Black Friday. Shopping or Camping?

[NC Camper]

Originally Posted by Protagonist

Change of plans. I will be home for Thanksgiving. The Thanksgiving buffet at DeGray will have to wait a year. The follow-up doctor's appointment that was just scheduled for the Wednesday before Thanksgiving kind of takes precedence. If I postponed the doctor's appointment I'd be too worried about the biopsy results to enjoy the trip. So the answer to "shopping or camping" is "Neither." My shopping will wait for Cyber Monday.

Protagonist, so sorry to hear about the medical concerns, but thanks for the info about DeGray. I have added their site to my loooong list of places to visit in the future.

Take care,
Cathy

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by NC Camper

Protagonist, so sorry to hear about the medical concerns, but thanks for the info about DeGray. I have added their site to my loooong list of places to visit in the future.

There are actually several Arkansas State Parks with campgrounds that do the Thanksgiving buffet thing: DeGray Lake Resort State Park; Mount Magazine State Park; Petit Jean State Park; and Queen Wilhelmina State Park. The only one I've been to for Thanksgiving (so far) is DeGray, it being closest to me— and even then it's about a 10-hour drive one-way. When I was still working for a living it was hard to travel that far during my limited vacation time. Now that I'm retired it's a different story.

[Goal15]

Originally Posted by Protagonist

Change of plans. I will be home for Thanksgiving. The Thanksgiving buffet at DeGray will have to wait a year. The follow-up doctor's appointment that was just scheduled for the Wednesday before Thanksgiving kind of takes precedence. If I postponed the doctor's appointment I'd be too worried about the biopsy results to enjoy the trip. So the answer to "shopping or camping" is "Neither." My shopping will wait for Cyber Monday.

Hope it all turns out okay, Protag


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[NC Camper]

Originally Posted by Protagonist

There are actually several Arkansas State Parks with campgrounds that do the Thanksgiving buffet thing: DeGray Lake Resort State Park; Mount Magazine State Park; Petit Jean State Park; and Queen Wilhelmina State Park. The only one I've been to for Thanksgiving (so far) is DeGray, it being closest to me— and even then it's about a 10-hour drive one-way. When I was still working for a living it was hard to travel that far during my limited vacation time. Now that I'm retired it's a different story.

Wow! That's quite a lot of choices. I will check them out. Thanks for the info!

[kb0zke]

We're going to be at Babler State Park near St. Louis. We're campground hosts for December there. Two of our three children (and our grandson) are in the area, so we will be getting together on Friday at our son's "new" house, built in 1831. His in-laws whole family will be there on Thursday, so we're going to help with the leftovers.

I don't like shopping at any time, I dislike crowds, and a thoroughly dislike rude crowds. NO shopping for this old man close to a holiday.

[TheDuke]

Black Friday scares me! My dear Wife and I are taking one last trip for the year. We are picking Classic up Wednesday from it's climate controlled storage facility and going to Seveirville TN for a four or five night trip. No shopping, just going to enjoy the Christmas lights and going to the Dixie Stampede Thanksgiving day to see their Christmas show and enjoy a great meal....No Turkey! The weather is supposed to be nice so we may go up to the mountains also. Then our Classic will go back inside it's nice warm spot for about five months. This way I didn't have to winterize twice and de-winterize next spring. I hope that everyone has a Blessed and happy Thanksgiving!

[3wd67rg]

You must have taken REI's pledge. I did.

In 55 years of life I have shopped only once on a black friday. NEVER EVER AGAIN. When I worked retail black friday was unavoidable, fortunately I had a manager who handled it like a pro, no madness allowed. Still I hated it. After I left the retail world they began opening black friday on Thursday and I decided that this needed to be the end. So I have protested loudly against it for all of my retail friends every single year. They have taken most of our holidays away and turned them into sales, preventing workers from being with their families. I only Christmas shop stores who remain closed on Thanksgiving. I go out of my way to thank stores who close on Thanksgiving and buy something there no matter how small.

