 What's the first thing you need for a few days camping trip? For us it's our 35ft. Class A motor home, but some people enjoy camping outdoors in a tent or under the stars. It's up to the individual, just whatever you prefer. How ever you choose to camp, the first thing you need to do is make a list. I made a list on my computer in Word Perfect and saved it. That way I can print it out each camping trip and add and subtract to it if I need to. I don't think I've ever subtracted anything from it but I've added a few things over the years.
I have three columns and I seem to be adding more to the first column than the others. Column one is what to take in the way of clothes, shoes, medicines, make up, shampoo, medicines, hair dryer, curling iron, medicines (you get the idea by now that we are getting older), bug repellents, sunscreen, etc. The second column consists of food, cooked and uncooked, bread, cookies, cakes, fruit, tea, water, ice, coffee, dog food, dog treats, etc. The third column consists of what to turn off and lock up in the house and out buildings before we leave.
We feel we need to turn the water off to the hot water heater and the cold and hot water off to the washing machine. Don't want to come back to a flooded house if a fitting or pipe bursts! Raise the bail on the ice maker so the ice bucket doesn't overflow. We turn down the heat in the winter and turn up the air conditioner in the summer. Why waste money heating and cooling an empty house?
Ok, let me check my list, is everything checked off? Oops, forgot the dog kennel and the most important thing, money! Ok, got that taken care of so we are ready to roll. Did I make reservations for this campground we are going to? Oh yes, I remember, I stuck them in the campground guide. Did I remember to take that off the dinning room table where it was waiting til the last minute? Unhook seat belt, get out of seat and stagger through the motor home as it's moving down the road (hard to keep your balance when it's in motion) find cabinet where I keep things such as campground guides, maps, etc. Yep, there it is, we don't have to find a parking lot to turn around in and go back home to retrieve the reservations. Whew, close one, husband is glaring at me, (better keep your eyes on the road buddy.)
What did you say? Did I check the refrigerator to see if it changed from electric to propane? Unhook seat belt, get out of seat, stagger through living room to kitchen, holding on to furniture and walls, (this bad boy is in motion remember). Yep, the light's green it switched to propane like it was suppose to, isn't that wonderful. Stagger back to passenger seat, sit down, buckle up and glare at husband. Dang, now I have to go to the bathroom. Unhook seat belt, get out of seat stagger through living room, trip over dog, she yelps but is ok, through the kitchen into bathroom. Get the job done (and it's no easy feat to pull up jeans while holding on to sink, while in motion). Stagger back through motor home holding on for dear life, sit down in seat, buckle up, and husband says "did you remember to turn the pump off?"
JB Moore
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