RV nation
Each summer for the past few years, Marty has spent time trying to convince me that what we really ought to do is buy a camper. Every time we drive by a RV lot we take a slow, slow tour around the parking lot. Sometimes we even get out and walk through a few. This summer, he really put the heat on and I started seeing RV catalogs and computer print outs laying around the house. Still resistant, I agreed to rent one for the weekend to see how we'd all do (mostly the kids) and how we'd (mostly me) like it.
After lunch on Friday, we crammed many of our worldly belongings into a camper and our truck and headed off for Kiesler's Campground and RV Resort in Waseca, MN. Lured in by "camping" at a place that has a pool, playgrounds, and wi-fi, I decided that this would be a good place to get our camping feet wet. Sort of like real camping, but with more of the luxuries of home.
Here's our home-away-from-home for the weekend. The camper had one small "bedroom" with a few pullout places for people to sleep, a bathroom, little kitchen and a table. Marty rigged up the iPod and speakers so we could have music, and setup the Mac laptop so we could watch movies.
One thing I noticed about the RV park was that everyone seemed to bring along everything they needed to make it just like being at home, but since campers are smaller than most homes, all their stuff spills out into their temporary yards. See how we fit in? We lined our mini-yard with chairs and bikes. We were quickly identified as "renters" because we did not hang party lights on our awning. Or have an auxiliary refrigerator next to the camper. Or take the kids on a walk with Busch Light cans in the stroller's can holder.
We did, however, eat at a picnic table which the kids thought was awfully cool. They could spill all over the place and no one cared. So spill, they did.
Here you can see us having breakfast at the table which also converted into Marty's bed. In the background, you can see the bed where Sophie and I slept. I had to lay diagonally to avoid my head and feet touching the walls, and since I'm only 5' 5", this space was obviously designed for short people or kids. Please note our very nutritious camping breakfast - pop tarts, fruit snacks, and Starbucks Frappuccino (for me).
Martin had a terrific time camping - he loved biking around the camp roads, swimming in the pool, and eating mostly junk food. He also thought sitting around in his pajamas roasting hot dogs over the fire was pretty cool, even after he coated it in ashes and we had to wash it off with pop before he could eat it.
And here are my two boys, hanging in the RV nation... dirty, smelly, sticky and so, so happy.
So, will we buy a camper? Well, one should never say never even if one wants to.
After lunch on Friday, we crammed many of our worldly belongings into a camper and our truck and headed off for Kiesler's Campground and RV Resort in Waseca, MN. Lured in by "camping" at a place that has a pool, playgrounds, and wi-fi, I decided that this would be a good place to get our camping feet wet. Sort of like real camping, but with more of the luxuries of home.
Here's our home-away-from-home for the weekend. The camper had one small "bedroom" with a few pullout places for people to sleep, a bathroom, little kitchen and a table. Marty rigged up the iPod and speakers so we could have music, and setup the Mac laptop so we could watch movies.
One thing I noticed about the RV park was that everyone seemed to bring along everything they needed to make it just like being at home, but since campers are smaller than most homes, all their stuff spills out into their temporary yards. See how we fit in? We lined our mini-yard with chairs and bikes. We were quickly identified as "renters" because we did not hang party lights on our awning. Or have an auxiliary refrigerator next to the camper. Or take the kids on a walk with Busch Light cans in the stroller's can holder.
We did, however, eat at a picnic table which the kids thought was awfully cool. They could spill all over the place and no one cared. So spill, they did.
Here you can see us having breakfast at the table which also converted into Marty's bed. In the background, you can see the bed where Sophie and I slept. I had to lay diagonally to avoid my head and feet touching the walls, and since I'm only 5' 5", this space was obviously designed for short people or kids. Please note our very nutritious camping breakfast - pop tarts, fruit snacks, and Starbucks Frappuccino (for me).
Martin had a terrific time camping - he loved biking around the camp roads, swimming in the pool, and eating mostly junk food. He also thought sitting around in his pajamas roasting hot dogs over the fire was pretty cool, even after he coated it in ashes and we had to wash it off with pop before he could eat it.
And here are my two boys, hanging in the RV nation... dirty, smelly, sticky and so, so happy.
So, will we buy a camper? Well, one should never say never even if one wants to.
Jennie,
It did look like your boys were having lots of fun so maybe in the future it could turn into a "guys bonding" weekend and you and Sophie could have a "girls bonding" weekend filled w/ Spa treatments and luxury accommadations at a 5 star hotel w/ a king size bed. Another thing to consider... If your bringing all the comforts of home, maybe you can stay home and have a fire pit in the back yard for roasting hotdogs and making smores.
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You're so totally right. I may just print your comments and leave it on Marty's desk.
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Four years ago Eric and I rented an RV and took it to the Black Hills with our three sons and one of my brothers. I was in hell. But perhaps you are a better woman than I am.
Note to self: The Black Hills misadventure could be the subject of a really awesome future blog post.
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Jill - please do write on this topic. The Black Hills have been brought up several times as a good place for us to travel with two small kids (by Marty). I've tried to explain that they can hardly make the trip to Minneapolis without stopping for snacks and watching a movie the whole time, I don't see how we could possibly make it that far.
And no, I really don't think I'm a better woman than you are. But I did last all the way until Sunday morning without saying "we have to get out of here."
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My Granparents had an RV when I was little and it was soooo much fun to go fishing with them and stay in the camper. But then there was the World's Fair incident when my family of 6 plus my 2 grandparents drove to St Louis to the World's Fair for 10 days. This was 1982 and Winnebago's have come a LONG WAY since then. Remember the bed above the driver? Me and my three siblings ALL slept there. Ten of us crammed in there for 10 days and my grandmother chain smokes. Needless to say the Winnie lost its charm (but probably never lost the stench) after that trip and was sold soon after.
P.S During this trip we also went to Nashville, TN and took a family tour of the Jack Daniels Factory, great place to take the kids when they are 5, 11, 13, and 15! Never ask my dad to plan a family outing!
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Is this the same grandma who sneaks into the bathroom to smoke?
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Ladies. An RV is hardly camping. That's why we don't leave home without ours. And if you all need a little help to learn the ropes, maybe we could all have a blogger's escape weekend to Ted Nugent's wife's sleep away camp where she teaches women how to fish, hunt and camp, all the while wearing a camo bra top and bike shorts.
Seriously, I will send out the invitations.
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Maybe if I offer to wear the camo bra Marty will be willing to forget about camping.
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