Why do you camp?

[SteveSueMac]

I find myself wondering if technical aspects about hitches, tires, etc. - which all have their place - sometimes cloud the "why" behind having our Airstreams in the first place.

So this thread is to learn more from each other about the "why" behind the purchase.

Why do you camp?

[AWCHIEF]

Beats going to jail.

[moosetags]

It's the only way to see America first hand and sleep in your own bed every night.

Brian

[cameront120]

To get out of the city and visit places I've never been and even to places I have been.

[Globie64]

It's a reasonable question, but I find it hard to put the answer into words- I love camping in our Airstream but it's the last thing I would expect my partner to enjoy, yet he does. The minute I pull the fully loaded and hitched trailer out of the driveway, I feel so relaxed. We seem to relax wherever we are camping, a book, music, good food and our comfy beds. We also meet a lot of people who are curious about the trailer, which is fun for us and neat to see their interest. I just spent 3 weeks in ours, commuting and taking an intense summer course, spending late nights writing in the trailer, and I found it to be perfectly comfortable. It's an escape pod.

[TouringDan]

I am a wonderer, so I love to travel. I have to sleep some place. I prefer camping over a motel for numerous reasons. Camping is cheaper than a motel. I am staying in my own bed whether it is the Airstream or a tent. It is always an adventure. It is usually more convenient like when going to a music festival where there is on site camping. I enjoy the change from staying at home where I have everything. I enjoy the challenge of camping without hook ups. Much easier to take our two dogs with us. Hard to have a good campfire or enjoy a good sunset in a motel. You meet some nice and interesting people camping. It is fun to check out your neighbors camping gear, Trailer or tent.

Dan

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by moosetags

It's the only way to see America first hand and sleep in your own bed every night.

Brian

Hi, Brian pretty much said it. We bought a travel trailer to travel and that is exactly what we are doing right now. I like having my little house on wheels that is only used by me, my wife, and our little dog.

[our own bedroom, bathroom, living room, and kitchen]

[AStreamNerds]

Both of us still work full time and while we do not take the long-all-over-the-US trips that a lot of you do we like to get away for short 3-4 day weekends just to unwind and not have the normal day to day responsibilities we both have. We started with a popup camper and after one 4 day rainy weekend it was decided that we needed something nice so the next time we have this type of issue we are as comfortable inside as we are outside so an Airstream was the easy and only choice.

We recently went camping and spent most of the time inside of the Airstream relaxing - mainly because it was so hot and humid. So I guess the answer to your question is because we both can relax when we are camping.

AND - it beats going to jail LOL

[Reganzo]

I Airstream because it has given me my wife back, as it has been wonderful rehabilitation both physically and mentally for her. This year is her 16th year of recovery from her stroke.

Regards,
Reganzo

[LiLNomad]

Camping helps me reprioratize what is important in my life and also showed me I can live with a lot less things and still be happy..happier...(maybe someone can rotate my picture hehe)
LilNomad

[truxpin]

We "camp" to give us a break from everyday life. Which as working folks, can get a bit repetitive to say the least. While were camping the routine is lost. It gives us hope that some day, when were done working, everyday can/will be like this! We love going places unfamiliar, places that without our Airstream we'd NEVER see! BEST decision ever!!!

[Danattherock]

I don't want my kids to grow up thinking its normal to play video games, watch TV, and play with electronic gadgets all the time. That's not living, it's a substitute.


Dan

[Hogfan]

Same for us as a few folks here. We work long hard hours and we live in the city. We do not yet have the opportunity to travel for long periods, but we wanted a way to get out of town for a few days at a time and just relax in peace and quiet hopefully in the woods or near some water. But mostly just out of the city! We've lived in big, loud, busy cities for too many years and needed an escape.
Someday we hope to take longer adventures much further away to far more beautiful places. And in the meantime there's always football tailgating to be done with a trailer too!

[Ampman]

We camp/rv because there is so much to see and explore in this great country. While the kids were growing up we car traveled and flew all over the western US and BC for summer vacations. Passed by so many places that we wanted to explore but were too far from hotels, cabins or lodges. So nowadays we are filling in the gaps from our earlier travels to explore those places with the Airstream. The kids are grown and don't have much time to travel but have learned that they can fly in to a major city close by to hook up with us for a few days. (Guess who gets to pay for that?) Towing is not stressful with the Airstream, and can fit in most places with no trouble. Also, being able to sleep in your own bed is worth it in my opinion. We actually eat healthier too because we carry all our own grub and are not at the mercy of whatever is open or available like we use to with earlier travels. We love to travel and having a travel trailer allows us so much more freedom to choose where we can go and stay.

[nrgtrakr]

Why breathe air?

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by LiLNomad

Camping helps me reprioratize what is important in my life and also showed me I can live with a lot less things and still be happy..happier...(maybe someone can rotate my picture hehe)
LilNomad

Hi,

[centennialman]

I camp....therefore, I am

[reelfastgreg]

tough question with so many nuances. we have camped as a family forever. and before that, my wife and her family have camped together not only in the US but all over Europe. so it is sort of something we have always done. from tents to PU campers and various other trailers, we now have our wonderful AS.

in this time frame, it is simply relaxing to go someplace, does not have to be far away or exotic, and spend time together in the simplicity of the AS. and yes, having your own bed, shower and toilet make the experience that much easier.

cribbage each evening with a single malt is the schedule and just enjoying walking about and seeing the sights, sometime quite simple and not exotic, make our experiences worth doing. we are not the type of travelers who need to go for weeks or months. we will often hitch up and drive an hour to a favorite place and just hang out for a couple of days. life in the AS just seems much simpler without a bunch of trappings and stuff to stumble over.

[mimiandrews]

Quality time with grandchildren. Chance to be with my kids and their spouses when all are not busy with work. Get away from the noisy city.

[Protagonist]

It's my retirement hobby. While I was working for a living, I knew too many people who retired and had no idea what to do with their lives and so they wasted away inside and died far too early. Or worse, they got bored enough that they went back to work at a job they hated, just to have something to do.

As a retirement hobby, camping is hard to beat. I can do as much of it or as little of it as my mood dictates. I can attend rallies or go solo depending on whether I'm feeling sociable or not. Since I never have to go back to anyplace I've been before unless I really want to, it never gets boring— always new places to go, new things to see, new people to meet.

And even in the downtime between camping trips, a lot of that time is spent planning where to go camping next.