How Important Is Camping To You?

[jmaddox]

As I sit and get ready for our first camping trip of the season, it struck me.  Camping has become very important to me.  Not going on long, expensive vacations in a fancy hotel, but just camping.  Waking up in the morning and standing on the shore of a lake looking through the fog makes me complete.  That may sound somewhat corny, but it's true.  I'm going through a lot of life/career struggles right now, and one of the things that has kept me going is this first camping trip- even though we're slated for rain and thunderstorms tomorrow, tomorrow night, and Saturday morning...

I was just wondering how important is camping to you?  I don't really mean how much you 'enjoy it', but how important is it in your life?  To me there is a difference, maybe not so much to others.

[Old Starcraft]

I was just wondering how important is camping to you?  I don't really mean how much you 'enjoy it', but how important is it in your life?  To me there is a difference, maybe not so much to others.[/QUOTE]

Our family really enjoys the camping experience. For our son it is a time to learn more about the outdoors, meet new friends, see different parts of our state, or where ever we travel. For my wife and I it is a time of peace, a time to enjoy nature away from cell phones, PC's, as well as the responsibilities from work. Since I am more of an "B" type person I do not have any trouble relaxing and unwinding. My wife however is learning how to relax when we travel, but still takes a day or two to relax and forget about the stress of work.

[MotherNature]

As I sit and get ready for our first camping trip of the season, it struck me.  Camping has become very important to me.  Not going on long, expensive vacations in a fancy hotel, but just camping.  Waking up in the morning and standing on the shore of a lake looking through the fog makes me complete.  That may sound somewhat corny, but it's true.  I'm going through a lot of life/career struggles right now, and one of the things that has kept me going is this first camping trip- even though we're slated for rain and thunderstorms tomorrow, tomorrow night, and Saturday morning...

I was just wondering how important is camping to you?  I don't really mean how much you 'enjoy it', but how important is it in your life?  To me there is a difference, maybe not so much to others.

Let me put it this way - when we aren't camping, we wish we were!

It really has become a way of life.  I agree with you about the first camping trip of the season keeping you going through the 'winter blues'!  Our first is in a month and we can't wait.

I also think that it creates a balance in our family life and ensures that we don't take too much for granted in either direction.  When we're home, we enjoy our internet access, television, own bathrooms, etc.  It's easy to take this stuff for granted until you camp and realize what life is like without (I don't mean to say camping is a 'hardship', it's NOT - just DIFFERENT).  When we're camping, we enjoy sleeping in our popup, our campfire, seeing different parts of the country, nature, and whatever activities the park offers.  It's easy to take these things for granted until you have the contrast of living in a house (like when you return from camping and being in your house feels like being shut in a shoebox) - then you appreciate the outdoors and 'the popup life' all the more.

Camping has become THE family activity for us!

Thanks for starting this thread - great topic!

[A2SuperCrew]

Camping is an important part of our family.  Being out in the wilderness, sleeping under canvas, unplugging from daily life.  It's a great time to reconnect with nature, each other, and ourselves.  It's very balancing.  We all look forward to Spring.  Camping is very seasonal up here in Michigan.  The kids even get the camping itch this time of year, asking "When are we getting the camper out of the barn?"

Our family enjoys all kinds of travel, but during the winter months we can't camp, so we do other stuff.  We just got back from a Western Carribean cruise where we visited Cozumel and Belize.    It was our third cruise.  We did a two week land / sea cruise in Alaska a few years ago.  That was a blast!  

We love to travel year round.  In the summer, all our trips center around camping.

[dmodechicky]

It's very important to my family.  It has become a part of us.  I can say that I think we will always be campers.  It's just so awesome to take the kids out of the city & for them to explore and discover new animals, bugs, places, people.  It's just great to have camping be a part of our lives.

[ScouterMom]

I was raised in a camping family, and am glad that even as a single parent, I've had the opportunity to raise my son as a camper.

I know a few people who have told me they never camped, and never wanted to! How can this be? It's mind-boggling to me. yeah, there can be bugs and rainy days - but there can also be discovery and delight of a child, campfires and comraderie, billions of stars never seen near any city, loons calling across the water, and listening to rain on the canvas of your tent while you're curled up snug and warm with your family.

