Does everyone just go camping now?

[Anonymous]

Camping is too much work. I would do it if someone else packed the car, set everything up, made all the food, cleaned and packed up. It’s not the nature that bothers me. It’s the work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As modern culture is more and more screen centric and we're nonstop attached to technology and indoors... it's nice to get out and get unhooked.

Also, tied with kayaking or hiking, it's exercise and I've heard some people enjoy that.

It's definitely something that people with money and time indulge in—I see a definite class divide... wealthy and educated like to get out and do stuff outdoors—the gear is fun to buy, the logistics fun to plan, and it requires time. People who don't have money, time or the wits tend to hate it.

But as I noted above, you see tons of immigrant families getting out, so I think it's also become a thing that people who have come here and had success are eager to get into.

Maybe you see more wealthy in the outdoors because most employment of upper middle and upper class is very sedentary in nature and usually is confined to an office or cubicle?

My dad liked the outdoors, but was too busy doing, for lack of a better word, man’s work, that he didn’t have time or energy for constant outdoor adventures. He worked construction, maintained our home and cars, mowed a 3-acre yard, split firewood…etc. My father has softened up in his later years, but used to scoff at those who were constantly exercising and outsourcing every form of manual labor. Not saying he’s right, since I have a hiking and skiing obsession, but he maintained if you worked hard enough, you didn’t need to belong to a gym and follow some fad diet. Obviously, an old-school way of thinking, but it worked for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As modern culture is more and more screen centric and we're nonstop attached to technology and indoors... it's nice to get out and get unhooked.

Also, tied with kayaking or hiking, it's exercise and I've heard some people enjoy that.

It's definitely something that people with money and time indulge in—I see a definite class divide... wealthy and educated like to get out and do stuff outdoors—the gear is fun to buy, the logistics fun to plan, and it requires time. People who don't have money, time or the wits tend to hate it.

But as I noted above, you see tons of immigrant families getting out, so I think it's also become a thing that people who have come here and had success are eager to get into.

Maybe you see more wealthy in the outdoors because most employment of upper middle and upper class is very sedentary in nature and usually is confined to an office or cubicle?

My dad liked the outdoors, but was too busy doing, for lack of a better word, man’s work, that he didn’t have time or energy for constant outdoor adventures. He worked construction, maintained our home and cars, mowed a 3-acre yard, split firewood…etc. My father has softened up in his later years, but used to scoff at those who were constantly exercising and outsourcing every form of manual labor. Not saying he’s right, since I have a hiking and skiing obsession, but he maintained if you worked hard enough, you didn’t need to belong to a gym and follow some fad diet. Obviously, an old-school way of thinking, but it worked for him.

Yeah, PP you responding to is obviously sheltered and only frequents rich areas. Most people I know that like camping and outdoors stuff are very poor, and like to get out of their hot house and get on the lake or something. Sleep in back of a pickup, cook a few fish they caught on the lake or ocean, doesn't cost a thing other than gas to get there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As modern culture is more and more screen centric and we're nonstop attached to technology and indoors... it's nice to get out and get unhooked.

Also, tied with kayaking or hiking, it's exercise and I've heard some people enjoy that.

It's definitely something that people with money and time indulge in—I see a definite class divide... wealthy and educated like to get out and do stuff outdoors—the gear is fun to buy, the logistics fun to plan, and it requires time. People who don't have money, time or the wits tend to hate it.

But as I noted above, you see tons of immigrant families getting out, so I think it's also become a thing that people who have come here and had success are eager to get into.

Maybe you see more wealthy in the outdoors because most employment of upper middle and upper class is very sedentary in nature and usually is confined to an office or cubicle?

My dad liked the outdoors, but was too busy doing, for lack of a better word, man’s work, that he didn’t have time or energy for constant outdoor adventures. He worked construction, maintained our home and cars, mowed a 3-acre yard, split firewood…etc. My father has softened up in his later years, but used to scoff at those who were constantly exercising and outsourcing every form of manual labor. Not saying he’s right, since I have a hiking and skiing obsession, but he maintained if you worked hard enough, you didn’t need to belong to a gym and follow some fad diet. Obviously, an old-school way of thinking, but it worked for him.

