Practice Makes (Almost) Perfect

So, our practice run went really well. 

And what I mean by this is that a bunch of things went slightly amiss and that is a good thing because we were able to fix them before heading on the long trip. 

You must thoroughly submit to the reality that things on your RV or camper will have to constantly be adjusted, fixed, repaired, or replaced.  No camper, no matter how luxurious, is free from this troubling actuality.

Before the weekend was up, Rob had replaced a fuse for the water heater, re-attached the shade over the dinette and replaced a few random screws that magically appeared on the floor after we arrived onsite at the campground. Thank goodness he is handy and a problem-solver. I am more easily frustrated and grumpy about the things that go wrong with the camper.

Anyhow, pro tip: always pack your tools in the storage bay of the RV. Kevin is full of plastic shoe boxes and bins (my contribution to camper organization) with various tools, screws, adhesives, tape, flashlights and other gadgets and gizmos to keep her running smoothly so we can minimize the time spent finding the right tools to get the job done.

Pine Acres Camping Resort is located in Oakham, Massachusetts and we meet friends there every Father’s Day weekend.   It is one of the nicest family campgrounds we have been to in the northeast.  It has spacious sites with gravel parking at each site (this is super important because it helps keep dirt out of the camper), full hookups (electricity and sewer), a pool/splash pad, dog beach, mini golf, an arcade, a fully stocked camp store, paved bike paths, and a pretty sweet little beach on a pond that is good for swimming, kayaking, and fishing. 

Before you tell me that it sounds more like “glamping” than camping, I will tell you that you are correct and also, I do not care.  I’ve been “dry camping” (no electricity or sewer) and “boondocking” (camping off-the-grid on public land) and it is absolutely great.  For the weekend. Without Kids.  When it’s not hot, steamy, and buggy.  This trip is an annual Father’s Day tradition and we spoil ourselves with indoor plumbing and air conditioning.  I own it.  My days of carrying all my camping gear and trekking through the woods to pitch my tent never existed.  In fact, if you had asked me five years ago if I would even consider camping as more than a bucket list item, I would have responded with a “Hell no”.  I like to spend time outdoors and sleep indoors. 

Theoretically, being outside in nature is relaxing and rejuvenating, but that is not what it is like on Father’s Day weekend.  There are pool reservations to make, an activity schedule to follow, dogs to wear out at the dog beach, and about a dozen people to feed for three meals a day. I usually love camp cooking, and I have my favorite tried and true recipes.  This weekend was a little awkward.   I knew my way around the old trailer, but I’m not exactly where everything is in Kevin.  It was a little awkward and clumsy, but practice makes perfect, so I was glad to use the weekend as a warm-up for the main event (in T-24 hours… I am not freaking out… much).

One of my favorite things about camping is being together.  No other type of vacation will give you the kind of quality together time you get from  living in 270 square feet of RV.  (If 270 square feet for six people and two dogs sounds tiny, just remember that Kevin, at 270 square feet, is an upgrade from the 145 square feet of the last camper we had.)  Granted, we spend 90% of our time outdoors, so we have lots of space to spread out, but it is 100% family fun time.  My heart is full watching the kids tear around on their bikes, taking Lemmy and Finn swim to fetch balls at the dog beach, playing tag in the pool, making s’mores by the campfire and paddling out on tubes to the little island in the middle of the pond.  We are ON 24-7 and it is EXHAUSTING.  

I will let you in on my little secret for keeping myself sane.  Sometimes when we walk up to the pool, I will “forget” something back at the camper.  I hang back for a bit and then walk to the pool ALONE.  I grab a cold seltzer, pop in my AirPods and get five whole rejuvenating minutes to myself.  It’s just enough time to gather my thoughts, gear up for the pool, and get ready to be present for the people who matter most to me.

We had a great Father’s Day  2021 weekend.  I couldn’t have asked for a better trial-run for the Montana trip than this weekend.  Good friends, good food, good times, great memories.  We’ve been practicing the art of camping for a while now, and I can’t think of anything more perfect.

Time to repack Kevin for the next adventure.