Is a one-nighter "worth it" to you?

[Jst83]

Some of my friends think I'm nuts for going alone, but I enjoy it.

I told a co worker that I like to camp alone today and she looked at me like I was from Neptune, just couldn't understand it. Some people are just not cut out for it. Sometimes it's great to not speak for days at a time.

I dream of the day I get to go camping by myself with out the wife and kids don't get me wrong love them madly, but it sure would be so nice to just sit there in the peace.

[2bits]

I dream of the day I get to go camping by myself with out the wife and kids don't get me wrong love them madly, but it sure would be so nice to just sit there in the peace.

It sounds like a trade might be in order! She watches the kids for a Saturday night while you camp, and you watch them while she does a girls night out deal or something. Maybe offer the girls night out thing first tho LOL

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

One nighters really help to relieve stress...

I prefer to limit the amount of driving time for one nighters, so I get more time camping instead of driving.

[T@Baker]

When I was a kid we camped often at a CG an hour's drive from our home. College kids were hired to put on programs for the kids, including crafts and sports. One summer when I was in junior high we became friends with a couple of families who were there living in their camper while the dad/husband worked in the area. It got to where mom was basically commuting to work about 3 days a week, and we spent the rest of the time at the CG. Dad would come some on the weekends. It helps that they were self employed. That summer fits in my list of "most memorable summers". We kept in touch with those kids for years afterward. Of course this was way before email and texting.

While this response doesn't fit with "one nighters", it does fit with camping a short drive from home...

My daughter and I have broke camp Monday morning when were were camping a half hour from home. Still made it to work/school on time.

[nevadatear]

We have done some one-nighters although the park of choice for that is Brazos Bend State Park, just 35 minutes away.

Hey, a name in Tx we recognize! My husband's uncle's property backs up to Brazos Bend, and we spent some great time there a few years ago, birding. Didn't camp, since they live right there, of course, but great place none the less.

Debbie

[legojenn]

I was going to respond that's the best way...but then I reread the topic and realised that it had to do with camping.

[Redneck Teepee]

My teardrop was bought with 1 and 2 nighters specifically in mind. I love to fly fish and a quick trip for me is the Western and Eastern slope of the Sierra's in California, the Western is just a straight shot up the hill from me, the Eastern I have to travel North and/or South up and down U.S. 395 and it's not worth a day trip so I would have to get a motel in the nearest town, usually Bishop or Bridgeport, but those days are over now that I got my tear as there are plenty of places to camp at the source so to speak. I've got it stocked and ready, just a change of clothes, ice, perishables and fishing gear. I've even thrown some MRE's into the cabinet in case fishing is too good to be true and I want to stay an extra night.

[working on it]

For half of the past 44 years, I've driven up to 120 miles round-trip a day (taking up to 4.5 hours total- in good weather and traffic, 6 hours was the worst) to work between 8 and 12 hours a shift. Up to 6 days a week. The time spent getting there and back averaged about 35% of the time paid to work! Not a good return on my time (acceptable when I loved my job, but now, not so much!). I also would spend many hours working on my drag car, and several hours loading up the car and peripheral equipment (for me and others in my racing club to use), then many more hours driving to and from distant race locales for maybe only one trip down the track (the heartbreak of a first-round loss is magnified by the distance/time travelled!). Again, not a good return on time and money invested (especially since I raced for trophies, never money). In retrospect, I've travelled long miles for little return.... Now, if I can just jump in my truck, and pull out with my little trailer being already packed and ready to go, and just park it and voila, camp for a day, weekend, or longer (without the job or race pressures hanging over me), then that is time and money well spent, in my book.

[canned o minimum]

I'm single and self employed...I camp "solo" all the time ! I love a "gathering" as much as a "solo" campout. The teardrop affords me the comfort and the versatility of campin at a moments notice( to self). Like most teardroppers, I am always packed and ready fer campin . The only prollen fer me is "funds" so I do a lotta boondockin in the wilderness.

One nighters are very relaxing and I do em all the time... even in my driveway!

[Greg Barrick]

The wife & I normally do weekends. She still works and I'm retired. We do some 'one niters" just to de-compress and enjoy being out. Sometime to the dragstrip, or just the closest state campground. We have even camped in our driveway, enjoy listening to the rain on the tin roof. (sometimes no $ to go anywhere.) Hoping this year to go almost every other weekend.

[Rainier70]

Having my CT prepared to camp at any moment is what I planned it for. Because of smoke or other air issues I have to leave quickly, and still be prepared to stay camping for an unspecified length of time. I may leave in 20 minutes and be gone for just the night or for two weeks. Year before last I was gone for two months because of forest fires!

It is amazingly nice to have things packed, and all I have to do is hitch it up. Even if I didn't have the breathing problem, I would still go camping and fishing, but I probably wouldn't be as prepared, so I wouldn't get out for those short trips as often.

With a small camper or cargo trailer it is easy to have things arranged so that you can take advantage of opportunities when they come up. That way you aren't wasting your camping or fishing time packing and unpacking. Things like home dehydrated meals I have used for years when hiking, and they work just as well packed in the CT. Canned goods and "quick fix" mixes, rices, potatoes, soups, cereals and shelf stable milk.. dairy and nondairy, are all good choices to have as staples. You don't have to use all MREs or canned food, but it is good to have some meals packed in the camper that don't require much work.

Another thought that might help is to keep a small box or bag of items in your home freezer ready to go. In it you can have things like ice, bacon, or other meats, and a frozen meal or two. That way it's ready to grab and just drop into the cooler in your camper.

Do some planning ahead of time about where you would want to go if you had the spare time, then when the stars align...just go do it!

[Verna]

I enjoy just getting away from the city (suburbs, in my case ), traffic, etc. just one night in a state park camping is enough to know I've left the traffic and noise behind. Waking up to birds singing is about the most beautiful music I can think of.