to get in the car and drive. Would it be safe just to sleep in the back of my SUV at rest stops on the road? I am a 58 yr old female. Plus, I've never even been camping in my whole life.

this is probly a dumb idea

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We can't live in fear. If that's what you want to do, do it. Try a one nighter not too far from home just to get a feel for what it will be like on the road.

Wants, you can do this. tell me where you live and i'll help you find those cool mom and pop campgrounds. you'll need to plan now. they start filling up fast. you jsut cannot pull over on the highway to sleep. i am probably very fortunate that nothing happened to me years ago and look how society has worsened.......xoxoxo pat

My boyfriend has stopped at rest stops and taken naps, but he's a guy. It's much less safe for women (not that I'm suggesting it's safe for a guy). If you have an alarm on your RV (I assume you can get RVs for them like you can a car), that would be a bit more security. I do agree, though, you should follow Pat's advice.

I find it irritating that state driver's manuals tell you, if you're too sleepy to drive while on the road, pull over, but if you don't have a rest stop nearby, and you pull over into a business parking lot (like the mall), you may find a cop or security guard knocking at your window, telling you that you have to leave. Yes, it may be private property, but as long as you're not doing anything illegal, you're doing the right thing. I'd rather drivers pull over and sleep, than me be on the road with someone who hasn't had enough sleep!

I do not have an RV. I checked my original post and it states SUV. I'm sorry that got misread somewhere along the way. I would be sleeping in the flat section in the back of the car.

My X and my bro are truckers who sleep in their safe a/c trucks. Druggie prostitutes knock on their truck doors at all hours of the night. That was what made me think it would not be safe sleeping with the windows open on a hot night in a car. I am in the sourth, and I am not planning to go north.

Thanks for all the advice. I think I am going to sit tight here, work on downsizing, writing, and trying to find work.

A gals' camping trip would be really nice. There is a group of women who have little mini-trailers -- SCAMPs and Casitas. They meet up for fishing trips and horse riding here in Florida and out west. They call themselves the Caravan Cowgirls and there is a little about them online.

some stops are ok. i have done this without incident but then i don't always make the best choices....

the last time i drove on a trip the rest stops had vendor trailers (like at fairs, etc.) offering free coffee and they were manned by police officers. however cozy that sounds this began when they were trying to catch a killer who seemed to prey on prostitutes who solicited to truckers at the rest stops along that Eastern interestate.

also, SUV's make car thieves salivate and would increase your danger.

perhaps this way of dealing has outlived it's usefulness for you...?

what about a relaxation exercise instead? or a guided imagery for a way to get away? here's a site that has a wonderful guided imagery that is free. it is 20 minutes but seems like 5 minutes and is so relaxing: www.meditainment.com . I hope you enjoy it if you try it!

And here is a stie that has tapes (ok, I'm 53!!) or CD's reasonably priced. my psychologist and i did guided imagery and she loaned me several of her tapes to try and i liked them, so i ordered from the site: www.wholepersonassociates.com
I have "Wam and Heavy", Stressbreakers Two "Natural Tranquilizers" and Relaxation Two "Relax....Let Go....Relax". "Warm" from "Warm and Heavy" and "Soothing Colors" are two of my favorites.

And an author I like to read is Pema Chodron who's writing is soothing and simple and thought-provoking. I have "When Things Fall Apart" Heart Advice for Hard Times and "The Wisdom of No Escape" The Path of Loving Kindness. These are low key short books and offer a new way of looking at things. She is an American born Buddhist nun who writes with simplicity and humor and about topics that are universal; I am not a Buddhist but I like to read her interesting perspectives. Often it is very relaxing just to read her words.

ECHOES


edited to add meditation/relaxation stuff

I live in the south too. if anyone wants to come here I have 3 acres to camp on lol and it is very safe.

if I were going to travel alone and wanted to stop for a little while my advise is to park in a truck stop. most of the larger ones have huge car parking and it is pretty secure. I use to drive a truck too and yes the hookers knock on truck doors at all hours of the day and night but car parking is fine. I never spent a night in a rest area! florida's aren't bad in that they have 24 hr police protection. if you really want camping get a tent and all the equipment and go have fun!
if we live in fear we don't get to have fun! I am almost 50. here in about another month

I live in FL and yes, the turnpike rest areas have everything you need including security... and the other rest areas on the main roads usually do... the problem is that if they know you are sleeping in your car, they will wake you and have you move on A short nap, they will probably allow, to keep you safe from falling asleep while driving.

BUT I slept in my car at rest stops long before it wasn't allowed.... and no, it isn't safe. (Talk about a reason to carry a firearm?)

I am an experienced camper... tent and otherwise... and there is always the risk of someone aggressive coming along... and it results (that risk) in not sleeping soundly.

No sleep for 24 hours (or inadequate non restorative sleep) results in the same effects as having .10 blood alcohol, btw.

Camping in State Parks is the way to go

BTW.. wanting to get away is normal for traumatized or otherwise overwhelmed ppl. I often want to just get into my car and drive "North." But my T talks me out of it...besides, wherever I go there I am anyway. If it's situations you need to clear your head from, then try shorter excursions doing things that take your mind totally off your situation. (I do very short: movies, medium short: zoo, parrot jungle, mall window shopping, and not short: Disneyworld.) oooo camping at Disneyworld is great fun btw, and they have horseback riding which I can't do anymore

Ok I've rambled long enough. Staying in your car in service plazas or rest areas is NOT safe. Do so only if driving while asleep is more hazardous to you.

((((hugs)))) stay safe!

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