Is It Too Soon to Start Thinking About Camping?

Posted on Apr 21, 2020 Topic : Inspirational/Devotional, Men's Christian Living, Women's Christian Living
Posted by : Melody A. Carlson

Are you stuck at home and wishing you were on vacation? Though this article was written months before the coronavirus pandemic hit the United States, this is actually a great time for your family to be dreaming about and planning your next outdoor adventure.

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This time of year tends to stir up a certain mood in me. You might even call it a campy state of mind. But on a sunny spring day, I often slip out to our RV. Just to poke around. I might do a little housekeeping, making sure all is in order. Then I’ll check the tank gauges and fridge, as well as my stash of yet-to-be-read books. All in the hopes that we might jump in and go somewhere—anywhere! Honestly, the destination seems almost secondary. Just plain old camping (in my opinion) is worth the trip. Because, as you may have guessed, I love camping.

I’m always flabbergasted when someone claims they don’t like camping. I’m, like, how can you not like camping? Then I listen to their complaints about dirt, mosquitoes, lousy weather, a bad night’s sleep, and so on. And admittedly, I’ve had those experiences too. But when I weigh the possible negatives against tall pine trees, starry skies, flannel shirts, a crackling campfire...well, to me, there’s just no comparison.

Maybe I have camping in my blood. Which doesn’t quite make sense because I was raised by a single mom who’d much rather vacation in a big city than sleep in a tent. But my grandparents and extended family loved the great outdoors—hunting, fishing, or just plain camping. So maybe I got the bug from them.

Of course, after decades of camping, I’ve discovered there are many ways to make a camp trip more enjoyable. Planning and preparation are vital—and checklists a necessity. I’ve also learned how to incorporate the niceties into our camp experience. Whether it’s our outdoor lounge chairs or warm fuzzy socks, I make sure we have all the comforts of home—home away from home. And I’m not ashamed to admit that my RV is equipped with percale sheets, down comforter, good pillows and even nice dishes. And, although we’re not real foodies, I tend to pack better eats when we hit the road. It just makes it all the more fun.

I love so many things about camping that I could probably write a book about it. (Oh, yeah, I did!) But there are three specific elements that really stand out to me. 1) I love the idea of going somewhere different—even if it’s an ‘ordinary’ sort of different. And 2) I love experiencing God’s creation—and the inspiration that brings. And last but not least, 3) it’s about the people—starting with my camping companion and husband of more than forty years. (Even if it were just the two of us, we’d have a great time.) But we both love the people we meet along the way—fellow happy campers. To me, that’s what camping is really about.

So, even if you don’t think you’re the camper type, I encourage you to give it a try. Even just a short trip. You might be surprised to find out you really like it. And maybe we’ll meet up out there—cross paths beneath the starry skies. Who knows—we might even share a campfire—and s’mores!

Happy Camping!