My OH started camping at (hobby) rallies in about 1982 with a load of kit people had given him, or very cheap stuff he bought, we had no money then. He took our son when he was 5+, and although they both enjoyed the weekends, they came home with some tales. They were camping in a field with a toilet and cold water, no showers. It rained a lot, the stuff came back soaking.
I vowed never to camp, even though I'm an outdoorsy sort of person. Then a friend invited me on an adventure driving to Rome and back in a hired van. I loved it, even though we rough camped mostly, and learnt a lot about myself. Since then I've been hooked, went to France with the friend a couple of times. Then OH decided to come with me, and loved it. We've never looked back. We have a campervan now, certainly not a cheap option.
Lots of people don't fancy camping because of damp, cold, insects, sharing toilets and showers, being near other people. You do have to be tolerant because all those things occur.
People who've never been camping, and the nearest they've come to it is watching "Carry on Camping" on TV, probably wouldn't know what modern day camping can be like. A dear friend of mine, who has always been interested in hearing about our camping trips, and looking at the photo's, surprised me last year when she asked if it's a hassle having to drive around every day with the tent & equipment in the car - she genuinely thought that we had to pitch the tent every night & pack everything back into the car when we went out during the day. We have a good laugh about it now.
Yes: it's always amusing to tell people I camp and wait for the pitying comments.
I then tell them I do luxury cruises as well and watch my image change from that of someone who can't afford anything better to that of an eccentric; especially when I mention that I prefer "basic" sites with minimal facilities and reckon there's nothing better than being snuggled down in my sleeping bag with the rain pattering on the tent!
Im not a glamper by any means but i do like my comfort and ive surprised a few people by showing them pics of my usual set up.
A lot of people still believe that camping is like JK said ie. 'Carry on' style so when they see pictures of large tents with tables, chairs, fully made up beds and even sofas in them they very quickly change their tune.
I have camped in some truly awful weather and had an expensive tent destroyed but it would never put me off it just made me more determined to make the most of my future trips.
Ive learned lessons along the way and made mistakes but thats all part of the fun.
The next time someone says 'oooh i couldn't do that.... what about ?...........'they will simply be told dont knock it till you've tried it.
We're going portugal this summer, oh likes sitting by a pool in the sun. I know you'll all understand when I tell you what I can't tell him.....I'd much rather be going camping! I will try to fit in a few days here and there with the kids, but would love one year to do a two week camp down in Cornwall or Dorset. I hate driving long distances so it would only be worth it for a good long holiday.
I think we have 3 polarised views which are hard to overcome. The first is the non-camper who assumes that you are poor or cannot comprehend that a camping holiday can be just as good if not better than a static or a chelet in the UK. We went away to a park resorts static last year and spent 3 times what we would for camping fees. Yet, we sat there moaning that what the static had was not as good as our own set up!
The non camper will never comprehend until they go camping!
Then you have a glamper (like me). They enjoy being in a tent, but still needs creature comforts. They aren't interested in roughing it, but the hardened roughing camper cannot comprehend why they want to camp in the first place.
finally the roughing it camper. This is what non campers assume to be camping and glampers will never understand the appeal of non-ehu camping!
All three have polarised views and will never truly understand the other group. In between are people who do bits of both, but not truely glampers or roughing it campers.
I can't understand why people can't just get on with their lives and accept that different people get different things from different past times. Wouldn't the world be a boring place if we were all the same! :)
------------- Camped since 2008 and still loving it!
For me, camping is what you want it to be, that the glory of it. We ar glampers, we all like our creature comforts,even DS who loves to watch a film over a couple of nights before bed time. We wouldn't rough it, but I can see why other love it. Some of the most picturesque sites are those with little or no facilities. As for non campers, we too enjoy holidays in hotels in forego lands and think that toe don't have to just stick to one form of holiday. As for it being a cheap form of holidaying, again it depends. We have spent more than a thousand pounds on buying all of our kit from scratch, so I don't think that is cheap. But if you choose to basic camp or borrow stuff or take lots of stuff from home it can be cheap too. Equally, if you buy a campervan, caravan or expensive tent then it is far from cheap. It is interesting that people do still perceive camping as a a cheap, meagre holiday, but as so many have said, they shouldn't knock it until they have tried it.
