This Isn't What We Signed Up For

at·ti·tude

noun

• the position or posture assumed by the body in connection with an action, feeling, mood, etc.:
• a manner of acting, feeling, or thinking that shows one's disposition, opinion, etc.:
• one's disposition, opinion, mental set, etc.
• AERON. the position of an aircraft or spacecraft in relation to a given line or plane, as the horizon
• BALLET a position in which one leg is raised with the knee bent and the arms are extended
• SLANG  a quarrelsome or sullen disposition or temperament
• SLANG a posture or pose of being cocky, haughty, etc.

It's all about how you approach things, it's about choice, seizing the opportunity and doing the right thing.....basically, it's all in the attitude.


Our First Trailer:

The first trailer my husband and I owned was a darling little 16' Shasta - a turn-key piece of nostalgia.  We searched and searched and finally found her in Warrenton, OR - all we needed to do was add our personal touches and we hit the road.  We met some pretty amazing people along the way, all of whom wanted to step inside and share their memories of family camping trips.  We were welcomed at rallies by almost everyone - mostly the group of people I'll call "have-nots"...meaning those who did not have an Airstream...at least that was our impression based on the attitudes of the "haves".  We drove all the way from Hillsboro to almost the Canadian border for our first official rally - fellow Shasta owners had saved us a space near them and we tucked right into the crowd.  It was a pretty awesome time - we met some amazing, fun-loving Canadians who we're still in touch with today as well as got the chance to see a myriad of vintage travel trailers.  Aside from the Canadians, did I mention how much fun they were?, all of the other AS owners seemed to keep to themselves - no big, we loved owning a SOB!!

Our innocence quickly ended - during the open house at our first big rally some people came through our Shasta and essentially burst our bubble..."oh, you have so much work to do", "where will you start?" weren't what us as proud parents wanted to hear!!  We left not sure if we'd ever attend another of those rally things....and pretty sure we didn't want to be "one of those people" who owned an AS!!

Fast Forward:

Here we are today...owners of a '69 AS Trade Wind which we've been lovingly restoring - ok, so we were in denial...nothing wrong with changing your mind!!  Proud members of the WBCCI, we joined our local Unit almost immediately after we became offical owners.  We've attended breakfasts, holiday brunches, often driving to rallys for the day just to see our newfound friends and their AS.  My husband Doug and I respect the rich heritage of the WBCCI club and it's members...and make it a point to drive through Land Yacht Harbor in Lacey, WA and wave at anyone we see whenever we're in the area.  We've spent countless hours scouring the internet admiring other AS restorations and trying to convince our friends that they too need to become "one of those people".    I've been an advocate for change - realizing that we need to find a way to connect with the next generation of owners - developing a Facebook page for our Unit and thrilled to co-host my first official AS rally.  Along the way I've realized something's not right in the bigger WBCCI org...lot's of malcontent, distrust and outdated ways of running a business....up until now I've just steered clear of that.  

Up Until Now:

Someone please explain to me if you can how, in an era where leadership is maturing, membership is dwindling and the economy is unstable, we can turn our backs on someone simply because they aren't a WBCCI member?  When I heard from a new and trusted friend that a single, 60-ish year old woman from TX who is in town visiting family, asked to join a  caravan to the International Rally in Gillette, WY so that she could travel in safety...and then heard that a long-time member of the WBCCI said "no she can't join our caravan because she's not a member" I thought wtf?

This isn't what we signed up for:

If this is the mindset of the organization Doug and I have joined, if we would rather turn away from a non-member rather than do the right thing (and maybe recruit new members along the way) then we've made the wrong choice.  Our numbers aren't on the trailer yet, nor is the Wally Byam sticker.  We can take it or leave it - what we won't do is become "one of those people".  It's all in the attitude.....I don't think Wally would approve.