Yeah, PP you responding to is obviously sheltered and only frequents rich areas. Most people I know that like camping and outdoors stuff are very poor, and like to get out of their hot house and get on the lake or something. Sleep in back of a pickup, cook a few fish they caught on the lake or ocean, doesn't cost a thing other than gas to get there.

“Sheltered and only frequent rich areas,” that’s funny. My post, that referenced my Dad, was anecdotal. While I don’t think I had a hard life growing up, it was hardly sheltered and surely not rich. I didn’t intend to speak in absolutes, just gave an example of why humping 35lbs of backpacking gear up mountains might not appeal to someone that’s livelihood and lifestyle revolves around manual labor.

[Anonymous]

My suggestion is to rent an RV for a long weekend and give the outdoors a try.

We were unsure about camping/RVing until we rented. Then we researched RV models with features/price we wanted, waited a couple of years before finding a used one and have LOVED it. Best investment we've made.

After renting an all-in-one RV we knew we wanted a towable unit so we could unhook, set up camper at the campsite and then take our vehicle to explore local areas. We didn't want to unhook/disconnect every time we wanted to go somewhere which is a problem with all-in-one units IMO.

We've got over 10,000 miles on our little camper now and look forward to many more. It is small but self-contained including a/c and heat, a bathroom with a toilet, sink and shower and a small kitchenette. We can tow it with a vehicle we already had.

We outfitted it with extra stuff we had around the house or thrift shop finds and leave it all inside. All we need to do is bring food and our clothes.

(FWIW, neither one of us has ever had a tick.)

Oh, added benefit ... if the DC area ever explodes you will have a home on wheels you can evacuate with!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As modern culture is more and more screen centric and we're nonstop attached to technology and indoors... it's nice to get out and get unhooked.

Also, tied with kayaking or hiking, it's exercise and I've heard some people enjoy that.

It's definitely something that people with money and time indulge in—I see a definite class divide... wealthy and educated like to get out and do stuff outdoors—the gear is fun to buy, the logistics fun to plan, and it requires time. People who don't have money, time or the wits tend to hate it.

But as I noted above, you see tons of immigrant families getting out, so I think it's also become a thing that people who have come here and had success are eager to get into.

Ha, no, not really. Sure, some rich, educated people camp, but that’s not the main/exclusive audience. I grew up in a small southern town, and camping/hiking/fishing/hunting/swimming in the creek were very popular activities among people without much money or education. It doesn’t have to take much time— you can easily camp in a two-day weekend. All kinds of people enjoy the outdoors.

[Anonymous]

Camping is having it's moment thanks to all the influencers doing their jobs and influencing the public.

They did it with Amtrak during the pandemic. Everyone I knew was doing cross-country train trips and posting nonstop about how wonderful it was. This was after a slew of influencers did trips (were paid to) that they vlogged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As modern culture is more and more screen centric and we're nonstop attached to technology and indoors... it's nice to get out and get unhooked.

Also, tied with kayaking or hiking, it's exercise and I've heard some people enjoy that.

It's definitely something that people with money and time indulge in—I see a definite class divide... wealthy and educated like to get out and do stuff outdoors—the gear is fun to buy, the logistics fun to plan, and it requires time. People who don't have money, time or the wits tend to hate it.

But as I noted above, you see tons of immigrant families getting out, so I think it's also become a thing that people who have come here and had success are eager to get into.

Ha, no, not really. Sure, some rich, educated people camp, but that’s not the main/exclusive audience. I grew up in a small southern town, and camping/hiking/fishing/hunting/swimming in the creek were very popular activities among people without much money or education. It doesn’t have to take much time— you can easily camp in a two-day weekend. All kinds of people enjoy the outdoors.

My interpretation was the OP was referring to people in the DMV and the boom in places like Patagonia and REI... not hillbillies getting their cousin's pickup stuck overnight in the mud in the backwoods.

[Anonymous]

"Camping" with 5G cell service, Starlink Wi-Fi, streaming TV, electricity, refrigerator, stove, access to showers and wet bathrooms (not dry outhouses), and level 2 and 3 chargers for EVs.

Driving 4 to 10 hours round trip to do a hike or ride a bike, then spending the other 90% of your time sitting around a fire scrolling on iPhones and iPads and eating junk food, while parents get loaded off beer and wine.

