[VAC] Re: Safe Camping and Feeling Safe

[Jim Clark <jec1938@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

A lot of us have taken the chance and survived, however only the high 
profile cases make the national news.  With the various 
government  bodies trying to preserve their image and not scare away the 
tourists, we only get to hear about Michael Jordan's 
father etc... In Florida, they don't even wait for them to park. They 
pick them right off the highway... the last one I read about was 
the German tourist that got pulled over by some bad guys with a 
rifle...I have trouble believing that was the last time that 
happened....

It makes sense to use your head to lower the risk...boondocking is 
probably fairly safe if there is truly no one else around... this is not 
the case on a highway or even in a wilderness park now days....With the 
fairly high cost of drugs, and the incresed number of 
people that will get them no matter who they have to take the money away 
from, I get more distrustful with each incident I read 
about..  As you get older, you look more like the easy apple to pick... 
probably won't put up much of a strugge.... probably have 
some travel money... looks easy....   I can't do much about looking 
younger, but I can look like I am paying attention and might not 
be real easy....

We have shortened up our travel times, and we are usually in a park by 
dinner time... If we are not going to make it to a park, we 
look for the large well lighted truck stop, the crowded rest stop, or 
the Walmart parking lot.....and I'm not very fond of the parking 
lot....

Gathering the wagons would be a great idea... if you are the only wagon, 
you might be a target.....

Jim Clark