Date:         Sat, 26 Sep 2009 08:43:39 -0700
Reply-To:     Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: What's that?
In-Reply-To:  <BLU0-SMTP82BBF309CF9B403CD0EAC6A6D80@phx.gbl>
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Well, that's not a poll, with questions and forced responses. That's an
invitation to write an essay. Which is a lot more fun than:

On a scale of one to ten, with one being very undesirable and ten being
you can't live without it, how would you rate:

Shrubbery?
Ankle-grabbers camped right next door playing loud country music?
A view of the lake?
A view of the neighbor's RV?
Shade?
Large dogs foraging in your campsite?
Solitude?

etc.

I'm sure there's an essay about what "camping" means somewhere inside me.
But my fan will have to wait until tomorrow to read it: I'm out today
exploring potential campsites for a hoped-for trip in October before
winter sets in. And tonight I'll be hanging out at the Bend Roots Festival
drinking good local ale and listening to good local music. Mrs Squirrel is
volunteering at the KPOV (106.7 LP FM community radio) booth cajoling
donations from passersby and handing out "spin the wheel and win a prize"
game. "Here you go, son, a hydrangea -- don't overwater it. NEXT!"

--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Westrailia: (Ladybug Trailer company, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
Bend, OR
KG6RCR



On 9/25/2009 7:38 PM Karl Wolz wrote:

> I believe the reason behind the thread (since I started it) is for YOU to
> define camping and how the Westy works for you.
>
> Karl
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Joy Hecht
> Sent: Friday, September 25, 2009 6:05 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: What's that?
>
> What does "actual camping" mean?  No hookups?  Not in an urban area?
> Sleeping in a tent?  Out in the boondocks?  In a place where you can be
> visible in your van and not worry about being hassled?
>
> Just wondering!
>
> When full-timing, access to the world is very useful - for me that means
> email, for others TV or electric or showers or whatever.  But when
> full-timing there is no "I could stay home and do that" because I AM home.
>
>
> Joy
>
> On Fri, Sep 25, 2009 at 9:20 PM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:
>
>> Yeah, I realize that there are lots of folks with lots of ways of using
>> their campers.  I just tend to think of it as a camper, and that's what
>> I do with it.  If I go to LA or SF, or other metropolitan area (I do
>> occasionally), I either stay with friends/family, or in a hotel.  If I
>> use my camper, I'm camping.  Actual camping.  I have a sister who is
>> majorly into RVing, as in traveling for weeks and weeks in her (barely)
>> portable (big) house.  She's never been to an actual campground,
>> needless to mention a primitive spot.  She takes her little dog, and
>> cooks pot roast, and watches TV, and if she couldn't check her email
>> every night, she'd be lost.  Oh well.  For me, why not stay home?  I use
>> my camper to get to the edge of the back and beyond.  Dave Mc
>>
>>
>>
>