well said!!!!  SusanB

Carol Sussman wrote:

> I was loath to get into this thread until a recent post (well-intentioned,
> I'm sure. Flamethrowers off) seemed  to advise women against solo travel.
> Life well-lived ensures risk.
> We are each responsible for our own assessment of risk and appropriate safety
> measures.  Key word here is responsibility.
> Anyone alone on the road is a potential target. Do your own calculations as
> to whether an old shabby (possibly unreliable) low value vehicle is safer
> than a newer more valuable one. I have a 1981 Volvo wagon and an '89 Westy.
> Am I more/less likely to be victimized as a middle-aged woman than when I was
> 30 years younger?  Are older males at less risk than younger?  Factor in
> older =wiser=weaker vs. youth =strength=less experienced=more attractive for
> BOTH genders . Go on, make yourself nuts until afraid to go anywhere!
>      Common sense, that increasinly rare commodity, rules.
> Know how to keep the van running, have communications capacity. Use this list
> to make an itinerary of folks who will know where you are. Follow your gut
> instinct. Studies on assault indicate that women who ignore a sense of
> uneasiness shouldn't.  When in doubt, don't leave your van. (Carry a bucket!)
> Travel with joy and caution, remembering that MOST FOLKS ARE DECENT.
> CarolS Sussman
> Formerly:
> safety officer, construction
> Emergency Medical Technician
> Assistant to the Atlantic County Medical Examiner (assisted in 500+ autopsies)
> SCCA racer of several MGB's
> currently travel with a big black dog so I don't need to display/use the .38.
> (NO, I do not want to re-energize the gun thread on or off this list.)