Let me start by saying, that I have never enjoyed camping. Staying in a cabin or a fancy Air BnB, sure, but not a tent. This may be a result of the fact that my parents sent me to summer sleepover camp each year from ages 7 until 13. Sure, they had fun things like gymnastics, tubing, swimming, but I was always miserable, as most of the kids were very snotty. I hated it so much, that every year I would try and find a way to get my parents to come and pick me up. One summer I told the counselors that I was throwing up everyday. Well, my parents did not buy it and made me stay. Another summer my friend Marisa and I hatched this great plan to run away. The camp was in the middle of nowwhereville in up state New York and the only thing nearby, was a hardware store that was five miles away. We discovered this store one day when we were going on a field trip. So, one Sunday we did it, broke free and headed to the hardware store to call our parents and tell them we ran away and were not going back, and they had to pick us up. One problem, in this sleepy little town, nothing was open on Sunday. So, for my anticlimactic ending, no one knew we ran away and we ended up having to walk back five miles in the pouring rain.

So, what did that all have to do with camping? Well, at summer camp we also had to camp. One night, they took us to a nearby lake, had us build a shelter to learn lifesaving skills and then we were supposed to camp under the shelter made of sticks. The shelter fell apart and we ended up sleeping under the stars. How romantic…not! I woke up with over 150 mosquito bites. I had bites in places mosquitoes should not be able to get to! That same enchanting summer, we hiked the Appalachian trail. It was beautiful, but we had twelve people sleeping in a five person leanato(this is a building with a floor made of logs and a back wall and two side walls, so open to the elements) It was hot, and so uncomfortable. I also ended up with a moth in my mouth…yuck, I hate them to this day. It rained all night, so our shoes and food which were outside, were soaked. We had nothing to eat and 13 miles to hike out in wet shoes on a muddy trail.

These are my first memories of camping. I have been camping as an adult and do not fancy sleeping in a tent, freezing, having to peel off layers to go to the bathroom, tons of bugs..you get it. I am a little bit of a princess. So, in comes the pandemic and my husband wants a travel trailer because we are not traveling by plane anytime soon. All I can think is well at least we will have running water and shelter. So, I begrudgingly agreed and we saved up some money to finance a trailer. Yup, all in, not rent one to see if I like it, but jumped in with both feet.

We have now taken three trips and I must say, I feel like this is more along the lines of glamping than camping. I love it! I also like that we can show our son the country in a different way, than what he has been used to. My husband told me, that he is shocked and excited as he thought after trip one we would be selling the trailer! I want to state for the record, that I do love the outdoors and outdoor activity, I just like shelter, security and running water.

If you have the chance to travel this way, it is a lot of fun. I am a fly by plane to the Caribbean girl all the way, but I am enjoying this and I love that my son can see the country and learn to enjoy the great outdoors. When I saw his eyes light up with amazement at the Grand Canyon, that was everything!

Sometimes stepping out of your comfort zone, can open up a whole new world of experiences.