[ellenmelon]

I used to think roughing it was the only definition for camping. Now it is simply getting away from the ordinary. We have closed windows at home because of the A/C so it is really wonderful when 'camping' to wake up to early birds, to take early walks, to get out away from the neighbor's lawnmower and the kids next door. If I sleep well and feel clean I will be more likely to take that afternoon hike and see that sleeping owl on the branch.

For us, camping is about our only vacationing so we like to bring things that help us relax. Because my hands get tight when I handwrite, I like to bring the laptop and plug it in to the trailer to make notes from my walks, trips, etc, else so much would be lost when I went to recall it later.

I also like to bring my world band radio and hear broadcasts from other countries, both music and voice. Camping is a time for me to spend doing this without the distractions of home chores.

I like to cook in the trailer with the morning cartoons on. We keep the volume down so the neighbors don't 'hear' us. And my DH is a news junkie so he brings a radio.

He is also an EE and he makes things like antennas for his ham radio out of a slinky, so I guess it just comes with the territory.

For him, he also likes pop music and when he hears songs from the decades then he remembers back to the times he spent outdoors camping, hunting, campfires as he hears the songs of those decades being played. It is reminiscing for him and for the girls, they like to share his love of this 'old time' music.

Without the influence of my DH I would have been a die hard, no electronics, we are camping, but I have come to accept all the accoutrements of living in the 21st century.

It is considerate to keep the volume low or bring headphones.

And we do lots of non electronic things and games too so I guess we keep a balance.