Do you rough it, or bring luxuries?

[dinosaur]

There is a fine line between luxury and necessity. It depends on the person. If you have a bad back, you take things that allow you to continue functioning that those with no back problem may consider a luxury.

Some people think a bath is a luxury. Most of us, on the other hand, would say: "You stink! Take a bath. It's necessary.".

For HikerJoe, the chauffer, grey poupon, and golf clubs are necessities. Although, he did forget the Melba Toast, caviar and pearl onions.

[den's wife]

The older I get the less rougher I like it. But then it all depends on how far we are walking. If it's a short walk from the car, then I'll even bring my pillow from home. To me that's the height of luxury. If it's a long walk, then it's the bare essentials.

[ejdixon]

Originally Posted by dinosaur

There is a fine line between luxury and necessity. It depends on the person. If you have a bad back, you take things that allow you to continue functioning that those with no back problem may consider a luxury.

Some people think a bath is a luxury. Most of us, on the other hand, would say: "You stink! Take a bath. It's necessary."

Well said, dino! So sad that there are some campers that seem to be rather rigid in their mindset when it comes to camping without even bothering to know the story behind it.

[BSquared18]

Shhh. It's a secret! I bought my wife and me a "present from Santa" of a battery-operated, power-shower system for camping. Tried it out before wrapping it, and it seems to work great. Will pay for itself by saving the cost of going somewhere that charges for showers, as we had to on our last outing.

I figure if it makes you feel good, it isn't a luxury. I'm not into being a martyr.

Bill

[hiking_and_biking]

I guess our camping experience would be considered more "luxurious" than basic. Here's our checklist:

Tent (one room)
Air Mattress (full size)
Sleeping Bags (2)
Pillows (2)
Lantern
Coleman grill, fuel
Kitchenware box (Always packed and ready to go, it has a pot to boil water and 2 each of cups, plates, forks, spoons and knives.)
Cooler
Food, drinks (Hot dogs, s'mores, hot chocolate, etc.)
Cards (Poker, Phase 10, Uno, etc.)

The cell phone comes along for emergency use only and stays in the car unless/until we need it.

You can judge if it's luxurious or not, I don't really care either way. We enjoy camping and take EVERYTHING we need to make it joyful. We're not hardcore "If it ain't rough, it ain't campin'!" kind of people, lol.

[BSquared18]

Originally Posted by hiking_and_biking

I guess our camping experience would be considered more "luxurious" than basic. Here's our checklist:

Tent (one room)
Air Mattress (full size)
Sleeping Bags (2)
Pillows (2)
Lantern
Coleman grill, fuel
Kitchenware box (Always packed and ready to go, it has a pot to boil water and 2 each of cups, plates, forks, spoons and knives.)
Cooler
Food, drinks (Hot dogs, s'mores, hot chocolate, etc.)
Cards (Poker, Phase 10, Uno, etc.)

The cell phone comes along for emergency use only and stays in the car unless/until we need it.

You can judge if it's luxurious or not, I don't really care either way. We enjoy camping and take EVERYTHING we need to make it joyful. We're not hardcore "If it ain't rough, it ain't campin'!" kind of people, lol.

I could have written that posting. Sounds very similar to our camping list, except we add a screen house, tent heater, porta-toilet, and soon-to-be-included (for Christmas) shower system.

I agree. Even with these so-called luxuries, camping outdoors still beats a motel room by a country mile.

Bill

[Eaglescout 49]

I suppose my stainless steel martini glass is a luxury, although relying on a plastic cocktail shaker is really "roughing it."

[state_camper]

We've tried roughing it and discovered they call it rough for a reason, lol. We prefer a more luxurious camping trip, as we like having a bed to sleep on and a pot to... well, you get the idea.

[ppine]

I am amazed at the amount of people that equate car camping with radios, noisy kids, and rude people. It takes more creativity in some places to find peace and quiet. Things like camping mid-week, camping in the shoulder season, camping near old logging roads or getting permission to camp on private property or camping by boat. I grew up in the East as a kid. When I was 12, I camped on an island in Cheasapeake Bay for a week with 3 friends. We saw no one. We went back the next year and did it again. In the Boy Scouts, we had winter trips to sleep in old barns full of straw on private property