Martin Jagersand wrote:

> I've been on the list since 1994 when it was just months old..
>  At
> the time this was posted listmembers would frequenly post trip
> reports, good camping spots, and other creative things they like
> to do in/with their busses/vanagons.
>
> I just hope that the list could return to a state with discussion
> on many diverse issues, not that a few mainstream ones completely
> overpower everything else.
>
> Cheers,
> Martin
>

I have to say I agree with Martin.  I remember a number of months ago the
issue of "the future direction of the list" came up.  At the time the
debate was whether or not issues like fine camping spots, trip reports or
other non-technical discussions had a place on the list.  The pro's for
such discussions were that as Vanagon owners we all share a number of
interests not directly related to Vanagon mechanics i.e. travel.  The
con's were that there didn't seem to be a clear definition of where such
off-mechanical-topic discussions would end...at what point would they not
be relevant to the list.  My arguement, in a somewhat devil's advocate
position, was that at some point we will all become bored to tears if we
are limited to purely mechanical topics (tires, rims, leaks of various
sorts, engine swaps).  There are only so many times that the same topic
can be rehashed with enthusiasm.  It's good to hear that the roots of the
list are a little broader than nuts and bolts.  Anyone have any creative
ideas of how to spend a rainy day in a Vanagon :-)
Mark