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geekyguru's avatar
geekyguru
Explorer
Sep 15, 2013

camping with friends

It was my wife's first time camping with me since we purchased our TT. We decided to take another family of three and one additional lady. Total of seven of us. Anyhow... We booked a two night trip on the beach. The first night on the way down the other couple stopped on the side of the road to pee. The guys wife got bit by something and had to go to e.r. they had all of our beer and food in their truck. Anyhow they didn't end up at the site until 11pm. (Five hours after us) we all went to bed around 1am. Their kid woke up at 5am. This meant all of us were now up.
Day two...
Things were going good until 8pm. Their kid developed wooping cough. He puked all over my towels and brand new tt. So the couple were out of action with him for the rest of the night.
The next morning I woke up and just packed up and left.
****ty thing is we were on the beach camping!!
It shouldn't get any better than that!!! Now my wife isn't too thrilled about camping now.

69 Replies

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  • NoVa_RT's avatar
    NoVa_RT
    Explorer
    Sep 16, 2013
    I remember reading here that every RV, no matter its size, works best "with 6 for cocktails, 4 for dinner & 2 for sleeping". Probably a flexible guideline, but more people can mean more potential problems. Sick kids happen, but that's true in cabins & hotels, too.

    The trick is to convert all the problems into amusing anecdotes as time goes by.
  • CincyGus's avatar
    CincyGus
    Explorer II
    Sep 16, 2013
    The first piece of equipment you should have after buying a RV is a tent. Put it under the dinette or bed in storage and when someone asks if they can come camping with you, say "Sure, I've even got a spare tent if you need it." Then you can go into your statement of how really crowded the inside of the camper gets when it's more than just your family but how you love having others camping in adjoining campsites and sharing the fire at night.

    Laying out the ground rules in front is critical to not having a bad time or ruining relationships and friendships.
  • wmoses's avatar
    wmoses
    Explorer
    Sep 16, 2013
    We often go camping with another couple who are two of my closest friends. They stay in their tent / shelter and we stay in our RV. It all works out that way for the best. Personal space is very important for us (and most likely for most other campers) and then I am another notch on top of that. Sometimes I even wonder how nice a trip would be even without DW. :)
  • CavemanCharlie's avatar
    CavemanCharlie
    Explorer III
    Sep 16, 2013
    I agree with the other posts. Sometimes I go with friends as long as they have there own place to stay. I carry a tent along in my TT for just this reason. I often go camping with just my dog, me, and a book. It's very relaxing.
  • RVcrazy's avatar
    RVcrazy
    Explorer
    Sep 16, 2013
    I don't know whose idea it was to take other people, but I'd pass on that until it's her idea! Every family group should have their own space. You may share your campfire etc., butr everyone has a way to get away by themselves for a while. Try taking just your wife and go somewhere she wants to go. Go out for at least one meal and be sure that you fix & clean up after at least one... Good luck!
  • DarylSue's avatar
    DarylSue
    Explorer
    Sep 16, 2013
    BadBeans wrote:
    Sorry about your camping trip. My wife and I love to camp with our friends, but it has always been our number one rule... You gotta be in your own tent or trailer or whatever. I'm far too old and far to cranky to share my toys. I'd rather camp alone with a good book than having to let others put wear/tear on my things that I've worked hard to pay for.

    Kinda harsh I know, but try it this way at least once before you toss I'm the towel. Your wife might like it better maybe.



    X2
  • Dyngbld's avatar
    Dyngbld
    Explorer
    Sep 16, 2013
    I'm far too old and far to cranky to share my toys. I'd rather camp alone with a good book than having to let others put wear/tear on my things that I've worked hard to pay for.



    X100

    I love to have people camp with us, and I have plenty of equipment to share for the novice campers, but everyone gets their own camp site. I need a place to excape to sometimes. :)
  • BadBeans's avatar
    BadBeans
    Explorer
    Sep 16, 2013
    Sorry about your camping trip. My wife and I love to camp with our friends, but it has always been our number one rule... You gotta be in your own tent or trailer or whatever. I'm far too old and far to cranky to share my toys. I'd rather camp alone with a good book than having to let others put wear/tear on my things that I've worked hard to pay for.

    Kinda harsh I know, but try it this way at least once before you toss I'm the towel. Your wife might like it better maybe.
  • opnspaces's avatar
    opnspaces
    Navigator III
    Sep 16, 2013
    That's got to be tough. I'm guessing you invited the extra people so that your wife had some friends to hang out with.
    I guess the only thing I can think to say is to suggest to her that this same thing could have happened if you rented a vacation cabin on a lake somewhere. Try to distract her from the idea that it was camping that caused it, and lean toward it was just bad luck on this vacation.

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