The Glamping Life for Me

 Camping is a topic that every couple should sort before they get married.  You wouldn’t think it could be a deal breaker, but it’s right up there with how many kids you want or don’t.  Keith loves camping.  He was a boy scout for heaven’s sake.  For him, peeing in the woods was as normal as snow in Montana. 

After we got married and had two little kids, he introduced me to tent camping.  The site he picked for our first campout had to be accessed by boat.  It was in the woods…with no bathroom….the only water was in the lake…..the only power was lanterns and a campfire.  We hauled half of our kitchen in and out with the boat.  With two little kids you also take enough equipment for a small army.  Small people don’t get peeing in the woods.  They get cold at night and you end up with three people in a one person sleeping bag.  And who thought sleeping bags were a good idea in the first place?  I always woke up all wrapped up like a mummy.  But I wanted my husband to be happy, so I did it again.  After the second time of coming home exhausted and dirty with two exhausted and dirty offspring, I said in no uncertain terms that I hated camping.  End of conversation. 

Fast forward till our kids were out of the house.  My sister and brother-in-law talked us into going on a camping trip in their tent camper.  I still had camping PTSD and I wasn’t at all sure I wanted to go for a WHOLE WEEK, but I pretended to be brave.  It wasn’t so bad. We stayed where there were public bathrooms and showers, and there was electricity and all the stuff you needed was already stored in it.  It was WAYYY better than camping in the woods in a tent.  This I could get used to!  So we bought our own tent camper.  That was fun for awhile, but then we upgraded to a used bumper pull trailer that you didn’t have to put up and tear down, and it had a bathroom and real beds and a kitchen!  This was something I could embrace.  A few years later, we traded for a 36 foot 5^th wheel with all the bells and whistles.  Now we’re talking!  Camping purists say we can’t call it camping, that we have to call it “glamping” (glamour camping).  I don’t care what you call it, it’s the absolute best kind of camping for this non-camping girl. 

The Covid lockdowns made us appreciate our home on wheels even more.  We could change the scenery and still be safe and comfy.  It really was a mental life preserver.  We’ve been a lot of places and will spend the summer exploring as often as we can get away.  We love the glamping life.  If you enjoy peeing in the woods, more power to you.  I’ll keep my flushing toilet, hot shower, kitchen with an island and comfy bed on wheels.  Happy camping!