Most of the benefits you know about. Don’t lose all your data if a client deplatforns you. Also get some cool benefits like global maps (https://rvparker.westernbtc.com)
Discussion
I dig that it uses osm.
I've got a couple of great OSM overlays that make life wonderful. One shows all US public lands, the other shows light pollution. I've always been frustrated that RVer sites are cobbled together WordPress sites and forums with badly disorganized information and google plugins. It would be very cool to have a social RVer thing with good organized resources.
If I wanted to talk a park or two into onboarding this in their site, what's the overhead for them look like to do it?
> It would be very cool to have a social RVer thing with good organized resources.
I like this sound of this. What do you mean exactly?
> If I wanted to talk a park or two into onboarding this in their site, what's the overhead for them look like to do it?
It depends on how involved they want to be. They could easily go to https://rvparker.westernbtc.com/manage to create their own rv park. If they want to use the booking system I created with it, that’d be the easiest way. It handles publishing new reservations, payments, refunds, sends confirmation / cancellation emails, etc.
Well, I got into the full time RV thing a few years ago and love it, but my biggest issue is you're reliant on google to find parks, resources for where good places to go are all on obscure no longer active forums, random websites talking about RV products and what not, there's just really no social RVer resource that is easily searchable or that most RVers use. I've seen some attempts but they're all some website, which means some guy controls it, and they usually devolve into shilling products. I think this mode of living is only going to increase in popularity for younger people as time goes on and if someone could come up with something resource rich they'd really have a big opportunity as long as they aren't short sighted, and it would help people who are interested feel comfortable taking the dive.
Man you are describing my heart for all of this exactly. I’ve said verbatim the problems young people will have and seeking alternatives to owning a home. My wife and I did full time rv life for almost 2 years and it was one of the best experiences of our lives. I’ve never considered the social aspect of it, but you’re right. It’s huge. Nostr is a perfect candidate for building this out — which is what I’m doing. Would love your feedback as a fellow full time rv’er.
I'll test it out and tell you my thoughts, no problem. Just let me know when you've got some type of update you want me to look at.
I know most RV parks target older people. Snowbirds and the like. Only the ones that pivot to the coming market condition will do well.
They don't want to mess with more than a website usually. Every one of them does things their own way, so flexibility is key if this system requires onboarding of owners or management. If it's too rigid, and requires too much setup, and requires continuous maintenance, they're not going to want to use it. This is pretty hard. Letting them just list their park, or letting anyone list a park or something like that, as a bare minimum feature without requiring additional stuff, but allowing for it of course, would probably attract quite a few parks to say "why not."
If there's a social communication aspect for RVers that doesn't require onboarding of parks, that allows for it of course but doesn't require it, that makes it easy to share experiences and weird resources like map files and repair guides and boondocking resources and stuff like that in an easy to find way, that thing can become the go to place. Nostr is great for this because it doesn't allow for exclusivity, too many people have tried and they wind up making forums that are silos and some RVers like this one and some that one, so the resources are fragmented and difficult to search unless you already know where to find them. People want to review places, find interesting places, learn how to fix things, find good deals on parts and things, share tips and tricks and experiences somewhere and there's not really anything like that except YouTube for influencers, that's it.
Hipcamp and iOverlander have some community and can sometimes point to some off the beaten path places to stay. I’ve used them in the past, not sure about lately.