Our TWO Inaugural Trips! (I'm back!)

[profdant139]

It's true about the lack of bugs -- I forgot that part. We eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner on our patio from April through October, with no screens and zero bugs. That aspect of So Cal is nice, if we ignore the ever-present hum of traffic in the distance.

[FFX160_CT]

Give me a constant 30-60 degrees, and I'd be in heaven. I have to figure out where to move to...There's no "hearty stock" left in New England. Offices are heated to 73+ degrees so people can wear summer clothes. It's crazy, and I'm miserable--can't wait for cooler weather Spring camping!

[Eagle]

Originally Posted by profdant139

It's true about the lack of bugs -- I forgot that part. We eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner on our patio from April through October, with no screens and zero bugs. That aspect of So Cal is nice, if we ignore the ever-present hum of traffic in the distance.

Yes, agree the very worse thing about California is you are just another bee in the hive and the constant hum is deafening.

[Eagle]

Originally Posted by FFX160_CT

Give me a constant 30-60 degrees, and I'd be in heaven. I have to figure out where to move to...There's no "hearty stock" left in New England. Offices are heated to 73+ degrees so people can wear summer clothes. It's crazy, and I'm miserable--can't wait for cooler weather Spring camping!

Actually, some people are just a little 'off kilter' as have seen people wearing sandals, shorts and T shirts when it's 15 degrees and snowing ... while complaining how chilly it is!

[profdant139]

Here is how pervasive that hum is -- the first time we were ever boondocking, we both heard this loud "whoosh whoosh" noise -- it took us a while to realize that it was the sound of our own heartbeats. We (as So Cal natives) had never experienced total silence before!

That whoosh is now the soundtrack of camping -- we seek out silent places to camp!

[Eagle]

Yes, I love silence.

Perhaps another reason for avoiding lakes besides not into fishing/swimming/boating.

The waves breaking on the shore are not 'soothing' IMO.

[APD]

Originally Posted by Eagle

Yes, I love silence.

Perhaps another reason for avoiding lakes besides not into fishing/swimming/boating.

The waves breaking on the shore are not 'soothing' IMO.

I have mild to moderate tinnitus so, if there is silence, I will usually turn on my scanner, sound machine, a fan, etc. Most of the time the AC blocks out almost everything.
In mild temperatures an open window and a small fan will sometimes work. Ocean waves and a cool breeze are gifts.

[Eagle]

Originally Posted by APD

I have mild to moderate tinnitus so, if there is silence, I will usually turn on my scanner, sound machine, a fan, etc. Most of the time the AC blocks out almost everything.
In mild temperatures an open window and a small fan will sometimes work. Ocean waves and a cool breeze are gifts.

Also have tinnitus that was bugging me .. along with hearing loss.

Once I got hearing aids, the tinnitus was gone ~ and I can hear far better.

[Michigantraveler]

Originally Posted by APD

I have mild to moderate tinnitus so, if there is silence, I will usually turn on my scanner, sound machine, a fan, etc. Most of the time the AC blocks out almost everything.
In mild temperatures an open window and a small fan will sometimes work. Ocean waves and a cool breeze are gifts.

I had tinnitus and my heartbeat in my ear until I had my ear cleaned by a doctor. They used an irrigation method which can actually be bought on Amazon. It made a big difference. It was extremely annoying!

[John_C]

Tinnitus... Yep, Yep, Yep, Huh??
Mine used to sound like crickets in my ears, but that has since changed... I now hear telephones ringing and lots of crickets on party phone lines... It really bugs me and all but wipes out my high pitch hearing... Hearing aides help a little, but I can't turn those things up enough without lifting the top off my head... And hearing aides do not help me distinguish voices from the crowd... it's like trying to pick out one duck from the crowd... You turn up the volume and all gets louder, but it now sounds like a bunch of ducks WITH a bunch of crickets making party-line calls...

[Michigantraveler]

Are your ears clean? Fungus or wax buildup? I guess the hearing Dr. would have checked for that of course. I actually did have an awful black fungus in my ear. After the irrigation treatments (2) the ear Dr. treated it with gentian violet and an antibiotic powder sprayed in after. It was amazing and solved the problem almost immediately. The irrigations just got icky stuff out and allowed me to hear again normally but then it would return.

[APD]

We have a habit here of hijacking threads.
I'll only say that after several experts and clinics the only thing that really works is redirection. With milder cases like mine giving yourself something to do and having a little "white" noise in the background works pretty well.
There are only two times that it bothers me. One is at bedtime. But I have a noise machine, a fan, etc. My favorite is the police scanner with a pillow speaker. I pick out about three busy channels and turn it low. I have four scanners, two bases and two handhelds. They redirect my brain really well.
The other times are when I talk or type about it. I hear it loudest when someone asks me about it are it comes up in a discussion. I used to belong to some of the forums that deal with it but I can ignore it better without them. John, it does make conversing in a crowd almost impossible. Your phrase "one duck among the other ducks" is spot on.

My apologies for the hijacking post.

[Michigantraveler]

NedProvince, have you camped again? Maybe us northerners could enjoy it vicariously if you have. 4 degrees here this morning!!!
------
I use a recording on my Kindle called "Night in the Forest" playing softly on my nightstand in a loop. My husband has high frequency hearing loss so he doesn't hear the night calling insects in it. BUT I guess it would be terrible for someone who already has crickets in their ears. I wonder if all of you with the tinnitus problem have anything in common in your backgrounds like loud work atmospheres, or rock bands or military service. My husband had a car repair for ten years and the constant ratcheting may have contributed to his hearing problems.

[John_C]

No apologies required APD... It is always good to read your comments... I've had the ringing for so many years, my brain thinks it's white noise...

Hey Mich, I am told the loss and maybe the tinnitus is from meds I took as a kid and the loud noises when a dumb kid and young man... I really liked country rock and the old stuff from the fifties... and... long distance rifle practice... 7, 8, 900, and 1000 yard shots... I reloaded my own ammo and burnt out the barrel on a really great rifle... sooo, it is possible that crappy ear plugs and hundreds upon hundreds of high power rifle shots killed my hearing...

[Michigantraveler]

I hear you. Lol!!