My first camping experience took place with the Girl Scouts when I was about nine. We were in Long Beach, CA at some reservoir, and it rained the entire weekend. The tent leaked, the food was meant for warm weather...salads, fruits, cereal, and even the toilet paper was damp. It was miserable and cold. When the rain cleared, we put on our bathing suits to jump in the lake, but the water was freezing. I vowed I would never camp again.
I broke that vow over the Fourth of July weekend in 1981. We had a huge Ford pickup with a camper, and we wanted to live the Colorado lifestyle since we had recently moved Colorado. We drove to Trinidad Lake, and then it started to rain. It rained virtually the entire weekend, until we packed it in and came home. However, fate was against this camping trip too, as our fuel pump broke in Monument, Colorado. My dad managed to get the truck to a 7-11, where we parked. The day was hot and sunny, of course, and we were dirty and smelly. We spent eight hours parked behind the convenience store since nothing else was open over the holiday weekend. We hardly knew anyone in Colorado, with the exception of our next door neighbors, and we spent our time arguing, eating, and going into the store to call the neighbors. They were kind enough, when they finally got home and answered the phone, to drive to Monument to pick us up. We left the camper there until my dad could get down there to get it fixed. Shortly thereafter, we sold the camper and vowed to never camp again.
Several years later, like twelve, I decided to try camping again. Everyone I knew camped, and I put the two miserable camp trips out of my mind. Camping wasn't as bad as I remembered! In fact, I had fun, with the exception of having to pee outside. I didn't mind sleeping on the ground, nor did I mind the bugs or the dirt. My parents thought I'd lost my mind. However, I was young and in love with someone who camped, so it made sense to try something new. When it rained, I read my book or napped and made sure the toilet paper didn't get wet.
My husband and I began camping together soon after we met. We were in sync with one another from the beginning. Neither of us were expert campers, but we had fun, which was all that mattered. After our son was born, we took a hiatus from camping; I wasn't sure what to do with a baby when we camped, and it seemed like a lot of work. By the time our son was two, we started camping again, and he loved it! He would jump out of the pickup once we arrived and roll in the dirt, squealing, "We're camping! We're camping!" He is now a seasoned camper, and he even sets up his own tent without help from us.
Camping affords us the opportunity to leave the hustle and bustle of daily life. I sleep a great deal when we go camping. I also read and write more because I have the time to gather my thoughts or maintain focus. Last year, we started bringing our dog camping. At first, she wasn't too sure about it, but she seems to like it. I do feel sorry for her because she has to be tied up more than she ever is at home, but she's with us and that makes her happy.
My husband, however, is a "Rambo camper." He's on the go from the moment he wakes up on camping day. Our son has the same attitude: let's go! let's go! let's go! As soon as we're set up, they're off exploring or getting ready to fish. Me? I'm piddling around, finding a good spot for my camping chair. They go four-wheelin' and return simply to eat. We all make the most of our time together.
While we no longer sleep in a tent or on the ground, it's still fun to get away from the pressures of daily life. We've seen some places we ordinarily would never have seen and have spent quality time with one another we need. I still don't like peeing outside, but I like camping more, even if it rains.