Why would ANYONE pass up those oppotunities?

When I can't camp, I'm thinking about our next trip, where can we go? who's going with us?  thinking about better ways to pack the canoe or camper, what equipment might work better, or what mods can I make.....

But whether it's in a canoe and sleeping on the beach, or camping in the camper, even in 'camp driveway' gives me a sense of peace.  I sleep better, breathe more deeply, and feel more ALIVE!

If there ever comes a day when I can't camp anymore, or at least, get out into nature some, some part of me will die.

I can't ever give that up. Camping is essential to me.

Laura

[PattieAM]

I've always enjoyed the 'get-aways' - whether it be tenting or even just a night or two somewhere other than home.  In reviewing my prior years, seemed as though at least one weekend a month was away from home.  

Since getting my PUP, I still have the same desires to escape - about once a month or maybe every other week have a few days away from home.

Yes, camping/travel is high on my priority list.

[tlhdoc]

Camping is very important in my life.  It helps restore me for my non-camping time.

[Dee4j]

VERY Important...and as far as my DD is concerned it's "THE" most important thing

[AZsix]

For me it has become very important. As a former long haul truck driver that has been to every state (except Alaska) and most provinces of Canada with my wife, I still love seeing new places. I want my kids to get the thrill of seeing new places as well. It has always been a dream of mine to get an RV of some sort and now that I have one I want to make the most of it. What makes it so important to me is 1) it's a time to be with my kids without all the distractions of home and 2) I love being out in nature and experiencing all it has to offer. Sitting in the cool morning air with a cup of coffee while the sun comes up is a beautiful thing. I would camp every weekend if I were able to.

Good luck with your life/career struggles. Being out in the woods with only the sounds of nature is a great way to clear your head and get a grip on things.

[Darrell T]

I would have to agree with everyone else. Camping is a big part of my life.
I have been going since I was probably 5 or 6. I camp for lots of different reasons whether it be to just be out with friends on a long weekend, go out for a few days trail riding on the motorcycles, 4 wheeling or hunting it all revolves around camping in some form or another.
I take 3 major trips a year and lots of little ones. I spend most of my time planning the "next" trip as soon as I get home from the last one.
2008 just started and I am working on trips for 2009 already.... :-()
DT

[fourgonefishn]

Let me see.... I can put it to you this way. We have 2 boys 5 and 6, the 5 year old says during a snow storm in Jan. Can we go camping yet? :frosty:  Mind you we already had at least a foot of snow on the ground. So we'd say camping ranks pretty darn high over here.
 We also have been cut short the last 2 years due to health issues. A big bummer but, you have to make sacrafices.

[GeneF]

DW and I are at the far end of where most of you are now, that is that you are camping with the kids and family.

We are into the snowbirding stage but the memories of camping definitely linger in this family.

Right now DD is asleep on our couch in the trailer.  She is on Spring Break.  This will most likely be the last time we will be able to share this much time with her so the memories made this week will be special.

Camping has had a tremendous affect on this family.  The travel, people that we have met, the campfires and other adventures have made for a close family.

[Lifeangel1]

Camping is also very important to me. When I'm not camping, I'm thinking about camping. I have only had my pupup for two years but tent camped since I was a child. My first husband and I camped all the time. We raised two children camping and it was wonderful. They still have a love of camping. DH2 doesn't understand the whole camping thing. when I first started seeing him he told me I would never have to sleep in a tent again. We could afford hotel rooms anywhere we wanted to go. At first I excited about this. I sold the tent and most of the gear. After a year or two I realized how much I missed camping so I bought another tent. DH tried it and hated it. I was disapointed but okay with it. I told him he was welcome to come anytime he wanted but I was okay with him not going. My DD and her two boys(6 & 7) are my camping buddies.

I am a calmer person when I can camp. I am a supervisor in a commercial bakery. Just yesterday was a bad day. Nothing was going right and I was frustrated. Suddenly one of my girls asked me when I was going to start camping again. I realized I don't stress out nearly as much during camping season.

I need to go camping..

[brainpause]

I'm going through a lot of life/career struggles right now, and one of the things that has kept me going is this first camping trip.

What I probably would have typed if you hadn't already.

Larry