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“You don't stop laughing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop laughing.” 
― George Bernard Shaw

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A Senior Moment in Time: Glamping Verses Camping

4/30/2016

20 Comments

 
We set out for our first "Glamping Adventure" this past week. This would be our maiden voyage in our new fifth wheel. As Boomers it was quite surreal. We now own a home on our backs! It felt exciting and all, but I could not shake this underlying feeling as if we were not being totally honest some how.

You know...when you tell someone you are going camping, but in reality you know you are really going Glamping.

​Glamping is a more fancier type of camping. One has all the wonderful necessities of a home. Glamping consist of many niceties like a shower, to a flat screen, and not to forget a nice cozy bed to lay ones head. There is nothing hard core about it. Glamping has taken over the camping world! I have a thought, perhaps over time we may wish for the good ole' days or NOT!

Once upon a time we were camping in our tent and now we are in this large fifth wheel. When and where did our lives change? We would have never took this plunge in our younger years. Why take the fun out of camping? We turned our heads and suddenly the years flew by and before we knew it, we had signed on the dotted line to join the ranks of this Glamping club!

The good ole' days consisted of tent stakes, sleeping bags, gathering wood, making smores, and more! We would feel so close to the earth that we thought we could touch God himself. We would take out the old guitar and play a John Denver tune like Take Me Home Country Roads. We would sing so loud that our voices permeated through the trees. We were not concerned about waking the neighbors because they had already made their way over to us to join in the fun. Kumbayah moments only added to our wondrous camping adventures. We would march to the camp ground showers at the end of the day with a flash light in hand. When the sun went down, it brought a coolness to the air and we would stuff ourselves into our sleeping bags and fall into the camping dream land.

During our Glamping adventure, we had one night of bad storms and I could not help but be concerned for the  young couple in the pup tent with three dogs down from us. They worried me to no end. If they had come a knockin' we surely would have let them in. Bless their hearts...how will they survive through a Texas storm? Then it came to me like bolt of lightning! Those little darlin's will survive like we did...cuddled together and praying for it to pass. It was not too long ago that we too knew the real meaning of camping.

Glamping...it is a bit different. ​

​In our minds we could not cook by the fire as it "appeared" as if it might rain soon. Heaven help us if we should get a little wet! We should check out the news on the flat screen...just to see if it works you know. The news was on and surprisingly we could pick up some channels. We surely could not miss that! The showers were a bit too far so why not use the one in the fifth wheel. After all...that is why it is there right? We snuggled on our posturepedic mattress and listened as the air condition sung us to sleep. Glamping...there is nothing like it except home.

​While I so enjoyed the Glamping, I could not help but watch our neighbors sit by the fire and do all the things we used to do with primitive camping. I really did not have to do anything except pull myself up the stairs into the BIG GIRL!

​Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining, just acknowledging I am not in Kansas anymore. My knees and back no longer afford me the opportunity to camp in a tent and lay on the ground. I have accepted that I am now a Glamper, and have moved on into another phase of my life. I can not feel guilty, I just have to go with the flow.

There are other "Glampers" as well  and it is truly a different world. I noticed we check each other out in a quiet, observational fashion. We do not ask silly questions like how is the fish biting or where is the best place to find some fire wood?

Oh noooooo! We are wondering.... how long is your fifth wheel? How many slides? Is the bedroom in the front or back? What do you pull it with? Full or part time? Perhaps we may get around to introducing ourselves and share where we are from. We do partake in hikes, a little fishing, and even some Glampers take to the water in their  Kayaks. I mean we are not dead yet, we just do things a bit differently.

We will age and things will continue to  change and so will our wants and needs. I talked to a couple who had done the big fifth wheel and all that. They found over time that driving and setting up was a bit too much as they aged. They traded in their big fifth wheel for a modest little camper, which was so cute, and they still have the best of both worlds.

​Finding balance and what works is the key as we grow older. Change is not a bad thing when we are constantly learning and accepting where we are in life.  Perhaps one day we too will find this BIG GIRL is a bit too much, but for now...we will Glamp!
20 Comments
Vicki link
4/30/2016 11:01:32 am

Dear Kimmie,
I can truly identify with this. Many years ago we used to camp. But it's been a loooong time since then. My camping now is done in motels, lol. The reason is I just like comfort, and dislike the thought of being aroused by big black furry bears in our area. Unfortunately there've been several campers who've come off worst in their bear encounters.
But I have no regrets. Our backyard is just perfect for barbecue meals with friends.
Also in our area every summer campfires are banned owing to the drought situation.
But I did enjoy this post. I know how important camping is to many in North America. I am a deprived camper, as I wouldn't have done this in South Africa, so never experienced the delights you did!
Nice video, nice article. Cool memories for you.
Hugs to you!

