Part 1
I had never really gone camping until I was in my 20’s and the first time was with my daughters at a very young age. My youngest was only 5. I was their leader in Camp Fire for Girls and Boys. I knew nothing at all about camping. I borrowed books about camping, read about it on the computer, asked other campers how to do stuff. My first campout was with 17 kids. Talk about green… I borrowed a tent for all the kids because I did not even own a tent and discovered only the girls would fit in the tent. I ended up sleeping in my van. (Thank goodness I had a van.) I took out the seats and slept well, for a sort time. While setting up camp the girls were laying out their sleeping bags and who was going to sleep next to them. This worked out great until 2am when one of the girls woke up and thought someone had moved her in the middle of the night and began screaming at the other girls and woke up everyone in our tent and then proceeded to wake up the entire Camp Fire campground. We were not the favorite people that night. Not to mention the other adult I had brought along with me to help keep that many girls under control had taken a sleeping pill and slept through the whole thing.
Some of the parents had donated food for the trip. One item was a frozen long tube of hamburger, which I could not thaw out to make burgers until the second day. I did not own a camp stove so I made the coffee can and homemade sterno burners. What an experience that was. I had made 2 of these to cook on. I brought a cast iron griddle to cook on. Everything was all fine and dandy until I wanted to blow the burners out. No one had explained how to do that. I ended up throwing dirt on them till the fires went out. Sigh.. After this nightmare from hell you would think that I would never camp again. I bet you are laughing your head off at this story so far.
Many years later…after numerous camping trips… I am now back camping after not doing so for over 10 years. I realized after my build up for the glamping trip that maybe I should talk about camping as an empty nester and a grandparent. Camping as an older person you do not wish to camp as you did when you were 20 or 30 years old. At the age I am now (not telling) I am far more interested the comforts from home. I am still camping in a tent because I am not quite ready to move up to an RV. Not that I am not interested. It is something I will do someday. I do have a few suggestions for those who have not camped often, and older.
My thoughts on camping in a tent at an older age and glamping I suggest that you plan to camp at least 3 nights if not more. Due to the length of time to set up your glamping campsite.
My thoughts on camping in a tent at an older age and glamping I suggest that you plan to camp at least 3 nights if not more. Due to the length of time to set up your glamping campsite.
I think the very first thing you need to check into is a tent. After the last campout I think I will buy a new tent. My current tent is a good one but the problem I had was the door. My tent door I had to bend over so far to get through the door it made my back hurt. I will be looking for a tent I can stand up inside and a full-size door to go into the tent. For me personally I like at least a two-room tent. So, when the weather is not cooperating you have a place to go. Another suggestion is either a 24″ high air mattress or an air mattress on a cot. Spare no expense on this particular item. Nothing can replace a good night’s rest. I suggest this high because if you have any health issues with your legs at all you will need to be able to get out of the bed. You can put sleeping bags on the bed. But, as part of glamping I am using sheets and a comforter. I
I think the very first thing you need to look into is a tent. After the last campout I think I will buy a new tent. My current tent is a good one but the problem I had was the door. My tent door I had to bend over so far to get through the door it made my back hurt. I will be looking for a tent I can stand up inside and a full size door to go into the tent. For me personally I like at least a two room tent. So when the weather is not cooperating you have a place to go. The tent below can be found at Walmart. It is called the Ozark Trail and can sleep 12 people. But that means side by side.
Another suggestion is either a 24″ high air mattress or an air mattress on a cot. Spare no expense on this particular item. Nothing can replace a good nights rest. I suggest this high because if you have any health issues with your legs at all you will need to be able to get out of the bed. You can put sleeping bags on the bed. But, as part of glamping I am using sheets and a comforter. I also bring really comfortable pillows. The more the better for me. I am still working on buying all the items I want in the tent. When buying an air mattress be sure to check how it is pumped up. Do you need an outlet? Can you use a battery operated pump? Do you have to use a pump that plugs into your car lighter? Here are a couple of optional ideas for you. Both beds can be found at Walmart.
I also put folding tables on either side of the bed to put items there like glasses and such. There are all kinds of options for lighting next to the bed. Or you can also use stools that fold up. Good lighting is a must now, more so than when I was younger.
I am going to purchase the inter locking rubber mats for the floor of the tent and laying rugs on top of them. I know this is a bit much but I want to be as comfortable as I can inside of my tent.
Another thing to think about is where to camp and what your needs may be. If you are making reservations at a campground, try to see on line what the campsites look like. You really do not want to hike up hills with all this glamping stuff. You will be exhausted. Most tent sites do not have electrical hook ups. I say this incase you are a person that needs oxygen or cpap for the night. The oxygen machine is noisy . Or if like me you like to take your laptop and phones camping. I take tons of pictures and want to see them and edit them on my laptop where I am camping. Here is one option for you. Charges you phone with solar power by Sunjack.
I think some people may need to use a CPAP at night. Being able to plug in and use your CPAP or oxygen is a very real issue. I do not need these things as of yet but thought I would cover this subject. I did some research on this and found there are battery operated CPAP machines. There are small travel size machines. I found ones you plug in another one that was solar powered and even battery operated ones I found these on the internet in my search on travel size CPAPs.