Packing

So Im a crazy packer. Actually Im an "expert" Tetris player, so Im meant to be an amazing trailer packer. My husband and many others (sometimes even strangers at campgrounds) are always amazed when I set up at a camp site. I truly unfold in to our space for those days that we are there for. If its longer than 3 nights...I really unfold. People question how I've packed all that "crap" into our small trailer. Here is my top secret answer....lists of lists. List everything...list to your hearts content. I even keep my lists sometimes to see what I took to that campground last time...this is a whole other conversation though for another time. I have a trailer journal that keeps track of campground info, what we did, how much it cost, what facilities it had, and what spot we'd like to have the next time we go there. (again another conversation for another blog post)

Im a Taurus...which makes me a determined person, it also means I'm an organized person...therefor I write lists. Im such a list maker, that my husband jokes that I have lists of lists. Its the only way I know how to be. My Dad, also a Taurus is a lister too. I think I learned most of my list writing skills from my Dad. I make small empty boxes on each line of my list so I can check them off as I complete that task or put that item into the trailer.

People ask all the time how I get all that stuff into the trailer. Or some people even have the guts to harass me about the amount of stuff I have...but usually those people are the ones who have to borrow something from me. (you know who you are...)

My next blog post will be titled "Jen's Ultimate Trailer Camping Packing List" You might think its insane...but everyone will find something on that list that they add to their trailer...I can almost guarantee it. For example...instead of those little metal clips to hold the table cloth on to the picnic table...I use large flat bungee cords. Not all campgrounds have standard picnic tables, so the bungee cords will always work, where the little clips will not.

So...start listing now, start to think about your packing space, and what you'll need...as Im sure if you plan ahead the packing will go way better than you ever thought possible.

Back Story

So here we are January 8th...and already Im itching to plan camping trips for the summer. I'd really like this blog to be about my methods of camping, my packing skills, and locations to camp. 

Let me give you some back story here, we have an old smaller trailer. I think its 24 feet long...it weighs a million pounds, but it works ok for our little family of 3. Its old...like 1986 old. I'd like a newer trailer, but I wish I could go into a trailer place and build it from scratch like building a new house. I'd like to be able to do this and have it cost the same as the floor model. Since this is never going to happen, I make do with the one we've got, and I dream of a newer bit bigger trailer someday. We have a list of what we would dream to have in a trailer...and the list isn't totally crazy, lots of storage, room for Chevelle to bring a friend, and a bed set up that does not need to be put away every morning.

I've been a camper for ever. Truly I think the first time I camped I was 1. My parents were great campers, we had a few small trailers over the years and when we were 11 & 9 ish we sold the trailer to be able to afford a trip to DisneyLand! Camping changed for us after that trip...we became tenters!! I didn't hate tenting, but I can now look back and see how much work it was for my parents, and truly I prefer our Trailer to sleep in, but everything else we do is the same as tenting, we just have a vessel to put all the stuff in is all. I was in Girl Guides as a kid, and camped with that. Some of my best camping memories are from that time of my life.

I camped a bit as a teenager, and as a young adult. Tenting was the speed then for me...and I had it down to a science. Now here as a Mom, we have been camping with our now almost 6 year old daughter since she was 6 months old. We have had tried out 3 trailers. Borrowed a tent trailer from family, purchased our own tent trailer, and now we have our 1986 24 foot Prowler. Last year we our/my minivan grew up into a Ford F-150. Its our only "personal" vehicle, so its what I drive every day. I love "my" truck for all kinds of reasons but mostly because it allows me to go camping with Chevelle without the need to have the husband with me. My Dad gave me lessons on driving a truck and trailer when we had our tent trailer. I picked up the skill quite quickly...and it was easy to move up to the bigger trailer when we got it. The best thing about our set up is that I can drive the truck and trailer on my own, and if the husband is able to come out to meet us, he has a motorcycle that he can ride out to meet us.

So there is my back story...hope this blog makes you smile. I'll do my best.

~~Jen

So...a few ladies have asked me about what I like to do. What my hobby is...so here it is, I like to Camp. We have an older trailer, one daughter, one dog, and a husband that is too busy to do all of the work that camping takes.

So I do it. Almost all of it. On my own.

This blog will have all kinds of tips and info about Camping like I do.