How to avoid precamp stress?

[B-flat]

I keep most everything in the camper that I am going to need, but I do use 2 large rubbermaid clear storage containers to replenish supplies:  one with dry and canned food and the other for clean sheets, towels and other things.  On the day we leave I simply put the frozen and cold food in a cooler and put everything in the camper door.
 
A little story helps to ease the stress:  there was a husband and wife traveling by horse and buggy.  On down the road the horse acted up a bit and strayed to the right and the husband said, "That's 1" and whipped the reins a bit.  Just about a 1/2 mile down the road the horse steered to far to the left, so the husband said, "That's 2" and jerked the reins to back. At this point, DW was getting a bit stressed out by these goings on with "That's 1, That's 2. Then, later the horse bucked and caused the wagon to turn over in the ditch, throwing both husband and wife out onto the ground.  The husband jumps up, yells, "That's 3" and shot the horse.  At this the wife gets really stressed and starts crying and protesting.  To this the husband says, "That's 1."
 
There have been plenty of times that both hubby and I used, That's 1 or That's 2 depending on the severity of the offense.  So remember that story the next time you are traveling and seemed stressed.  By the way, the horse had broken its leg.....

[luvourjayco]

Organization is the key. DH was amazed this year at how fast and unstressed I was. I keep all food stuff in one sterlite drawer set and have another for clothing. I keep a packing list for clothes on the computer the day  before the trip I hand a list to each kiddo and an empty drawer. It has now become their responsibility and if everything isn't checked off then they go without because I'm not chasing it anymore. Of course my kiddos are a bit older than yours.
Meals work best with a menu and alot of precooking. I now precook all breakfast foods except the eggs. What a relief to be able to enjoy my coffee now too!
Clothes wash well they get dirty they stay that way unless we are going shopping. Everyone else is dirty too!! We too invested in rain gear that stays in the PU. I had purchased finally after 3 years everything for the pu so it stays there I no longer worry about extra blankets or a crock pot it's there already.
Done over a couple of years it didn't eat too far into the budget and it has relieved my stress big time. (I forgot matches and frying pans as well as toothbrushes!) Having it all on hand and not having to worry makes it alot easier. Another trick I have used and you can is to buy ice when you are shopping normally and keep it in your freezer. The ice is actually colder and lasts longer and its one less stop trying to prepare. I always cook 2 meals in one. One to eat right away and one for the freezer. This is a leftover habit from years of 2 parents working full time shift work. I makes for some easy camping meals though simply select and pack in the cooler. I also freeze water as soon as we return using the same jugs, ensures they are ready without thought on my part.
Hope some of this helps. I only stress now when we do the longer trips and really need to plan more then a day or two of meals or activities.

[abbear]

I guess it is all a matter of perspective...

When we go camping we go - well - camping.  That means that we take only what we need.  No TV, no fancy cook sets, no lawn ornaments.  Some people need to take the whole house with them and then wonder why they run out of room.

Start simple - if you really miss something, write it down.  If you take something and don't use it, pitch it out so you don't take it again.

The pop up or trailer is not the attraction to camping.  It should be the means to an end.  Likewise with what you bring.  

We leave the pop up packed with everything except food and personal gear.   Food is puposely kept very simple.  As for personal gear everyone gets a single duffle to pack.   Again - very simple.  This method lets us maximize the fun and minimize 'playing house'.  

This isn't coming out quite right - not meaning to sound harsh.

[CampinCrazy]

Great ideas, information, and perspectives!  We usually have a pickup filled with bikes, fishing gear and wood so we've always packed everything else in the camper - hadn't even crossed my mind that pulling everything out to set up may be a waste of time.....I agree about dirty kids - that is what camping is about, but somehow mine always end up wet.....

Thanks for all the feedback!  What a great group we have here!

[Trlrboy]

We ignore the weather reports unless there is something about "continuous thunderstorms, tornados, fire and brimstone"  Naturally we have had our share of soggy weekends but look how many times a drippy Thursday has yielded a great weekend.  We keep a couple of cheap ponchos in the truck in case of rain during set up but that's about all we do to accommodate the weather.

Like Gone-Camping, we don't put a whole lot of thought into menu planning.  We sit down for about 10 minutes and figure how many breakfasts, lunches and dinners we will need.  Then we take all the stuff we need to make those meals and put it into a box or two and leave it in the garage.  The cold items stay in the kitchen refrigerator and freezer.  We figure if we forgot something, we'll get it at the local WalMart or Dollar General.

We use Sterilite drawers to keep clothes in.  Patty gets one 3 drawer set and I get another.  Gives us plenty of room to keep enough clothes for about 5 days so a weekend isn't much of an issue.  We pack our clothes a few days beforehand and leave the drawers out in the garage for later.

The night before we are scheduled to leave, everything gets put into the truck and camper except for the cooler full of drinks and cold food.  We hook up the camper and that's about it.  Then when we leave all we have to do is whistle for the dog and pop the cooler inside and we're off.  Pretty low stress for us but then we don't have kids at home anymore.  But if you take care of the food planning and clothes situation in advance it makes the trip more fun for everyone and you get to play around with the kids instead of having them in the way while you are trying to get it all together.

Say hi to Georgia....

[jstaddwtr]

Just call us the "rubbermaid box people."  

We have a set of smaller and larger size boxes for the longer and shorter trips.  We keep all of the soap and shampoo and stuff is all in one box, our shoes, becasue they can have a tendency to smell and track mudd, stay in another.  In most places where we camp there are critters of some kind so the box keeps the shoes dry and safe.  

Short trips our to kids share one for their clothes, longer trips (like a week or more) they get their own.  We do the canned good thing like others have mentioned that we just keep filled.  We have another food container for crushable stuff and things we are taking that does not need refrigeration.  We too keep menus simple.  

For long trips we have a rear seat that can be removed from our TV (E-150 Traveler, Full size van).  This permits everything to be in its place. We still go through some jitters but some is just the need to get out!    We love going to new places and meeting new friends from all different places.

We keep the PU stocked with stuff that we will need for each trip, table clothes, dishes, glasses, and the usual stuff.  Unlike others, we don't keep clothes packed in the PU that is changable depending on the trip and the climate.  At the same time, most of it is the same and remains in the containers.  Most of the time, once the season starts, we do not pop-up before a trip.(except the long ones)

We have learned, and continue to learn much from everyone on this board.  Like everyone, we do things a little different but thats the beauty of the diversity of the board!

Good luck!

[NightOwl]

there are so many good  organizing and storage ideas in this thread!  I cant think of anyone, no matter how experienced, who couldnt get something new from the creative suggestions posted here.  

My only added thought is that very often, people get tense and grumpy when their blood sugar drops, and getting ready for a camping trip or being in transit doesnt always allow time for food.  When our (now grown) girls were  camping with us, I learned to keep some kind of wholesome snack like fruit or crackers and cheese handy--it not only helped them not to get jittery and complain "I'm hungry, WHEN are you ever going to FEED us?" but it also occupied them when I asked them to set out snacks for all of us.

As for getting clothes dirty, our youngest had a talent for getting and staying grubby, so we just learned to live with it and tried to keep her dry if not neat and tidy.

As a lot of members have commented, a relaxed attitude helps (although, alas, it is sometimes  easier said than achieved   )  Just take comfort in knowing your kids will grow up remembering THE FUN, and  the glitches will be long forgotten except as a source of chuckles at family gatherings.  (Something that happens now which you think of as a disaster   will seem  like some kind of charming little  quirky adventure in years to come).