Is it me? Am I a dying breed?

['tiredTeacher]

Dying breed? Just read (or re-read) Hemingway's "Big Two-Hearted River."
Now that's camping and fishing. Nick Adams is the dying breed.

[PatB]

I started out with my parents during the 70's in a small Sears travel trailer without any frills. I later spent quite a bit of time backpacking and doing bike trips throughout the country. So I can appreciate doing it the low tech way.

However, it's much easier to convince family members to go camping if there are some other conveniences in the camper. So perhaps more people are enjoying camping as a result of having those conveniences as compared to staying home rather than roughing it.

It's just nice if people can appreciate that camping can be a low level activity and have some respect for that. We were at a Yogi Bear campground last year apparently during a busy NASCAR weekend. A bunch of RV's rented spaces next to each other and actually built a temporary deck that was at least a few hundred square feet to hold their gigantic large screen TV. We had to put up with the building noise and then a bunch of drunks screaming into the night.

[ForestCreature]

Hey Marcy, you forgot to mention the "Blender."
 

How could I have forgotten the BLENDER!   That is a necessity more than a luxury add on...it's so necessary I bring along 2, an ele one and a 12 v model for the dry camping nights..

What's a hot summer evening without a :-()Banshee or 2?

[CajunCamper]

Our camping style isn't unlike Jan's. We have a nuke but it's main use is to heat things quickly so we can get back to relaxing.
 
Kids can be seperated from their iPods but is it really worth it?

You'll have to decide for yourself if it's worth it or not for you and your kids.

In my opinion the world we live in is full of distractions and many of these distractions we come to accept as necessities, ie cell phones, the constant playing of music while in a car or elsewhere, computers,etc.
People have lost the art of being quiet and listening to their souls. People have lost the art of relaxation. If we don't teach them when they are young how to turn off those distractions, how will they ever learn. Camping is the ideal classroom.

CajunCamper

[archer]

We usually combine the best of both worlds. We take along some gadgets for rainy times like dvd player and dtr takes DS, but unless we get rained out for a long period of time we never use them. Absolutely no TV but like a radio for some nice music in the evening. We use a coleman camp stove to cook on but also like to cook over the fire as well. Nothing quite like steaks and corn on the cob over an open hardwood fire.....yummy!!! We have a screen room to go over the picnic table to keep out the bugs...(Florida) they will carry you away!!! We ride bikes, walk, hike, canoe, fish fish and fish! We even play flash light tag at night!! Camping is just the best to relieve the stress of our fast paced life!!!! Happy Camping!!!!

[jaytee2274]

Camping is the ideal classroom.

CajunCamper[/QUOTE]


YES!!  So true!!!  Plus - you can run around and not get detention!!

 :#

[threebeachboys]

I

I know everyone has their way of camping, but to me it seems like people are missing out on a lot of what camping has to offer by always having their toys and gadgets with them.

CajunCamper

Well, no disrespect intended for those of you who don't want the comforts of home. . . . but for our family, camping is about being together & enjoying each other & the surroundings.  

My kids do bring the electronic stuff.  But they also spend a good part of the day riding their bikes, exploring (they honestly must have caught thousands of frogs over the years!), hiking and swimming.  But at night or on a rainy day, they play games & watch DVDs - in addition to playing board games, cards & reading.

And while some of you may enjoy cooking over an open fire, I can barely boil an egg under the best of conditions.  So I prepare things ahead of time & nuke them.  Or just prepare quick meals using appliances.  For me, it would ruin any time away from home as I don't enjoy (& in fact would stress out) primitive camping.  Why would I do something that adds stress instead of taking it away!  

But I tell you, if I had a choice between spending 2 weeks w/my family at the State Park just relaxing or at a big resort w/all the amenities, I'd pick camping in a skinny minute.  Despite the fact that I take advantage of the amenities in my camper, I am blessed that I can enjoy them while being outdoors w/the kids.

Pam

[erich0521]

CajunCamper, you are correct.

I've been a camper and have a life long love of the outdoors.  My parents were the influence on me.  My DW never had such opportunities.  In fact my in-laws (who I love) don't spend any time outdoors and would NEVER camp.

Hence, the purchase of the PU.  

We have 3 kids (age 12, 8 and 7).  When we camp for a weekend, we can set up in about 30 mins because we don't bring all that junk.  It's about being outdoors.  Even if we are stuck in the PU due to rain, etc. we do family board games and such.

If I wanted to bring DVD, iPod, Wii and all our kitchen stuff I'd stay at HOME.

