Camping
Fun for the family.
I'm not one who quite regularly packs up the vehicle with all the essential camping gear, an array of food, and trusty bug spray to set out for a state park site nestled somewhere in the great outdoors. However, our family does know the camping routine pretty well, having spent plenty of time together in nature, enjoying the beauty and serenity it has to offer.
Just a few weeks ago, our kiddo (who is on the verge of becoming an adult!) and Sarah took the initiative to venture out to Garner. Kyle and I did not go for overnight, but we happily met up with them there for a day filled with shared meals, laughter, and memories. We savored wonderful lunch and dinner together, indulged in delicious s’mores, and even took the opportunity to break in Kyle's new Mahjong cards. This outing is particularly special—a unique chance to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, sit outside under the open sky, put down our computers and other work obligations, and simply enjoy each other's company in a way that feels refreshingly rare.
Camper camping life.
For a while, I've been clamoring for a camper to take out on our adventures. For the longest time, the vision I had in mind was the Bean teardrop trailer. Teardrops are compact and convenient. The inside sleeper area is cozy and comforting. The back hatch opens up to a kitchen where, in many cases, you'd find a sink and even a stovetop. You'd also probably find a space for a cooler or, with the Beans, the option to install a refrigerator cooler.
To test out this lifestyle, we rented a teardrop (not a Bean) during a trip to Goliad State Park during a solar eclipse event. For breakfast, we cooked French toast from some a homemade sourdough loaf I made at home before the trip. Then we had a pastrami sandwich for lunch. I believe dinner was a stew that we made over the campfire in a Dutch oven.
These days, I'm not so much clamoring for the Bean camper, but the Happier Camper, with its retro stylings and a bit more space inside. The Happier Camper comes with a modular system where the block cubes inside can be arranged in any number of positions to make a bed, seating, a dinette area with a table and the cubes for chairs around the table, and with some models like the Studio, a permanent kitchen and even a bathroom/shower. The classic Happier Camper, the HC1 as shown below, has a sink/stove combination that can be situated among the modular cube system.
I believe I would truly enjoy this lifestyle. However, the real question is whether I would cherish it enough to take it camping multiple times or even once a month. I would hate to spend that kind of money to not see its full potential. It’s akin to owning a boat—how often does a boat owner actually go out to the lake?
But I do adore our camping moments, and I love that our family has been able to enjoy doing it the old-fashioned way with just a tent, a picnic table, and some good 'ole ingenuity. Going back to Boy Scout and Texas Outdoor Family days, it's been something that we've done together in the spirit of making memories and being together. It's especially nice during the spring weather in Texas and of course the summers too when we're brave enough to bear the heat.
the eat. drink. life. chronicles
