I didn’t grow up glamping, especially locally, but I get it now.
For most of my adult life I scoffed at the idea and those who would pull their camper
from their front yard and tow it down to the local RV park just minutes away. I didn’t see
the point. Only after camping locally and afar several times did I learn the following
advantages to camping local.
Isn’t camping about seeing new things and getting away? Yes, it is, but you can do it in
your hometown.
My opinion hasn’t changed much for tent camping since camping not glamping, is about
traversing along the trail to your destination and by the time you arrive at camp you are
so hungry even dehydrated food and a warm sleeping bag on uneven ground sounds
amazing. There is still glory to the journey in glamping, but the real fun starts at your
destination. As evidenced by how my spouse and I are on pins and needles until the
wind stops pushing the trailer around or praying the engine doesn’t overheat.
Campers are checklist minded people so here we go.
1. It’s ironic that I started with this item since it involves a shorter or lack of a
checklist. If you forget something you can always go home and get it. You don’t have to
go to the local store and buy something when you can grab it at home. This includes
more beer, a child’s favorite blanket or your toothbrush. If you have a list and forget a
few things it won’t ruin your trip. When I camp in the desert far away from home, if you
don’t have a vital item such as a bathing suit, batteries for the flashlights or toilet paper
you are either going without it or going on a journey to find them.
2. Your friends can get a taste of the good life without the commitment to investing
in the gear or a long weekend out of their element. They can come for dinner or stay for
a night and let the kids run around and go home. If you leave town then it is just you and
your family. A super bonus for those friends that have a few too many and shouldn’t
drive home they can just crash on the pull-out couch.
3. Switch into vacation mode faster. Many trips don’t feel like they begin until you
put down the stabilizers the first night. Sitting in a vehicle for several hours when you
could be in your camping chair having a cold beer is lost valuable time. For those of us
who don’t have the luxury to take week plus long vacations, a quick staycation works
out well. If I can get off work and be by a campfire within a few minutes instead of hours,
I am getting the most out of my trip.
4. DOGS! I love my dogs but between you and me I hate camping with them.
Children are work but dogs are more. They are not allowed off the leash and so they
remain confined in the camper or on a cord. Plus, they must go potty all the time. At
least your kids can do this on their own. I hope. When camping local you can leave
them at home overnight and check on them just like a dog sitter would.
5. You are still able to go to work. What is holding you back if you have a regular
job? There is nothing stopping you from getting ready from your camper to go to work
and come back afterward. You may not get in that full 24/7 away time but some is better
than none. Your family that you love so dearly and work hard for can at least enjoy the
time while you are at work. Maybe the kids will be so tired at the end of the day you will
get some rest. This doesn’t just make work possible but even if the kids are still in
school the same principle applies.
6. Conflicting schedules. If you have kids, then there is a good chance they have
weekend scheduled activities. Missing that water polo match could be a set-back or not
even possible. There have been many days while I have sat in my favorite chair and
watched the kids come and go to their games only to return still in their sports uniforms,
enter their camper and quickly reemerge in camping casual with a new burst of energy.
It is so rare that the stars align for everyone to have a clear schedule. If one of the
members of your family has a prior commitment camping local won’t stop the entire trip
from happening.
7. A typical RV site has a spot for your camper, a fire pit, a picnic table, room for a
car and patio sized area out your front door. They are all about the same layout and
size. The view in most parks is the back side of the campers around you and the kids
that zoom by the front on their trikes with no shoes on in the dark with no lights. Most
parks don’t have the glorious view we think. Getting out of the campground is where the
exploring is done. A camping chair feet away from a cooler full of iced drinks still resets
your brain just feet from your camper just as well as sitting on an exotic beach.
8. The same things you do at home just feels more special while glamping. Eating
under the starts, sleeping in a different bed, taking a walk after dinner are just a few
examples. To make my point even clearer, a hot dog miraculously tastes way better
when camping then at home.
9. Peace of mind. I don’t know about you but as soon as I leave my one tank of gas
circumference from home, I get anxiety because I can’t make a quick run home if
something breaks, and I don’t have a local solution.
10. Finally, my favorite, you can bring more stuff and show off your new gadgets.
Glamping can be about excess. We have all accepted the fact that we can’t life without
a memory foam mattress, air conditioning and a flushing toilet but we need our toys. I
am now able to bring more bikes or firewood and my golf cart. Since I only have one
tow vehicle a quick turnaround to grab the golf cart is a no brainer. We do a
Friendsgiving every year and can bring out the deep fryer and many other cooking
accessories that would not make it if we travelled cross country.
Where else do you get a captivated audience to show off that new gadget? For
example, I recently purchased what is officially known as a propane torch that is
marketed as a weed killer. Yeah right. I can’t wait for the first group of stars to appear so
I can hook this thing up to a 5-gallon tank and fire it up in all its glory. The whooshing
sound of the gas and the glowing orange flame shooting out draws the attention of all
onlookers. We don’t just light our repurposed washing machine drum fire pits like a
good scout, we light up the sky for an instant bonfire. No more lamp oil and newspaper.
Let’s take it to the next level. The next time we group camped, all the other dads had
one in their arsenal. Each trip I usually have one new gadget to test out.
In conclusion. Glamping involves a loyal and trusted community of strangers bound by
their intent to just unplug from the daily routine. Camping local allows you peace of
mind when you don’t have the time. Give it a try, you might learn something new about
your hometown or make a new friend that you could see again.
Get out, don’t count out.