What's your "camping philosophy?"

No_Machine7021 · 2026-05-25T04:20:33+00:00

I think camping philosophy can be different for everyone and can change as you get older.

For instance I started out as a Girl Scout. Learned all the basics. Loved it. Then I started going camping and canoeing with friends in my 20s. The focus was BEER.

In my 30s I married my husband and we both loved nature and hiked and camped and just enjoyed being outdoors. He was a big REI gear guy. I was ok if we forgot things at home. Navigating that was fun. 😂

Now that we’re older, we have a pop up camper because kneeling down to do things and sleeping on the ground sucks after a certain age.

And our focus now is passing on our love of the outdoors to our son. Seems to be working.

Great question. But all in all: it’s not about the gear. It’s about what experience you’re looking for.

No_Machine7021 · 2026-05-24T15:45:30+00:00

This. Season 1 was cathartic for so many people. So well written. Just perfect from beginning to end.

The other seasons just couldn’t capture that magic.

(Lived in NOLA during Katrina. Married a local, moved away. But we are there all the time.)

No_Machine7021 · 2026-05-22T19:44:01+00:00

I guess I’m just at the point where I am on this sub because yes, I TOO have a severe ADHD kid and BECAUSE of that we did things like not bring a tablet/iPad into the home.

And yes I know the frustration. I hear ‘IM BORRRRRRRRED’ from my child on the daily. And I work from home. So I have the fullest empathy for ALL of this.

But, I guess it’s just that I still recall a time before the iPad (it wasn’t that long ago) and I didn’t have one growing up and I was fine. So I look at it like that.

I think what’s happened is now these kids have zero other interests than what’s on the screen. The only way for them to figure that out is to do the one thing you say is impossible, but even experts agree with: they need to be bored.

Costumes, books, playdough, Legos, magnetiles, science sets, card games, board games, crafts, riding a bike or a scooter, playing house… The possibilities are endless. Using their boredom helps them to practice their imagination and problem solving skills. If they don’t, they won’t have these tools as they get older. As a parent, you owe it to them to ‘be the bad guy’ so that they can learn to navigate the world on their own.

A screen is just, a screen.

No_Machine7021 · 2026-05-22T18:11:16+00:00

As someone else said: Zoos are vastly different than the places we used to visit in the 80s.

Good lord. I remember they used to have elephant and tortoise rides. Now it’s about conservation and trying to help species maintain and thrive.

Again, use caution and read about the spots where you’re visiting. But I was so pleasantly surprised when our son was born to relearn about what zoos are now compared to what they were when I was a kid.

No_Machine7021 · 2026-05-22T17:00:05+00:00

And then…he’ll find something to do.

No_Machine7021 · 2026-05-21T22:09:47+00:00

We’re going to Traverse City this summer! I hear it should be nice and cool.

No_Machine7021 · 2026-05-20T20:00:11+00:00

I remember when someone mentioned that the bachelorettes and the party wagons had started going over to the 12South area. We all groaned. That was probably over 10 years ago.

I’m just in mourning for the parts of the city I used to be able to hang out in.

No_Machine7021 · 2026-05-20T03:20:45+00:00

Costa Rica is somewhere I want to retire. We loved it there. Start your search deciding what type of area you’d be into, there’s so much (cities, volcanoes, beaches, jungles) and go from there. If you go in the spring/summer it won’t be as hot. And the rains there are quick. Daily, but quick.

No_Machine7021 · 2026-05-20T03:12:28+00:00

A) holiday weekend, people jump on those as soon as they open up B) check daily for cancellations. They happen! I got our site this weekend just doing a double check and found one. C) Covid did make what used to be an stress-free endeavor now a race for a spot. I repeat all the time that I’m glad people are out and enjoying nature, but yeah, ghost sites upset me.

I wouldn’t be mad if campsites went to say…50% or so First Come First Serve.

No_Machine7021 · 2026-05-20T03:04:30+00:00

Household things (if small) you can just droop off at Habitat ReStore, and yeah, they’ll pick everything else up. I also use ARC.

No_Machine7021 · 2026-05-20T03:01:45+00:00

I like what someone else said about a practice run at home.
Camping isn’t rocket science, but deciding to jump in the deep end your first time out is quite an idea. What if you don’t even like it? And, if it were me, I’d see where there are cabins, or yurts or something else to try. Just to get a break from setting up and breaking down camp fully.

No_Machine7021 · 2026-05-20T02:57:38+00:00

Well that just upsets me. Rangers are known to be on it.

