Divine Right's Trip

Divine Right's Trip is a book which finally seemed to give me a career plan! It was about a drug addled freak (there weren’t hippies or people who’d label there self that even then. Would you call yourself a wristie?) travelling around America in a VW split screen. He ended up living what would now be called ‘eco life-style’ in the country with the love of his life (a woman not the van – concentrate!). Now children strange as it seems colour telly had not turned the world on to ‘getting it together in the country’ a la life-swap programmes and such. Most people wanted to dress like George and Carter in Minder. Sensibly I saved that split-screen thought, though and got a beetle until the revolution broke out.
 

In a nutshell each of us young and old VW freaks have a tale to tell in response to the next door neighbours half-concerned question “ yes, but don’t you want to get a car that just goes when you get in it?” Beyond saying “no” what story do you tell about why you like (sorry love and give a pet name to) your van.

Do we come upfront and say because it represents a way we want to live? 

Do you simply wryly smile and say “because it’s cool”?  

Deprecating say “we all need a hobby”? 

It’s usually not a problem because those interested enough to overcome their shyness will express their interest in doing something similar…….if only they had the time, the money, less wives and children, a month of Sundays. No, I’m more interested in what we used to call, quite rudely really, 'straights'. 

What do they see in the van, people who are just different, a threat, worse a quaint vintage style hobby? I'd like to develop this thread further so so 'straight' or 'freak' I'd love to hear from you