I must admit, I like my A/C when camping on a very hot summer day so perhaps I'm corrupt to a certain degree.

[ScouterMom]

I've been known to make a run to Wally World on a hot, hot camping weekend to buy a fan for the tent....

But I haven't gotten to the point where I need AC for the PUP - yet.

I grew up wilderness camping, canoe camping and camping with scouts.  I bought my first little, 20 yr old camper for $200 - because as a single mom with a grade schooler, my little car (& tiny trunk) and my back just couldn't take all that packing and unpacking of coolers, tent, bikes, etc every weekend.  I had actually been looking for a small flatbed trailer to carry our stuff and keep it on - and a friend offered me his old PUP.

Jim didn't know what a gift he was giving to my son and I.

Jon must've been in 2nd or 3rd grade at the time. The camper was small enough that we could push it around a campsite if I couldn't manage to back it in easily.  We had years of happy memories in that camper. We still camped like we did in the tent, we just didn't have to pack and unpack every time - we just unfolded our 'tent on a box' and everything was already in there.  if it rained, we played board games or read aloud.  If it was nice, we had net hammocks we hung from the trees to nap or read in. We spent most of every day on the lakeshore, coming back to the camper only to eat or get cold drinks or games. We still cooked outside, though we really liked the propane stove that hooked up outside the camper & made it easy to whip up some mac n cheese without making a whole hot fire on a hot night - but we always had a campfire for marshmallows!

on hot weekends we spent from dawn til dark in the lake - coming back to the camper only to eat and get cold drinks.  The electric hookup in the camper meant we had a spot for our electric cooler - saved us having to refill ice.

We use some convieniences, but only those that make things truly easier, safer or better; our 'entertainment' is family, nature, our dog, and making new friends while camping.

[PattieAM]

My health took a nosedive a few years back, and I could no longer pack and set up/take down all the gear for tent camping.  So rather than give up camping, bought the PUP with the requirements of potty/ac.  Best decision I've made!

Granted I've given up the campfire cooking, but, I can still enjoy/appreciate the great outdoors.  Comfortable sleeping makes for a more active day outside.  And, I really appreciate the comfort at bedtime!  Having the potty in the camper makes my life much easier - I just couldn't make the treks in the middle of the night to a buggy bathhouse.  I do miss the campfire cooking, but just cannot deal with hefting the cast iron, or toting stuff in/out of the PUP.  I do enjoy my RVQ grill to the max though.  Having the 3-burner range and oven has proven to be a very nice asset.

[cjpoppin]

No Pattie AM it's not just you.....We are just about ready to leave our pup behind and move up to a TT.......It's just getting to hard for my DH to set up the pup so for just the two of us we think a TT would fit the bill.......Our grandkids do not travel with us much any more their lives have become so busy we have to make appointments to see them........Hahaaaaa
As long as we're still getting out in the great outdoors it'll be fun and we'll be HAPPY. However we sure will miss our little pup............carol

[MotherNature]

I agree about health being an issue... DH & I tented for about 5 years before children and about 6 years after.  I personally loved (and still do!) the tent, but DH'S back problems and our youngest sons's hysterical (no exaggeration) fear of thunderstorms made us have to decide whether to buy a larger tent (to accomodate an air mattress) or whether to move up to a PUP.  

The PUP offered us freedom from weather; a rainy weekend in a PUP with 2 small children (5 & 7 at the time) is VERY different (in a good way!) from a rainy weekend in a tent with boys that age (the PUP being off the ground has somehow drastically reduced the t-storm phobia).

Also, camping gear storage came into consideration.  We had a 900-square-foot house at the time, no garage or basement (since upgraded to 1200 still no garage or basement, I know it sounds small but it's spacious to me!).  ALL the camping stuff was stowed wherever we could find a nook or cranny.  Nowadays with the PUP we keep all the camping gear in it year-round - like I said, sounds trivial but in our situation it made a HUGE difference in our 'quality of life' camping or not.

Purists will argue that the PUP is not as 'close to nature' as a tent; however, I personally think it gets you closer because a family can camp more often! (Not worrying about weather).  This is our  3rd season with our PUP and we are still VERY appreciative of not sleeping on the ground and having a little stove, sink, and awning.  My only regret about the PUP is not having bought it sooner!

[MomboTN]

I have camped in all conditions.  I have been dropped off by Dad when he said,

[kjcamper]

I have camped in all conditions.  I have been dropped off by Dad when he said,

[TheViking]

As a man of few words..........Yes.  It seems you are a dying breed.