> I always wave at every VW van that I see.....and many people eagerly wave back, knowing that we have something special in common.  But some people don't even bother to look, or if they do they make no acknowledgement.  I guess that's just human nature.
>

If that was me that didn't wave, I apologize. I was nervously watching
my temp gauge and side mirror to tell if that THUMP I heard was a
ruptured coolant hose or just driving over a rock. I am often so
engrossed in something else that I don't see Vanagons coming the other
way till they've already passed them. I try to wave at all I see, but
I have a tendency to become fixated on the task of driving.
 
> Do older busses wave only at older busses?
>  Or is it that people travelling wave, but once back in the city they don't anymore?

I think a lot of bay and splittie drivers tend to not "see" our big
square Vanagons as easily, but mostly I think you're on to something
there with the "vacation" vs. "just driving somewhere" thing. Last
vacation, driving through Santa Cruz I passed several, but only a
couple waved. Driving on PCH down by Big Sur, though, almost EVERYONE
waved. Everyone in a rear-engined transporter, that is. The Eurovan
drivers seemed like they didn't really "have it". You know, that weird
knowing look you exchange through the windshields that says it all.
Almost like the finger-beside-the-nose-and-nod signal from The
Sting...

-- 
John Bange
'90 Vanagon
"Keine Bange, wir holen die Zange!"