by Patrick Sills

Created on: September 18, 2008

During my childhood, I enjoyed camping frequently during the spring and summer months. A whole group of people consisting of my family and my father's co-workers' families would pick a state park with a campground. Everyone involved had a blast and it was always sad to see the weekend come to an end. These get-togethers took place during the 1960's and 1970's. Most of the families (including mine) used tents. They were and still are the most economical way to enjoy the outdoors. A few others had tent-trailers; otherwise known as popup campers. Still others used Volkswagen camper vans. Nobody within our circle of friends used what are typically classified as recreational vehicles; or RVs.

So why have I chosen the RV side? I do not like to assemble things. When we buy something such as bookshelves, a television stand, or a set of outdoor patio furniture, I'll gladly pay extra money to have these items put together. I don't enjoy following instructions like, "with a Phillips screwdriver, attach Figure A to Figure B as shown in the diagram."

Mechanical chores; regardless of how simple the task may be, are just not my thing. I therefore rate pitching a tent right up there with having a sinus infection. Let me put it another way: Have you ever tried to put an artificial Christmas tree together and look for what branches go where on the center? This is what setting a tent up reminds me of. In short, it's a pain in the part of the anatomy located just below the pelvic bone.

Moreover, those flexible poles that are used nowadays with elastic string connecting the sections are worthless because they break after about 72 hours of use. Each June, my Volkswagen Club has its annual show with a campout. I've been a member since 2002 and gone through three different tents. When those poles break, you can't just buy them separately, for that would be too easy. Instead, you have to buy an entire new tent. Perhaps my choice of inexpensive examples sold in the sporting goods department at Wal-Mart is the root of my problem, but I'm not going to pay upwards of $200 for a mere piece of canvas to protect me from the elements.

I have a funny feeling that I will be making use of camping equipment far more frequently in the near future. I am a longtime smoker, and when considering the way in which 60 million others like me have been treated for the past 15 years or so, it's just a matter of time before hotels and motels will close their doors to us. When this day arrives, I for one will

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