Reply
Kimmie Thompson
4/30/2016 12:57:17 pm

Hi Vicki
I am bit frightened of bears so I think if we had the threat of them my camping days would have been numbered lol...we too have fire bans and it seems more frequently as the years pass by. Thank you so much for your comment. A vacation can be enjoyed many ways that's for sure.
Love and hugs
Kimmie

Reply
Charlotte
4/30/2016 08:38:49 pm

Great read, Vicki! Me too, no more sleeping on the ground, cooking over a camp fire, sweating bullets with no air conditioner. I am with ya! I never really enjoyed Roughing it anyway! Take care!

Reply
Kim Thompson
4/30/2016 09:16:23 pm

Thanks Charlotte for taking time to read. For us Glampers I do think this is the way to go...lol
Take care
Kimmie

Reply
Charlotte
4/30/2016 10:58:33 pm

Sooo sorry I called you Vickie! Please forgive! Talk about Senior Moments ...! Guilty! God Bless!

Kim Thompson
5/1/2016 04:19:52 am

Charlotte talk about senior moments I did not think twice...lol I thought we were all agreeing that we have moved passed the tent thingy. Have a blessed day too my friend.
Love and hugs
Kimmie

Reply
Martie link
5/4/2016 04:16:25 pm

Oh, isn't glamping everybody's dream? Retirement and going glamping are actually synonyms. But oh, down here in SA, camping as well as glamping have become too risky, actually perilous, as we are experiencing a plague of heartless criminals for the past 20 years!

Enjoy your glamping, dear Kimmie, and please, take us with you via pictures on FB.

Reply
Kimmie Thompson
5/5/2016 06:16:09 am

Thank you dear Martie! You know I tend to be fearful of unknown situations and there is so much stuff out in the world we have to be mindful of. I told my husband I want to stick to state parks and places that are well lit persay. Lol
Sad that it is questionable to even explore nowadays although many do and I admire their courage. Will post more adventures for sure.
Love and hugs
Kimmie

Reply
Sannel link
5/8/2016 01:31:34 pm

Dear Kimmie, as we get older we deserve glamping, so just enjoy it, dear friend and have fun and be comfortable. You have earned it! :)
Thank you for a fun read! :)
I wish you a happy and blissful Mother's Day!
Sending my love and hugs your way,
Sannel

Reply
Kim Thompson
5/9/2016 07:16:22 pm

Thank you dear Sannel. We are off to another Glamping adventure in a couple weeks. Love and hugs!!
Kimmie

Reply
Angelia Phillips link
5/8/2016 09:35:46 pm

Kimi,

You had me laughing with this one and your usual, stellar wit. :)

I loveeee camping in campers. Tents, not so much. They don't provide much protection against wildcats, bears and, of course, Squatches, lol!

Great read and congratulations on your maiden voyage in the Big Girl!

Reply
Kim Thompson
5/9/2016 07:17:40 pm

Hi Femme
Thanks so much for making me smile. We hope to have many more adventures to write about.
Love and hugs
Kimmie

Reply
Mike
5/10/2016 05:18:55 pm

Hi Kimmie - Enjoy the outdoors. It will be nice for the two of you when you have the time to get out on the highway and see America by road. Enjoy retirement. (Don't forget to bring pen and paper.)

Reply
Kim Thompsonhi
5/11/2016 08:30:13 am

Hi Mike thanks for stopping by. We wll look forward to longer trips for sure once Roy retires still got four years to go. :) one thing is for sure we have plenty of room when all the family comes. Lol
Take care my friend.
Kimmie.

Reply
Maria link
5/20/2016 05:33:34 am

Late to visit but also enjoyed reading the fun comments, dear Kimmie.

Glamping sounds like the way to go, for sure - you and Roy have the right idea. :)

Love you lots, mar

Reply
Kimmie Thompson
5/22/2016 08:31:41 am

Good morning Maria
We are Glamping as I type. Sitting here with a cup of coffee listening to the squirrels chatter. Thank you for coming by to visit. Lo e you muches!
Kimmie

Reply
Shauna
6/1/2016 11:56:01 am

Kimmie, I love the way you closed this wonderful post. It's all about balance and accepting the changes that take place as we age.

What's wonderful is you're still camping even if you're not doing it on the ground in a tent. I have very fond memories of camping as a young adult. The camaraderie amongst fellow campers can't be beat!

I really enjoyed this post. I hope to see more and maybe even some pictures of your adventures. I'd love to see what your glampmobile looks like.

Reply
Kim
6/1/2016 07:23:26 pm

Hi Shauna thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment. We are loving this Glamping it has opened up a new world for us.
Sending much love.
Kimmie

Reply
Sunday link
1/17/2017 12:48:13 am

I really enjoyed reading this. I am still in the camping category but hopefully I will start Glamping too. Thank you for sharing.

Reply
Kim
1/17/2017 06:40:17 am

Hello Sunday so happy you stopped by and thank you for your lovely comment. I am sure you will make tons of great memories camping and one day if you do become a Glamper...You will draw from all those wonderful memories when things were simpler and perhaps even more joyful! Remember it is never how big or luscious the big rig is....It is the heart and smiles it contains that make it special!
Big hugs
Kimmie

Reply



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