It does not matter what your faith is or isn't, or what holiday(s) you celebrate, these are days to spend with family and friends.

We won't be camping this year, but we definitely will NOT be shopping!!!! On the weekend we plan to be hiking. We're driving my youngest son up into the mountains for his solo mtn bike camp trip, and taking my granddaughter hiking.

[Rich W]

I won't be camping or shopping. My son's coming into town for Thanksgiving and if the weather holds, we'll be fishing on Friday. It's supposed to be 60 for the high but you know how that goes.

[truxpin]

When our kids were younger, we shopped Black Friday. Mostly out of necessity. My wife, a retail jewelry mgr, will NEVER escape the day. Myself, I'm loading up the tent and the camera and heading out to the back country for a little one on one time with me & " nobody".

[m.hony]

We may or may not camp- depends on rain or no rain-
I will not go shopping.
My wife will go shopping.


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[NC Camper]

Originally Posted by PammieSue

You must have taken REI's pledge. I did.

We're with you PammieSue! We all took the REI pledge, and recommended it to our friends! We will be enjoying the great outdoors on Friday and will support REI with our purchases the rest of the year!

[Sbb]

I will be working Friday, since I own an Irish Shop. Our town is all independent shops and we have great customer support. Saturday is Shop Small, very good day knowing all the money from the sales stays in our town, not malls or big box stores.

Wish I was camping, but get winterized on Wednesday

[kscherzi]

Well the irony. I'm began this post asserting my plan to stay out of the stores. Plans change. Wednesday evening prior to Thanksgiving my truck alternator died and we are 250 miles from home. I found a Ford dealership open today with an open slot and willingness to fix it today. Also located near to Walmart and Costco. Spent the day in town wandering the isles to kill time. Bought my son a new laptop to replace his recently stolen model since the price was so good.

[m.hony]

Well-
They way it happened-
No camping and no shopping-


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[rmkrum]

Minor shopping at Sam's club and then Costco. No real crowds as we went around noon. Food and minor clothes bought. Don't need any electronics or other high end stuff. Got enough stuff as it is.


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[Protagonist]

No camping, no shopping, but I did receive some books that I mail-ordered before Thanksgiving…

[cameront120]

For whatever dubious reason, Black Friday has crept into the Canadian lexicon. I won't participate and opted to take the dogs out for a walk between intervals of working.

[white laker]

and from a Canadian.........
Our Thanksgiving Day is in October. (why I dont know!) but Judy and I were en route from the Keys to the gulf coast on I75. We stopped for lunch at a rest stop and had some great ham and cheese sandwiches. Our shopping was limited to jamming quarters into a coin op soda machine where we got good value , but on special deal!
It was strange for us as it was our first Thanksgiving away from the kids and grandchildren but they were there with us in our hearts and thoughts. So to celebrate your Thanksgiving Day, we are back in Ottawa where we had a bit of an ice storm today but still little signs of snow yet. Christmas with the brood, then back down to Florida to continue with the first post retirement adventure.
So from our family to yours, have a happy, healthy and thoughtful Thanksgiving Day.
Pete

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by white laker

and from a Canadian.........
Our Thanksgiving Day is in October. (why I don't know!)

Thanksgiving was originally a harvest festival, and the farther north you go, the earlier the growing season ends. It makes sense that the Canadian Thanksgiving would be earlier in the year.

[Drewsome]

How about a little of both,
Took Wednesday and Thursday to camp near Lincoln city, then today traveled to Kennewick on our way to Spokane & Pullman. (Dropping my daughter back off after the holiday break. Weather was awesome on the coast, sunny and about 50. Then the farther I went east the colder it got. Right now it's 18 degrees!! Being the maiden voyage in our Interstate ( and pulling my new Little Guy Silver Shadow) everything is working out well. To pass a little time last Igbo we went to the outlet stores which were surprisingly not really crowded and picked up a few gifts for the wife..
Here we are on the beach searching for handmade glass globes hidden by local artists, but not having much luck..