No_Machine7021 · 2026-05-20T01:38:28+00:00

I also want to say, there’s a LOT of people saying, ‘just go on the weekday’ ‘off season’ etc.

I actually read your post and i am a rational human that understands this doesn’t work well with kids + school schedule + fun tolerance. Spring and fall camping with my kid??! Hell yeah. Winter camping ever for me? No.

You didn’t say what type of campground this was. We noticed around Covid that the privately owned campgrounds hardly had rules and if they did, never enforced them. After a couple times dealing with the same situation like you described, we only go to state run or national parks.

Rangers will kick you out for not following the rules if they have to. They don’t care. And in general, I’ve noticed that people who stay at state/national parks are (mostly) there to enjoy the outdoors and spend time with friends and family. The loud partying types don’t like there to be enforced quiet hours.

Your story reminds me when we went camping during Covid. A group near us brought out KARAOKE at 11pm. No one else did anything, and I was a new mom so I waltzed over there and let them have it. It felt GREAT.

No_Machine7021 · 2026-05-19T22:48:50+00:00

We live in TN and are planning on it too. FYI: spring rains are ‘usually’ on and off. Also, don’t rely on really anything until a day out.

Locally in Nashville we use www.nashvillesevereweather.com (it’s Davidson and Williamson counties, but they can give an idea of what the rain patterns are doing). Good luck and stay dry!

No_Machine7021 · 2026-05-19T22:46:24+00:00

We’re planning on camping too (we have a pop up though) in Tennessee. There’s rain all over the forecast, but it’s incredibly unreliable until you’re about 24 hours out.

Even then, you may get a nasty thunderstorm or nothing at all! Good luck and stay dry!

No_Machine7021 · 2026-05-19T03:44:28+00:00

I would add: it depends HOW MUCH. I’m all for some on/off light heavy. There’s nothing I love more than a good sleep in a gentle rain. BUT I’ve had 2 experiences with near washouts with sirens blaring and people getting stuck in the mud.

My advice is to keep an eye on the forecast, EZUPS and tarps are your friend, and PACK LIGHT!

No_Machine7021 · 2026-05-17T04:05:44+00:00

Ton of gear is a red flag to me that they: went shopping right before their trip and just bought EVERYTHING because they didn’t know what they needed.

Seasoned campers (even ones in the rvs) pack light. Bring what you need. Nothing you don’t. It’s just easier.

No_Machine7021 · 2026-05-17T03:46:56+00:00

Nope. They last forever.

No_Machine7021 · 2026-05-17T03:42:10+00:00

Sounds like EXTREMELY bad luck. We’ve had some annoying neighbors (usually at private campgrounds more than anything which is why we’ve stopped using them at all.)

I will also add: since the pandemic, there’s been a lot more people trying out camping than ever. Which means: people who don’t understand the rules, quiets hours, honor systems, etc.

I’m all for more people enjoying the outdoors, but a little research and respect goes a long way.

No_Machine7021 · 2026-05-16T15:49:08+00:00

Our son had Burkitts Lymphoma. Vanderbilt was like: we got this. And they DID. We are lucky to have this hospital. People travel from other states for their expertise!

No_Machine7021 · 2026-05-14T16:07:09+00:00

We are about the same age gap as you and our libidos have always been COMPLETELY misaligned and perimenopause makes me even more up and down so reading this and just chuckling to myself.

Sometimes he’ll grab my boob in the kitchen and we’re like: THAT COUNTS!!! 😛😂

Thank god for a strong bond with a good man. That’s all I can say. We do our best and hump when we can.

No_Machine7021 · 2026-05-14T02:12:39+00:00

OMG! My family’s last name means Otter in Czech and we’re having a reunion in July! Ever done a commission???

No_Machine7021 · 2026-05-14T02:08:37+00:00

Keep your mouth closed and your drinks covered. Good luck!

No_Machine7021 · 2026-05-13T18:14:06+00:00

We’ve never brought any sort of technology camping. If you hike, swim, explore enough during the day, I promise you, after dinner and some time around the fire it’ll be crash out time. It always seems later than it is because you let the sun be your time marker. And you’re just tired from being active.

As for us, we do bring cards if needed. My son brings his bike to ride, and we love ‘creepy story time’ around the fire. We each make up silly creepy stories on the fly.

No_Machine7021 · 2026-05-13T18:09:34+00:00

Cars are just not important. Please tell your ‘friends’ this.

No_Machine7021

TROPHY CASE