to feel sorry for my friend with the eco-warrior DH?

[k2p2k2tog]

(sort of lighthearted but not really)

Very close friend is married to a professional eco-warrior. He's employed high up in a green charity and has in the past been involved in Green politics. They have two daughters of school age. Friend also works but not in the green sector, she's a nurse.

Because her DH is a dyed in the wool "knit your own lentil" person, he has to be seen to walk the walk as well as talk the talk. Nothing non-eco. They do have a car, but he cycles to work and she takes the train.

But what makes me feel REALLY sorry for her, and her girls, is that they have bought a touring caravan for all holidays. Despite the fact they're earning good money and could afford a week in the sun somewhere, they spend every holiday cooped up in a tin box so he can show what a WORTHY person he is.

They are currently in Wales. In the freezing cold and rain. In fucking FEBRUARY.

So bloody what? I admire him. He is doing the right thing for the planet. If his wife doesn't like, she should talk to him like an adult and come to a compromise.

he has to be seen to walk the walk as well as talk the talk.

You sound very sneery.

Presumably he WANTS to 'walk the walk'? This is a lifestyle he has chosen? Good for him.

I wonder how it stacks up.

Production costs of one caravan and fittings, gas bottle, heating etc plus cost of towing it several times a year compared to one holiday in a hotel in Europe by plane.

And when I say "costs" I mean enviromental not financial.

She's chosen to be with him fully knowing what he's like. I have friends with a camper who go away in snow / wind / rain -not my idea of fun at all but they love it & appear to have a great time. If your friend hated it that much she could book a holiday abroad for just her and the kids whilst he's at work (have friends who do this just because one hates flying!).

OP - your friend who is an adult married someone with strong principles who walks the walk. You say she is not in an abusive relationship. She and her DH make choices together - she has a choice.
YABU.

evenbetter has been fully indoctrinated. Look out kids!!!

even, by your logic you’re not doing the planet any favors yourself by existing. Take yourself out of the picture instead of lecturing on the evils of children existing in western society. What an ass you are. Very glad you’re not in charge. I guess you would clear out whole masses of people for the sake of the planet. You know what that’s called, right?

Op, if it doesn’t work out between your friend and the husband, maybe he can get together with even. Then he’d really have to walk the walk.

What’s the problem with having frocks sent by private jet?All my clothes arrive like that.

How the hell is a behemoth caravan thing better for the environment than staying in a b&b?? You still have to drive the blasted thing, and it still had to be made, surely it would be better to drive an electric car or a very low fuel consumption one - or get the train!

There's LOADS of lovely warm places you can get to on the Eurostar - no flying, no faffing, just St Pancras and a lovely smug feeling.

I love my DH to the bottom of my heart but there is no way in a million years would I be committing to having a fecking caravan holiday every holiday for the rest of my life. Would be a total deal breaker for me.

Also Wales is great. I love visiting. There's some really nice hotels in Wales that don't require any kind of caravan at all. Or a whole host of caravan sites with fixed caravans on them that get used every week of the year.

Millions of ‘token gestures’ add up, especially when people are teaching their ‘offspring’ to reduce their carbon footprint also.

It’s better than being completely complacent.

PyongyangKipperbang even taking into account the manufacturing and fueling costs of the caravan it will be nowhere near as environmentally damaging as taking a couple of flights every year. Flying really is the single most environmentally damaging thing anyone can do. It really is much much much worse than any other form of transport. I am too selfish to make the sacrifice to stop flying but I can’t argue with the OPs friends DH logic.

Our touring caravan helps my DD, who has sn, to holiday with less anxiety, as it’s a familiar comfort for her.

We are also motorhomers and have spent a weekend in January a couple of years ago. It was brilliant, we have also woken up in the morning one Easter with about 4 inches of snow and didn’t realise till we opened the blinds. I tried to get DH to go up skiing in it this weekend but didn’t go in the end. There’s nothing wrong with a caravan.

This will probably turn the DD into a burger chomping Ibiza acolyte

I feel a bit sorry for your friend op. She has a friend being patronising about her on the internet. If she was being kidnapped and forced on UK based caravan holidays then fine... Cause for concern there. As it stands we only have your pov, you may be correct about her dh being an eco dick, but it is equally likely that your friend has accepted her dh views and is content to stay domestic for hols, it is not always cold and wet in Wales the best holiday I ever had was a week with dh and the kids was in a cottage on the Gower, hot August, beautiful unspoilt beaches.

You can go abroad by train so there is no need to stay UK based to be green, camping in France even a weekend in Amsterdam is possible without plane or car.

We spent three weeks in France in our tourer last year. We took our bikes and hardly used the car once we were there.

Hey Wales is lush butt.... agree it’s cold and we had a small earthquake today, no rain though, not in my neck if the woods anyway 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Sorry totally missed the concept of the thread 😬

And what’s wrong with Wales?! Beautiful country, fantastic views.

Hello OP?

Are you going to tell us whether your friend actually minds any of this or whether it is just you who has a problem with it?

Agree with the brother’s keeper post previously. YABU.

He does realise his DC will grow up to own 4x4s go on all inclusive holidays 3 times per year and have every labour saving device and the central heating turned up to 27 degrees

Said whilst rubbing hands with glee, it appears.

Surely the ecologically correct thing is not to go on holiday at all.

Even so, it's hardly as bad as James Cameron, who I hope feels good reflecting about his eco-farm while he crosses and re-crosses the Pacific in a private jet.

I said that way at the top of the thread. ' is your journey really necessary?' And all that.

Greenwash smuggery is really annoying.

He can't be that much of an Eco Warrior if he's travelling to Wales from Scotland!
I thought cycling and camping holidays would be more akin to his status as an Eco Warrior...touring caravans not so much!