After spending nearly two decades as Scout leaders (camping on little pads and eating food cooked by 11 year olds) my husband and I decided to find grown up camping friends (defined as those who sleep in beds and drink alcohol around the campfire). While researching pop-up camping trailers, we came across an online club forum for people who want to get together, camp, and share their love of tent trailers: The Great Lakes Pop-Up Club.
The first time we met with the group our camper was still being built (a 2007 Jayco 12HW). They were camping at a state park not too far from our home so we decided to join them for the Saturday evening potluck. We decided ahead of time to drive by the group slowly and if we heard dueling banjos or if anyone had a snake wrapped around their neck we would take our tray of brownies and keep driving. Thankfully, they were all just people who liked to camp and we’ve since spent many enjoyable weekends sharing campfires with them.
Every year, members from five states descend upon a campground and this year it was our state’s turn to host the Rally. We decided to make it our vacation and reserved a site for ten days. It’s our longest camping trip so far and packing for it has made me reflect on those people who build big houses after their kids move out.
When the boys were little, camping consisted of a tent, sleeping bags, and a cooler full of hot dogs and marshmallows. It all fit in the trunk of the car. Three kids and a dog in the back seat, stop at White Castle on the way to the campground, and you’re good for the weekend. You would think now that the kids are grown, provisions would only take 1/2 of a car trunk. Nope. The leg lamp alone takes 6 square feet. Yes, the leg lamp. Camping isn’t what it used to be folks!
 As I sit at my trailer table, next to the leg lamp, I am blogging at my computer with a wireless card and my cell phone and digital camera are sitting next to me. (The flat screen tv hooked to adjustable rooftop antenna is only a few feet away.) Above the 3 cubic foot refrigerator, the ice maker is churning out ice to keep our 3 coolers nice and frigid. The aroma of coffee is scenting the air while the convection oven/microwave is cooking muffins. Fortunately, it’s cool enough to have the windows unzipped because the air conditioner will freeze you out and my hair is wet from just showering in my camper bathroom. It has been cold at night surprisingly so I’m glad we have heated mattresses.
Yes ladies and gentlemen, this is what camping has become. I’ve gone from the whole family and all the gear fitting in one vehicle to pulling a trailer with a loaded SUV while my husband follows behind in the pickup. When non-campers say they don’t enjoy the outdoors I just have to chuckle. I’ve got better accomodations than I’ve had at many hotels!
(It was my intent to include some pictures but I can’t get them uploaded. I’ll include them in another post.)
July 6, 2008 at 9:03 pm
You know, I have to tell you, I really enjoy this blog and the insight from everyone who participates. I find it to be refreshing and very informative. I wish there were more blogs like it. Anyway, I felt it was about time I posted, I’ve spent most of my time here just lurking and reading, but today for some reason I just felt compelled to say this.
July 6, 2008 at 11:09 pm
I am so loving your blog. You are so funny! I love the boob obsession, the post it notes, everything. I can totally see why Tali likes you. ^_^
You camp better than I live, woman! Isn’t technology amazing?
July 7, 2008 at 2:28 am
In your photos, you better include one of the “leg lamp.” Because, unless everyone has seen Jean Shephards “A Christmas Story” they may get some mighty strange pictures in their head of those dueling banjos.
Not everyone knows Bigger-than-life Hubbie like we do.
July 7, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Thanks boo! And the cool thing about the ice maker is it makes cubes with holes in them and you can stick them on the end of your fingers and play finger puppets if its raining outside!
Yep, have the pictures all ready. Just have to get them to load. I think it could be entertaining to give them a few days of imagining a dueling banjo leg lamp though.
July 7, 2008 at 8:34 pm
The sad part to this story, is we used to take the little runt, Master’s Daughter, camping. I’d get a call an hour before her dad got home and be packed with the munchkins waiting to jump in the car.
I have been known to go camping with a tent, blanket, a spatula and a roll of foil.
July 8, 2008 at 3:23 am
And I enjoyed those campouts just as much! There were also a lot less dishes!
July 10, 2008 at 7:16 pm
This is MY kind of camping!