Zzzzzzzzz.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As modern culture is more and more screen centric and we're nonstop attached to technology and indoors... it's nice to get out and get unhooked.

Also, tied with kayaking or hiking, it's exercise and I've heard some people enjoy that.

It's definitely something that people with money and time indulge in—I see a definite class divide... wealthy and educated like to get out and do stuff outdoors—the gear is fun to buy, the logistics fun to plan, and it requires time. People who don't have money, time or the wits tend to hate it.

But as I noted above, you see tons of immigrant families getting out, so I think it's also become a thing that people who have come here and had success are eager to get into.

Maybe you see more wealthy in the outdoors because most employment of upper middle and upper class is very sedentary in nature and usually is confined to an office or cubicle?

My dad liked the outdoors, but was too busy doing, for lack of a better word, man’s work, that he didn’t have time or energy for constant outdoor adventures. He worked construction, maintained our home and cars, mowed a 3-acre yard, split firewood…etc. My father has softened up in his later years, but used to scoff at those who were constantly exercising and outsourcing every form of manual labor. Not saying he’s right, since I have a hiking and skiing obsession, but he maintained if you worked hard enough, you didn’t need to belong to a gym and follow some fad diet. Obviously, an old-school way of thinking, but it worked for him.

Yeah, PP you responding to is obviously sheltered and only frequents rich areas. Most people I know that like camping and outdoors stuff are very poor, and like to get out of their hot house and get on the lake or something. Sleep in back of a pickup, cook a few fish they caught on the lake or ocean, doesn't cost a thing other than gas to get there.

“Sheltered and only frequent rich areas,” that’s funny. My post, that referenced my Dad, was anecdotal. While I don’t think I had a hard life growing up, it was hardly sheltered and surely not rich. I didn’t intend to speak in absolutes, just gave an example of why humping 35lbs of backpacking gear up mountains might not appeal to someone that’s livelihood and lifestyle revolves around manual labor.

Try reading that post again. You really were fast to assume PP was talking about you. Work on that issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Camping" with 5G cell service, Starlink Wi-Fi, streaming TV, electricity, refrigerator, stove, access to showers and wet bathrooms (not dry outhouses), and level 2 and 3 chargers for EVs.

Driving 4 to 10 hours round trip to do a hike or ride a bike, then spending the other 90% of your time sitting around a fire scrolling on iPhones and iPads and eating junk food, while parents get loaded off beer and wine.

Zzzzzzzzz.

Sounds like you need to up your camping game and get away from the KOAs.

[Anonymous]

You women are so uppity

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Camping is too much work. I would do it if someone else packed the car, set everything up, made all the food, cleaned and packed up. It’s not the nature that bothers me. It’s the work.

Minimalize. I just take a cooler with some stuff, and maybe a skillet and blanket/tarp.

Tents are too much hassle for real camping, unless one is base camping for a week or more while hunting or something. For a weekend or overnight camping trip, just sleep on a blanket or in the back of a truck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Camping is too much work. I would do it if someone else packed the car, set everything up, made all the food, cleaned and packed up. It’s not the nature that bothers me. It’s the work.

Minimalize. I just take a cooler with some stuff, and maybe a skillet and blanket/tarp.

Tents are too much hassle for real camping, unless one is base camping for a week or more while hunting or something. For a weekend or overnight camping trip, just sleep on a blanket or in the back of a truck.

Hahaha said like someone who isn't bringing toddlers along.

It's SO much work. And so much stuff. We've started cheating and booking mini-cabins in state parks just to make it a little easier and prevent getting rained out or kids getting uncomfortably cold.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Camping is too much work. I would do it if someone else packed the car, set everything up, made all the food, cleaned and packed up. It’s not the nature that bothers me. It’s the work.

Minimalize. I just take a cooler with some stuff, and maybe a skillet and blanket/tarp.

Tents are too much hassle for real camping, unless one is base camping for a week or more while hunting or something. For a weekend or overnight camping trip, just sleep on a blanket or in the back of a truck.

Hahaha said like someone who isn't bringing toddlers along.

It's SO much work. And so much stuff. We've started cheating and booking mini-cabins in state parks just to make it a little easier and prevent getting rained out or kids getting uncomfortably cold.

Agree the few times we've gone, it's been a crazy amount of work setting everything up. Now if you have help that would be great.