Friday, June 22, 2007

A camper full of memories

Several years ago Cliff and I saw a used popup camper alongside the road at the end of someone's driveway.  The owner told us what we needed to know about it, and we brought it home.  I've always loved camping.  Cliff, not so much.  But he was really into tractor shows back then, so we'd take the camper and go.  We saw shows in Minnesota and Kansas, and several in Iowa.

Cliff isn't really big on camping at the state fair, either.  But he'd take me and various grandchildren to Sedalia at fair-time, set up the camper, and leave us for a few days.

I've lost much of my enthusiasm for camping as I've grown older.  Cooking a meal in a cramped space when the temperature is 100 degrees just doesn't hold the allure it once did.

So I didn't object when Cliff suggested we sell the camper for $500 on craigslist.  He hosed it off and instructed me to take a picture.

Then we set it up.  Cliff took the shop-vac and cleaned it up while I started unloading all the stuff we've kept inside it:  lawn chairs, buckets and dishpans, silverware.  The night case containing toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap and shaving cream.  And half-a-dozen cardboard Missouri-State-Fair fans.

"If anybody buys it, we may as well let them take the porta-potty,"  I said.  "We won't be needing it."

Cliff didn't answer at first.  A few minutes later, he said, "You know, if we just used this a couple more times, it would be worth keeping it."

And we started talking about fun times we'd had with the camper.

I guess we'll keep it.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Looks like a fun thing to have..  Linda

Anonymous said...

Maybe you could find a cool place to camp and take a vacation after all. Helen

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a great idea....get away for a few days.

Anonymous said...

I think it would be well worth it, if you and hubby could find a quite place to enjoy such a toy! Even if it is just for a day or two! I love it ~ I would of given it a home! Take some time to enjoy each other, as I'm sure you already do! Have fun!
Katie
http://journals.aol.com/ktkamanski/AlwaysBelieve/

Anonymous said...

Oh I am so glad you are keeping it!   Any way you can add a little battery operated fan when you are in it so you dont get so hot?  Or better yet...cook outdoors.

I love camping, my Dad used to take us all when we were kids...my Mom tolerated it but it wasn't her thing and now that we are grown she would never do it again.  Me on the other hand...love, love, love it and someday I wouldn't be surprised if I lived in a big rv seeing the world.

Anonymous said...

We started camping in a pop up camper.  We had 4 big beds and all 9 of us packed into that camper and had loads of fun.  Thankfully the only time we were all in there was when we were sleeping and the babes were quite young then.  When they got older and we went camping the boys set up a couple of tents.  Then we advanced to a small self-contained one with it's own shower and a real toilet...the year after my husband died we sold the camper and I do miss it so very much.  Years of good memories were definitely left behind.  Now my children have campers and I visit, but it's not the same for sure.  Hope you still have some wonderful days ahead camping out. 'On Ya' - ma

Anonymous said...

  And, your camper looks like such a nice one! It always makes a nice way to go visiting, too.
LOIS

Anonymous said...

I am a spring and fall camper too! Good for you for keeping it!  When it cools off,go somewhere for me!
Traci

Anonymous said...

I wish we had one!!!!  Looks like fun!  My dad had one when we were little and I remember sleeping on quite a few campouts in it.  And it was good for putting relatives in it too when they came to visit if there were a lot of visitors all at one time.  Hugs,
Lisa

Anonymous said...

Cute little camper even though I've never been into camping. Hope you get to go. Paula

Anonymous said...

I went camping in a pop-up just like that one once. But I am wracking my brain trying to remember why, when, and who with! Hmm... All I can recall is that there was a hole in the screen on one window and I got et all to heck by skeeters.

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad you decided to keep it!

Anonymous said...

We've done all of our camping on the ground  in a tent with air mattresses on occasion but as often as not they'd go flat!  I'd always dreamed of having a popup camper but just recently I decided a Bed & Breakfast will work just fine!

But, oh, even our tents hold so many memories of fun weekends and weeks and very cold baths in the Swift River in NH.