------------- Jewelsm - a fair weather camper
August 2013, 14, 15, 16 & 17-Trevornick for two and a half weeks of sea and surf (and ever optimistic -lots of sun). Some other weekends if I can persuade DH
With the school camp plans I asked a friend I had grown up with and garden camped with if she would be camping. To which she responded probably not although they do have a ben ten tent! She went on to say she had camped out with the children in the playhouse in the garden and wasn't doing that again. I was very suprised as we enjoyed garden camping although not suprised she didn't enjoy sleeping in a playhouse
As has been said by many, its the sleeping gear that really makes the difference and second is the tent which probably explains why some first timers give up so quick.
I have given up trying to explain to folk just what it is I get from camping(or any of my other pastimes)All I know is...I enjoy it....Look forward to every trip and usually have a great time sat in the back of beyond somewhere...
Yes I have my "Nightmare" stories to tell(Don't we all) But as I've said before the good times far outweigh the bad in camping...And I'm drawn back to it time and time again.....Camping is my escape from the usual...My chill out time....For some that could be a shopping trip into a big city...A hotel somewhere....Or sat by a pool abroad...For me...Its camping...As long as I'm off somewhere rural and away from the urban sprawl I'm happy....
Jelboy.
------------- Campers of the storm,Into this world are born
Quote: Originally posted by jelboy53 on 01/7/2012
I have given up trying to explain to folk just what it is I get from camping(or any of my other pastimes)All I know is...I enjoy it....Look forward to every trip and usually have a great time sat in the back of beyond somewhere...
Yes I have my "Nightmare" stories to tell(Don't we all) But as I've said before the good times far outweigh the bad in camping...And I'm drawn back to it time and time again.....Camping is my escape from the usual...My chill out time....For some that could be a shopping trip into a big city...A hotel somewhere....Or sat by a pool abroad...For me...Its camping...As long as I'm off somewhere rural and away from the urban
sprawl I'm happy....
What more can you say totally agree
Jelboy.
------------- Tim
Harlyn August
Hopefully somewhere for a weekend in Sept
I think that whenever you do something that is totally different to others you get those sorts of comments. I remember saying to a group of Mum's at school that my son had been in nursery full time since 9 months. Honestly by the looks on their faces and comments you would think I had sold him into slavery. Best thing I ever did for him and me. I have huge respect for those who stay at home as I know any longer than 9 months and I would have gone mad.
With regards to camping I tend to get "rather you than me comments" which I just smile at and ignore Oh and I'm vegan so I get funny looks and comments from that as well Who cares what others think
Where I work there are 2 other people on my team who go camping. One has a folding camper, the other has a tent.
At least 2 others in the department are tent campers, one with carpets, footprints etc, the other more a back to basics I think. And there's the man with the Bongo Friendee well, his kids camp! I'm not sure a Friendee counts, does it?
Oh and the big boss has a split-screen VW camper.
Some of these people can actually get their heads round why I have a chocolate brown Raclet ridge tent that I got off Freecycle.
John, I think that there are those of us in between the rough its, and the glampers - a couple creature comforts like a decent chair to sit in, some cupboard to keep the tent tidy and a table for meals, with something like EHU being useful but not essential. I know that I fall into this category.
When we first started camping my mum was worried about the kids and wanted to know did we want her to pay for an upgrade to a chalet or something.
The time that we forgot our towels and had to get my sister to help (she was only down the road) she and her partner were very surprised at the set up - but insisted that if we wanted we could stay with them, and not to hesitate to phone, even if we changed our minds at 2am.
Fortunately they believed the kids when they told them how much they loved camping.
Well, I personally wouldn't be too hard on the knockers..... mainly because as recently as six weeks ago, I was one of 'em!!
I got "talked into it" after years of total denigration, in all honesty. And yet, after kitting ourselves up, and spending a couple of nights trying it out in the garden, I can honestly say I haven't been this excited in a long while!
I've had plenty of sneers and jeers over the last few weeks, when I've mentioned my new hobby, and as has been said, a few pitying looks and offers of financial help! LOL
I'm desperate to get out there, get set up and, hopefully with the sun gleaming overhead, take plenty of pics to show off upon our return...... then we'll see whose sneering!!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: How Wrong Are They
Who cares what others think
