I love when people say "It's not camping". It's like the other day my Mom told me that my Dad told her that we were stupid for buying a travel trailer... "That thing depreciated the minute he took it off the lot". I told her to tell him that he's right. All the memories we have with our kids so many weekend through the year, and the memories they will have after they have long grown up will "depreciate" too. Yeah, right, whatever.
His comment comes from a man who has had a second house on the lake for 40+ years that is falling apart, is in constant need of repair, owns HIM instead of him owning it, has a garage that has two quads in it with about 300 miles on each (if that), a new 1998 snomobile with 45 miles on it, a 24 foot wooden lapstrake boat that's been out of the water for 20 years, and two rowboats that haven't seen water in 15 years (except for rain). And with all that, the house is used about three times a year, ahs been paid on for 30+ years, has nice lakeside tax bill, and is on a lot that is falling into the lake. Ah, yes. Give me my non-real camping, depreciating, doesn't own me, can be "given away" with much less loss than a house (if needed), and I can take anywhere anytme... travel trailer. Thank you.
Now, I need to go take a shower in the trailer and sit down and watch a DVD while the popcorm pops in the microwave.
We camped 25 years or so in a tent. Made great memories for our children and 1st. grandchild. Then we got the popup. Also made some good memories for the 2nd. grandchild. Now have TT. Sorry the younger grandchildren are missing out on the experience of tent camping. But we'll make memories in the TT too. Just in a different way.
When I was very young Mom & Dad took us kids to a state park campground. We slept in a tent; it rained and was a miserable time. Later Dad built a TT, which was much better, and I remember some great times. During my school years I spent two summers back packing with a friend. That was a great experience. When first married DW & I bought a pop up camper and used it for a couple of years until Uncle Sam called in 1966 that ended the camping out vacations. Last year we bought a TT to travel the US with and have enjoyed it. Last week I took a motorcycle trip with the guys and slept in a tent. I sure was wishing for the TT. We don’t call it camping while we are traveling and look at the TT as our portable motel room; however, we really enjoy the environment of the campsites in the COE & SP’s. This year we plan to do more of the camping type activities during our travels. We don’t care what you want to call it we enjoy our style.
With my bunkhouse (4 bunks of which now only one is really used) my remark to the "That's not really camping" comment is "When that thunderstorm blows through in the middle of the night, I'll leave the light on for 'ya" I've had the grwon kids and freinds tease me about not tenting anymore. I just smile and listen to them. I was young once too. I also tell them that my idea of roughing it is black & white TV.
God, family & camping freinds forever! SMS
'04 SunnyBrook Solanta 3310
'96 Ford Clubwagon Van w/ 7.5L 460 V8
Tell your friends that if they want to "define" camping, read the story of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Now THAT'S camping. No gas stoves, no pop up sissy tents, no plastic kayaks, no flashlights, no bug spray. Hunt or starve, leather clothing, trading with the indigenous first people for food, horses, and guides. Lewis and Clark both much preferred dog meat over salmon or elk by the time they got to the Pacific coast.
One of the greatest journeys of our American History.
I've been thinking about this since reading it yesterday - and I think the tenter's have it backwards...
I mean - they don't have to worry about leveling, conserving the water in their fresh tanks, or running out of room in their gray tank. They don't have to shut down the AC to turn on the microwave. They dont have to worry about properly adjusting spring bars on their weight distributing hitch, or winterizing their water lines. They have no bearings to grease, brake controllers to install, or awnings to secure....and they certainly dont have to worry about the dumping of the tanks before they pull out of the CG.
Come to think of it....us RV owners are the ones roughing it!!!!
Wadda ya mean "purists"...? Were these people using tents and sleeping bags...and a stove...carried in a car...to a campground...with improved facilities...?
Make 'em walk out there with whatever they can carry in their pockets, gather some berries off the ground(don't pick them) for supper, gather some sticks and leaves(from the ground) to make a bed, and s**t in woods with the bears... THAT'S camping.
Yes, I've slept on a tarp a couple of times, and s**t in the woods, but I carried my stuff in the car and I now enjoy my A/C...
Have fun and try not to annoy the neighbors(either way).
PS: I should have read the previous posts.... (i.e.: Bull Rider)
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