[A guest blog spot by ISS Managing Editor Drew Whitney.]
Its Saturday morning. Outdoors, bees and lawn mowers are buzzing. Inside, the familys buzzing toowith excitement. Todays the day were going camping!
This is our favorite pastime. When my husband and I met, we camped on one coast and then the other. We brought to the marriage several sizes of tents. Camping was always a sweet adventure until we had kids. Then it became a huge chore. Two kids meant tons of extra stuff, sweat and angst.
And then I had a brainstorm: Lets get a camper! If we didnt have to pack tents and pack-n-play cribs and sleeping bags and bottles and dishes and diapers into the back of our pick-up for a trip every time we wanted to set off into the wild blue yonder, maybe camping would become more doable (enjoyable?) again. So, between the No. 2 and No. 3 child, we splurged on a second-hand, but in perfect condition, pop-trailer.
Nothing gives me more joy than being in the great outdoors, hiking a trail with my family. Nobody vying for the window seat, spitballing or teasing. Something about nature knocks the teasing right out of kids. Theyre curious about everything around them. Theyre exercising and happy. And when siblings are at peace (read: not fighting), parents are happy.
Seems like Im not the only one who loves camping. According to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, camping is the top outdoor recreation activity of Americans. Another study, conducted for the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, tallies a record 7.2 million RVs on the highways and back roads of America.
Whats good for us is good for many. Moreover, its good for you too. Campers need places to store their stuff. Have you looked into possibly adding RV-parking spots and marketing to this viable group of potential tenants? Just a thought. Maybe you could ponder it while taking the family camping.
Gotta go pack the Hersheys, grahams and marshmallows now. More later