There's an article in today's paper about camping. They talk about the luxury people are camping in and how much camping has changed. There are still people who tent it but those are getting few and far between. My sister is one of them, she camps with a group who own big RV's. She won't give her tent up, says that's real camping....I can hear my mom saying those words too. Actually, and she's right, she only camps about 3 weekends year so she can't justify the cost of an RV or even a tent trailer. I remember camping as a kid with my family in an old Army tent, no floor, very heavy canvas, huge wooden poles to hold it up. One trip in particular, we were in Maine and it was pouring out....my mom had us kids up on our cots cause their was a river running through the tent. We has such great fun though. They took us to Maine every summer for a week--mom's favorite place and we did a week in the Adirondacks--dad's favorite place. We would do weekends alot during the summer, some just down the road about 3 miles at a state campground that's there. I have a trailer, more for my bad knees than anything--off the ground and out of the weather. We still cook on the outdoor stove or fire, I used the oven once and it doesn't do well, I do better over an open fire with dad's homemade oven. I can do without TV connections, and even electricity but sewer and water are a must. I hate using public showers, one of us always gets athletes foot from them even with shower shoes on. Rob asked for our old tent yesterday. He and Kristine would like to camp now. So I will do as my parents did for me, I will now buy camping equipment for Christmas. Cots, stove, water jugs, etc. They can have our sleepingbags as we don't use them anymore and ours are (were)top of the line when we got them. I love being outside, campfire burning and not having to answer the phone (yes my cell is with us but I can ignore that if I want). It's so relaxing.
So camp on everyone, no matter how high tech or low tech you do it.