Amy Jo.....ON THE GO: August 2013

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Keep Calm and Enjoy Camping

I have so many memories of going camping when I was younger. Watching all of the adults sit around the fire singing songs, the smell, roasting marshmallows, listening to the bugs at night.

But somewhere along the line as I grew into adulthood, camping no longer seemed fun. I like convenience and I hate public restrooms to put in bluntly.

Fast forward many years later to when I met my now husband. Prior to his accident that left him paralyzed, he was an avid camper. I have to admit that I was thankful he was no longer able to do this, as I don't think for one second I could have gone along. The bugs, the cold nights, the outhouses....ewwww, gross!

But then a few things happened. Mainly, my parents bought a travel trailer. And not just a travel trailer....a trailer big enough for my husband to be able to get around in his wheelchair. And a bed just perfect enough for him to sleep in.

Obviously, this got the wheels spinning in my husbands mind that he was going to camp again. He's not one to let his disability get the best of him, so I knew I was going to lose this battle.

Fortunately, the trailer has most of the modern necessities that I require....air conditioning, flat screen tv with cable, a dvd player, a full shower with hot water, electricity, a fridge, microwave, stove and oven. Most of you won't consider this "camping", but for me, it allowed me to stick my feet in the big, scary camping water and test it out.

I LOVE IT!!!!! We have now gone camping twice. Once with my parents and once on our own. I'm already counting down the days to Labor Day weekend because we are going again! Who would have thunk it?

And to make it easier for my husband, we purchased some portable wheelchair rails so he can go in and out of the trailer as much as he wants.

Testing out the new rails before heading out

The dogs have done so well and are much better behaved than we could have imagined they would be. I was so afraid that Stewie would bark at EVERY.SINGLE.NOISE which then causes Lainey to follow suit. Fortunately, that has not been the case!