The weather has been beautiful, and I’ve been taking full advantage. No job and plenty of time to play! Between golf, walking and swimming, it’s hard to make room for my indoors stuff such as reading, cooking and art. Just so you know, hunting through recipes eats up a lot of time.
I’m not complaining. This is not a bad problem to have. I’m always puzzled when people think we don’t do anything in retirement. Best I can tell, most of us have plenty to keep us amused, and I like to think there’s always room for more.
Or is there?
We used to enjoy camping. Sometimes in a tent and sometimes in a small trailer. But shortly after I retired, we got rid of both and have been hoteling it ever since.
Maybe it was the nice weather or perhaps a bit of folly, but I started daydreaming about peaceful quality time in the wilderness with my loving husband of 44 years and asked him if he still thought about camping. He said yes, and I was pleased, but be forewarned, it goes downhill from here.
We’re car campers and like a somewhat boxy tent we can stand up in with plenty of room for a queen-sized air mattress. I refuse to leave the tent at night to pee, so I have this thing called a luggable loo. It’s a five-gallon bucket with a toilet seat. You buy liners with gel that dries everything up and then dispose of it in the morning.
It works great, but Dale is quite fussy about the location of my loo. It can’t be in the main part of the tent, and not all tents have two rooms. Our old one was perfect, but when it wore out, we couldn’t find a suitable replacement. I’ve been looking since the beginning of the pandemic and finally found a tent at REI that I thought would work.
Last weekend, we headed over to REI and bought it.
On the way home, I said, “I’m kind of excited.” He said, “I guess.”
I’m like, what? I spent years looking for a tent, and that’s the best you can cough up?
I willed myself to relax, figuring he’d get with the program soon enough. However, I said, let’s not take it out of the bag until we’re absolutely positively sure we want to camp. It’s OK if we don’t. We just need to be honest with each other. We left it on the dining room table with the receipt in case it has to go back.
After a couple of days, I asked him what he thought about the whole idea. He finally confessed he does want to camp, but he doesn’t want to give up hotels, either. Well, that’s easy enough. I assured him we can do both. However, I said don’t take the tent out of the bag just yet.
I began to research locations and asked him if he had any preferences. Mountains? Beach? He said whatever. Not exactly the big bold clue I was looking for. I was on my own.
The way I figured it, we had a cold winter and the snow is starting to melt, so I thought June was too early for the mountains. The beach was perfect. These northern California beaches are beautiful and kind of cold, but it’s not like we’re out frolicking in the water, and you don’t have to worry about bears or snow.
I presented him with a list of beaches, and he said, “The beach? It’s pretty damp this time of year. We won’t enjoy being in a tent.”
After I accused him of being Big Bird – the one who waits while all the work is being done and then comes in and craps all over everything, I realized he’s probably right. I said I need more time to think.
Um, don’t take the tent out of the bag just yet.
So, the tent was $599. If we camp three times a year, we’ve pretty much recouped our costs if you compare it to a hotel room. I could probably find ideal tent camping spots for each of the summer months – July, August and September. Nothing wrong with being fair-weather campers.
We get outside in nature. We change our routine. We eat great camping food. We snuggle in our zip-together sleeping bags. All is good.
I’m thinking we will keep the tent. And we will find some lovely places to camp with reasonably predictable weather. As I continue to research options, I explained all this to Dale, who happily agreed. I’m feeling pretty good about the whole thing, but I said, let’s think about this for a few more days. Give Big Bird time to reveal his true thoughts.
Lord, what we do for relationships. I think it gets harder as we age, but that’s me. Anyway, we have reached consensus. I see camping in our future, but just so you know, the tent is still in the bag.
44 years! No wonder you can’t agree on where to go camping.
Exactly.
I watch YouTube videos of hikers walking the Pacific Crest Trail (mostly because I have problem feet that would really not hike, ever.). Anyway, they often speak of, and show videos of, where they pitched their tent, and talk about how far it is to the next town. Also, lots of discussion about the best foods available in those towns. If the PCT is anywhere near you, it might be a fun way to learn about different camping areas.
Nina
That’s a great idea. Even though they camp further into the woods, I do think there are places nearby where you can car camp. Love the idea of best foods nearby!
Just had to say, you had me chuckling the whole way through your post. I’m thinking your next few posts need to let us know…. is the tent still in the bag?
It could be a weekly update!
Hi Donna, We have both options when we explore. We use Air b&b’s and we tow an A-liner trailer with our SUV. It’s light, has solid walls and has all the basic comforts you need. You can also stand up inside. We’ve taken it out on the coast of Oregon down through Mendocino and beyond. Tons of fun too. Nothing beats that first, fresh cup of coffee in the morning when you’re outdoors camping. It’s time to open the bag and take the leap ! Sally and I will celebrate 46 years and we still enjoy camping together.
I love your comment! I’m pretty sure we’ve decided to keep the tent and see where it takes us. We have had some great times camping together, and even if we only do it now and then these days, it’s still a good thing.
We’re still trying to figure out what traveling now looks like for us. We were never campers so that’s not the issue, but so many things have changed, including us, so finding our travel Zen is becoming challenging. Our figurative tent is still in the bag so I sympathize with your predicament.
This is really the issue. Not camping so much, but what does travel look like for retirees? We do change over the years. It’s weird that we have time and money but still struggle with this.
Why not rent a cabin at an RV park? We kept our RV at a Thousand Trails campground in Jamul, CA, years ago. We’ve since moved to Hawaii so gave up the RV but will rent a cabin in that park or elsewhere the next time we get back to California. We appreciated having two large pools, a hot tub, and other amenities will still being in an outdoorsy setting. My family camped in tents all over the country and in Europe when I was a kid – at 71, I’d rather sleep in bed.
That’s a great idea. Sadly, it’s looking like getting any kind of reservation is next to impossible. I’m about done and am thinking I’m with you — a bed is pretty nice.
Hi Donna, that’s what I was going to say that you’ve got to reserve anything 6 months out. It’s tough to do and even then it generally takes me about 2 weeks of trying every. single. day.
Christina — I was thinking of you as I struggled with that ridiculous system. I know you do it, but you are a hardier soul than I.
Someone donated a TripTips portable, collapsable camping commode to our thrift shop yesterday and insisted on demonstrating it’s assembly. Oh my…..What a coincidence to now read your blog. I’m with you, no exiting the tent to pee. In other words, I don’t camp at all. Thanks for the laugh and good luck on your research for a good spot.
I think we’re done, too. I’ll keep the luggable loo for our emergency kit — flood, earthquake, etc.
Himself is the camper in our relationship. I do NOT camp. I didn’t do it when young, and now that I’m old & creaky, it’s not going to become a thing. I get the concept, the joy of being out in the wonders of nature, all that stuff… but I like my creature comforts, and camping just doesn’t provide them. I’ve heard of Glamping, and I *might* consider trying that, but it’s the loos that tend to be my make or break it. Himself doesn’t care, but this is one of those times when I do envy a person having a penis.
I look forward to reading about your camping expeditions. I’ll happily camp vicariously 😉
Thanks for the laugh about penis envy. It’s like the world is their toilet.