We had family visiting camp this weekend and a very good time was had by all. (That’s what they tell me, anyway. They could be lying.) (But I don’t think they are.) We’re not as numerous or rowdy as the Kowalski family, but there was ATVing, mud, flaming marshmallows and pool time.
The Short Kid needs to learn to wait until the adults have it together before getting ready to go. Sitting on your ATV in the sun, in full gear, when nobody else is ready to go isn’t very fun.
But after a hot day on the trails, the pool is all the sweeter…
Last night I did my quick surf through new camper floor plans online. I do it every few months to remind myself how much I love my crappy old camper. It’s not super pretty. We have no hot water because we didn’t like the fact the twenty-something-year-old hot water heater (with pilot light, aka flame) is under the short kid’s bunk. The roof periodically leaks, which has shorted out the ceiling light in the boys’ bedroom and occasionally requires a bucket. The tub is cracked, but that’s okay since we don’t have hot water, so we keep the laundry basket full of dirty riding gear in there. The linoleum’s starting to peel in places and the fridge is crapping out on us.
But, it’s a true two bedroom. In many of the new campers, in order to make super-fancy bathrooms and kitchens, the bunks for kids are in a closet type thing shoved between the bathroom and the outer wall. If I won’t sleep in it, I won’t ask my kids to. Right now they have a room with a door and two bunks and a closet and floor space and cabinets. And a lot of the new campers have carpeting. I can see where people like that. But I can’t pee in the woods, so when I come off the trails muddy or dusty or both and I have to pee, I’m not stopping to take my boots off.
Last night, however, I found a camper I like. Not quite as much floor space in the second bedroom, but it has 3 bunks instead of two and still has a closet and some storage. But, wow, those suckers are expensive. I don’t think Santa will be bringing me one this year.
One thing that crossed my mind while surfing camper floor plans—why do they all have super-fancy cooking channel-worthy kitchens? Are there women out there making Thanksgiving dinners at camp? I want a small fridge and a piece of counter to set the Keurig on. They should make campers with a no-kitchen option and bigger bedrooms.
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My dad and stepmom have a fancy fifth wheel with the gourmet kitchen and granite countertops and I’m like…okay. Eventually they want it to be their winter home so they can escape Minnesota winters, so I guess that’s the motivation. Still, granite countertops?
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We went through that process a few years back. Ours is stationary (Park model), but whoa the options are amazing. One we looked at had a washer & dryer hook up, but in the loft on the second floor where my husband & I, my SIL & her husband and my two kids would sleep, THE WINDOWS DID’T OPEN. Really? REALLY????
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Granite countertops? Wish I had those in my HOUSE!
We tent camp. UGH. Kids and hubs love it. Me, not so much, but I do it a few times a summer ‘cuz I love ’em!
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I’ve been through some crazy gorgeous fifth wheels. They’re even nicer than most of the houses I’ve ever been in, but they’re really designed for two people. I think I’ve seen one bunkhouse model and it was over 40′ long and cost a gazillion dollars.
And windows not opening would be a deal breaker for me. I’m a bit claustrophobic and even though we have one of those bedrooms where you can walk all the way around the bed (except the head), sometimes I have to crack open the window so I can feel the air move, even if it’s chilly.
It’ll be at least next year before I can do any serious camper shopping. Our truck’s starting to come undone and we were naughty and bought new ATVs. We absolutely have to buy a truck next. (Seriously less fun, though.)