Well, we have been away from home for over 2 weeks now and in that time we have probably spent, on average, half our time in caravan parks and half our time “free” or “bush” camping. I love the privacy and beauty of bush camping, not to mention the chance to light a fire but after 4 consecutive nights in the bush with no showers I am beginning to reassess Stu’s argument against the value of a hot shower!
It seems to me that in economic terms demand and supply will always determine the cost of a service or product (see Dad, I did learn something in year 11 economics). So with my scalp itching and with Stu’s grubby feet under my sheet covers, not to mention the smelly teenagers who inhabit my caravan, I would like to state that I DEMAND a shower!! Therefore my demand at this stage exceeds the current supply which in essence would suggest that the cost of showers on the Robinson road trip have gone through the roof.
Now we also need to consider the impact of opportunity cost upon the cost of showering in a caravan park. There is, of course, consequences to going without a shower for any length of time; the wife gets grumpy, the kids get smelly (particularly the teenagers as mentioned previously), which in turn makes the wife grumpy again. The wife doesn’t like to cuddle the smelly husband so much, which makes the husband grumpy and so on. Basically, as opportunity cost would suggest, when we take one path there is a cost in other areas of our life. If we make a choice to not shower for 4 nights there will be an economic cost in other areas – if you get my drift.
From the opposite perspective, one could also argue that paying for a shower in a caravan park is not merely the cost of the shower. As Stuart failed to see previously there is some value adding to be done. $40 is actually the average cost of our caravan park rate per night and not the initial $62 which had my husband balking, so for $40 he is getting a lot more that some hot water. Consider the value added to this figure of a happy wife which in most men’s opinion, I am sure, is actually of priceless value.
Therefore the value of a shower can actually not simply be measured in dollar amounts but must be measured equally in emotional terms. Because if I don’t get my hot shower at least every 3 night the punitive damages demanded will far exceed the initial $62 which at first glance did seem a little pricey.
Hmmm. I was almost jealous of the road trip. Sacrifice hot running water. I am not a snob but that could be a hard one. Although I must say I wouldn’t mind visiting Mount Gambier and Geelong then onto the snow. I am sure you are all having a hoot of a time. So stop reading this and get out and enjoy the outback…. or outdoors…. or a shower …. or something….
Reading between the lines here Stu I suggest you sacrifice some of the bakery treats in order to afford regular showers if you want to have a happy harmonious (mobile) home.
Not sure if you’ve heard the news………………………….. we are leaving Busselton and moving back to Victoria, in October, to be closer to Carolyn’s Dad and family.
We’ll be gone before you get back! Maybe our paths will cross over east!
Cheers
Marcus
Mmmm! Bakery? Shower? Bakery? Shower? Nup, the bakery wins. Ha
Sad to hear your news mate but it sounds like a wise decision. Alas, we’ll be in Queensland in October so will our paths probably won’t cross but we love Victoria so I’m sure this won’t be the last we shall see of you and the fam. All the best.
We just got back from camping in Colorado, where showers were completely non-existent. Faced with the prospect of washing with cold water all the time, I realized that what could work as a reasonable alternative was using unscented baby wipes. Not only are they designed for cleaning icky bodies, they are gentle enough for private areas, too. The lack of fragrance meant that none of us smelled like babies, either. They worked great!
Ho ho – having just spent a week in a house being renovated with only a tap to wash under, I fully appreciate the value of a hot shower – not to mention a washing machine, if the camp sites include those. Luckily, I was on my own and time was limited, but wow – did I leap to the bathroom when I got home, despite the fact that it was already gone midnight.
And yet my grandparents brought up a family of six kids with no bathroom at all. Just a kitchen sink and a tin bath which had to be filled with water heated on the stove. It was a council house, and though I was very small, I can still remember their delight the day their “scullery” was divided into kitchen and bathroom and the bath was installed. (At about the same time the outside toilet was brought inside – now that must have been an even greater celebration. just imagine waking up desperate to pee at 3am on a cold British January morning.)
Just to say – there’s an awful lot that we take for granted which has actually only been around for some people for the last 50 years or so. And which before was just normal. perhaps experiencing it helps us a) to recognise that it’s not really essential, and b) to really appreciate it when it is available.
Have fun in the next days – and enjoy being sweaty!
glad your having a good time..and You sound soo relaxed Too! ;0)
….sorry am missing you.. and would write a longer message ‘but’
I don’t want the “bubble’s” to over-flow out of the massive hot bath i have running!!!!
jackie
Both dad and I think that you both are very good writers. We may have to employ you producing some primary texts. I like the st in Broken Hill? Dad sends his love to the kids. Keep travelling.