You know how you always told yourself, “Someday, I will travel the world.” Well, that someday arrives with retirement. Whether you want to journey in an RV, spend time in a cabin, or experience tent camping, now is the perfect time to live your dreams.
If you never had a chance to experience camping when you were younger, the idea probably seems exciting but intimidating. Even if you had experience camping, you may need to adjust old habits to account for your changed physical capabilities and needs.
Camping is a great way to break up a routine or spend time outside with grandkids, so do not let hesitation stop you. Use these tips to make camping even more fun and get ready to enjoy this new phase of life under the big open sky.
Update to Newer Camping Gear
If you have not camped in a while, there is good news! Companies invested in large-scale research and development, so gear is now lighter, more efficient, and more comfortable. Tents became almost featherweight, jackets are warmer, and you may be surprised at the camping food options available.
Upgraded LED flashlights provide more light, are rechargeable, and often weigh less than older light sources. If you consider a new camping flashlight, you want to get a few different kinds of them. Headlamps, which keep your hands free, are strongly recommended. You are also less likely to misplace them somewhere.
Newer camping tents have easy-to-assemble aluminum poles, and most are practically impossible to rip. For new sleeping bags, down fill provides lightweight, ultra-softness, and poly fill provides insulation even when wet. If you run cold, consider mummy sleeping bags that provide excellent heat efficiency. However, if you like to take up space and feel physically more mobile in bed, then consider a side-sleeping bag that offers more room.
Get Comfortable
While you read tips on camping light, you probably notice that this often involves giving up on comforts. For instance, you may read of several people who do not carry sleeping pads because they want to minimize the weight they carry.
While this works for them, we recommend that you prioritize comfort. People camp for several reasons, including endurance testing. However, when you have a long working career behind you and maybe raised a family, your goal likely is not to prove endurance.
Now, it is time for you to enjoy the outdoors while also being comfortable. Pack a comfortable chair, take an inflatable mattress, and invest in a camping pillow. Do not deny yourself these everyday comforts because these change the entire tone of your experience.
Another thing that elevates comfort in camp is a tall tent. A high ceiling means you do not stoop over while inside the tent. Ask any younger person, changing clothes inside a small tent is amusing at best and irritating at worst!
Canopy tents provide almost-vertical sidewalls and are excellent for moving about inside freely. However, you probably need help to put them up. Otherwise, a large instant tent is a viable option, but these are designed more for car camping.
Devote More Time to Planning
When you were young, you surely were more impulsive. Everyone remembers stories of how a Friday evening party turned into a long weekend road trip.
However, as people age, they understand the value of planning. They also need to prepare for different situations. While a younger person is energetic in the morning (even if they spent the night shivering in their camp), as an older person, you don’t want to experience that.
Consider in advance the type of gear to bring and medications to carry. Additionally, look at some plans for satellite phones to use in off-grid locations. With so much to consider, it is good to carve out plenty of time to strategize every aspect of the trip.
Another reason to allow more time for strategizing is to find a great campsite that offers electricity. While some prefer to unplug in nature, others like to bring electric-powered comforts. Mini fridges, swamp coolers, and fans make camping easier, and you may need to bring these items to be comfortable while away from home.
Do not think twice about roughing it on a camping trip. By spending more time planning, making yourself comfortable, and updating your gear, you (re)experience the joys of breathing fresh air and sleeping under the stars.
