It's like stepping back in time......

[CajunCamper]

As I sit here thinking back on our many family camping trips over the years, it dawned on me that camping, even in today's hurry up world is like a step back in time for me. Oh sure we have more advanced gear and better equiped pop ups and such, but camping really is for me, a step back into a kinder more simple time.

There was a time in America when families shared chores and worked together as a family unit. Sat around the dinner table and enjoyed each others company while enjoying a nice meal and after the meal we cleared the table and washed, dried and put away the dishes. Family and friends gathered on patio's and front porches in towns and cities across the country to relax, tell stories, maybe play a little music to sing and dance and just spend time together. We waved and spoke to our neighbors as they walked past our homes in the cool of the evening and sometimes joined us for a glass of iced tea (sweet tea in the south) or a glass of homemade lemonade. We barbeque (and in Louisiana Boil Crawfish) and invite our neighbors over for food and fellowship while the kids all played together until it was time to settle down for the night.

There was a time in America when neighbors looked out for each other and lent a hand when someone needed it whether it was loaning tools and a little "know how" when the family car wouldn't start or cooking a meal for someone that was sick or just keeping an eye on each others kids to make sure they were safe and stayed out of trouble.

Perhaps there are still communities today that are like that, but they seem to be few and far between and unfortunately fading fast.

But the one place where I get the biggest glimpse of those kinder, more simple days, is in a campground with wonderful people like the ones I find here on this site. We are a special group of people we are and I'm proud to be a part of this group.

I suppose in addition to enjoying the outdoors, being around the kind of people I find and meet while camping is the biggest reason I feel drawn to camping. When camping around fine folks like you, I feel a sense of the community of my childhood and of my parents and grandparents that I seemed to have lost over the years.

Yes, we camping folk are a special group of people.

Happy Camping

CajunCamper

[spicyville1]

Wow what a nice "letter"!  You put things in perspective on this thread. Folks like you and others here, have a way to bring out some of my fondest memories of days past. I try and pass my experiences along to my daughters and create our own memories. Taking them fishing is one of our favorite activities. It is so funny watching them as I catch the fish and they reel it in. They are very active and love to play with other kids they meet while camping. We have become friends with several campers and we try to coordinate weekends when we all can get together.  To everyone out there... take a child camping and watch them have some of the best "memories" they will never forget.

[A2SuperCrew]

I agree.  

[denbert]

I'm glad I'm old enough to remember those times.  I'm glad I'm young enough to still go camping!
 

[PattieAM]

I agree!!

Back when I was tent camping - I really loved stepping back in time - where the main concerns were the meals and the tent not leaking during a rain!

[harleywolf]

Cajun, nice man

[MomboTN]

I was reading a book one time by a marriage counselor.  He had interview over a thousand families to try to find the key to happiness.  After he had done all of his analysis, he came up with the one common thread for the happiest of families.  The answer was camping.  He did then say that it wasn't only camping but spending time together.  Going through tough situations and experiences as a family.  Going through those things helped the family to bond in a way that is just not possible in front of the television.  We have been camping as a family ever since.