Convince Your Spouse to Go Camping

Convincing Your Spouse to go Camping!!!
If you grew up camping but your spouse did not, you may have an issue to resolve. I was somewhat in this situation. I’m a lifelong camper, yet my wife grew up in a family of non-campers. I guess you could call it a mixed marriage: campers vs. non-campers.

Here are a few tips on how you can bring your spouse over to “The Other Side!!!”
The trick is to convey to your spouse the tranquil feeling you have when you are camping. Words can’t explain it, but give it your best shot.
 

Relax:
Relax and enjoy still of the night as you are sitting around the campfire gazing at the stars. Cooking and dining outside, every meal is like a picnic. And we can’t ignore the old cliché: a long walk on the beach. If you camp near a beach, you will actually take the time to do this. And you thought it was only in the movies!

We like to find the ocean at least once a year, and I can promise you that we stroll along the beach no less than once a day. It is the most peaceful time; it’s like your mind leaves your body and drifts back in time. Our oldest daughter and I walk the beach every morning just as the sun is rising (while the others rest). Our youngest daughter is more of a night owl, so we hit the sand again for a long walk to the fishing pier as the sun sets.

You just don’t take the time to relax and experience these things at home. You’re too busy with the honey-do-list, the gardening, and trying to compete with the neighbors’ landscaping that you don’t stop to smell the roses. Yes, pun intended! So convince your spouse that the house will be there when you return, and you’re halfway there.

Compromise #1:
Apparently compromise is part of your marriage contract anyway, so why not apply it to camping? You like the mountains and fishing, but your spouse wants to catch a few rays at the beach. Try it his/her way for a while and then rotate the destinations.
 

Compromise #2:
You like to backpack 3 miles into the woods with a teeny tiny tent for 2, freeze-dried food, and a fishing pole. Your spouse is a vegetarian whose idea of a casual shoe is a 2” heel. Not sure why you 2 got married in the first place, but you have some work to do in the camping arena. Better settle on no less than a popup, but I highly recommend a 24 FT RV minimum, with a dinning slide-out and color TV. You can still bring your fishing pole, and she will have her creature comforts.

No Workaholics Allowed!
There is no sense in taking your spouse to a beautiful camping resort and then spending 8 hours on the cell phone and the wireless internet. You can do that at home. Tell the boss you are punching out for the weekend. If you are the boss, leave someone in charge and tell them not to call unless the building is on fire. Hit the pool, the beach, or just sit and relax.
 

Rent, Borrow, or Steal!
OK, don’t steal, but if your spouse is still not convinced that you should purchase the big RV, then try renting one for the weekend or borrow one from a close friend. He/she will be hooked.
 

Family Time:
 If you have children, camping will bring you closer as a family than any other activity, including the weekly sports leagues. Yes, the soccer, football, and baseball are fun, but you don’t seem to bond with your kids at the games like you will when you are camping.

At the campground sitting around the fire with your kids, they just seem to open up. There are no distractions, no TV, and no Super Mario. Your kids will tell you stories that you would otherwise never hear. Conversely, you will find yourself sharing your innermost secrets from your youth. Funny stories the kids will want to hear over and over at every campfire.
Your kids will cherish their camping memories forever.
 

Lucky Me!!!!!!!!
I was fortunate in that my wife had some exposure to camping with her childhood buddy. She had a chance to see firsthand how relaxing camping can be, so it was an easy sell. In fact, call us country if you like, but we actually camped on our honeymoon. I bet ours was better than most. No dumpy hotels, no airplanes, and no rental cars to deal with, and our 4 week cross-country holiday cost about the same as your single week on an island somewhere.

Yes, we are campers at heart!