Camping Changed Our Lives
It feels selfish to complain that we have missed camping so much during a global pandemic. There are obviously more important issues than missing out on a couple of hikes, grilled burgers, and campfires. We are weekend warriors and have a safe home to shelter in place. We were not caught in the middle of this like many full-timers trying to find an open campground. People across this country are sick, including some of our friends. Loved ones have died, including one of our own. Friends and family have been furloughed and are losing jobs. In a blink of an eye, Covid-19 has changed the world and impacted everyone. I have reminded myself a million times that I am lucky and we will get through this, that the true heroes of this are giving up way more than me, and that I can give up the luxuries of life for the greater good. And although this knowledge does not change that we desperately miss our camping trips, it does make us appreciate the trips to our state parks now more than ever.
We bought our first camper a little over a year ago and it changed the way we live our lives and our daily priorities. It is hard to believe this decision has such a huge impact on our lives, but the impact is undeniable. I find it hard to believe that we miss something so much that has only been a part of our lives for a year, but we do miss it. Buying a camper changed our lives.
When we head out on a camping trip it is an escape from reality and a new adventure. It means that the focus will not be on work, the internet, watching TV, completing household chores, or many other of life’s necessary responsibilities. The focus will be on our trip, exploring the area, and enjoying our time together. Reality is important and we do not want to permanently escape, but we need these breaks to recharge. Life is hard and stressful. It is especially hard right now. Everyone needs something they enjoy. When we get away for a weekend camping trip, we come back refreshed and ready to work harder and more productively.
I spend most of my time with my husband anyway, but camping has changed this to quality time. This is something that we both love to do, so when we get outside to explore we focus on those activities and each other without distractions. Honestly, as much as I love it, I love seeing how happy it makes my husband. It is as though a switch flips and you can watch him relax and the happiness flow over him. We enjoy hiking for miles in the state parks, canoeing in the springs, outdoor cooking, sitting by the campfires, and exploring the local areas. We plan delicious meals, s’more time, and beverages by the fire. We talk to each other and really communicate. We take our campfire time very seriously.
Camping allows us to explore and learn about Florida. We have a goal to stay at every Florida State Park that allows RV camping and explore the ones that do not. The diversity of Florida and the parks ensures that each trip will be exciting and offer new experiences. We have explored beaches, springs, forests, and so much more. With each new trip we find ourselves even more excited to see what else we will find at the next park. When we stay at a campground, we explore the park and the surrounding areas. We have seen manatees, deer, turtles, birds, alligators, and so many more of the amazing Florida wildlife. We have seen more of Florida in the past year, than I had in the previous ten plus years living in this state. We have explored cities like Cedar Key, St Augustine, and Amelia Island. We discovered quality little towns such as High Springs, while exploring some of Florida’s best springs. We have seen the local culture and experienced the history that created the Florida we know today.
Getting out and exploring created an inspiration to dream bigger and expand our interests. This really snuck up on us and I am not even sure we realized it happened. Our camping trips give us adventure, a sense of purpose, and a way to better deal with the stresses of life. It has helped us to focus on the things that are most important to us and to better appreciate the things that we have in our lives. It has just made us happier and we have focused that energy into all aspects of our lives. As a bonus, Matt has used his photography skills to document our travels with beautiful pictures, he has built our website to share our stories, and I have started blogging about our adventures. We love sharing our adventures with others who are already exploring themselves or thinking about starting on this adventure. We have a goal to write a book about exploring Florida one campsite at a time. We have found something that we love to do that makes our lives better together.
Does all this sound familiar to you? Has camping made your lives better? I imagine that many of you feel the same way which is why RVing has become so popular and why we miss it so much. For now, we wait for the state parks to reopen to get out on that first camping trip post-quarantine. We wait with excitement as we start to see parks open and hope that the campgrounds quickly follow that path. Until that happens, we will keep safe and follow the rules. We will flip through pictures of past trips, while planning future trips. I will try to be grateful for my life and I will try not to throw too many child-like temper tantrums. I likely will not be successful all the time. So hopefully our favorite campgrounds will open soon and we will be back adventuring again.
