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Let's be honest. It's not so much about tents versus RVs, but a question of age and money. Carrying a tent is great when you're young and fit, out and about hiking or cycling. A holiday on a budget might just about include a destination you fly to, but won't stretch to hotels or hiring some mobile accommodation, so hopping on a local bus or train with a tent on your back is the only option.

Camping in a small tent is a brilliant adventure which teaches you a lot about yourself. When limited to just a few kilograms of luggage, will you take an extra change of clothes or another book? Make-up or first-aid kit? Salt or sugar?

After a while you get older, acquire a car, responsibilities, maybe a few children. Your time becomes more precious and camping has other challenges. It's no longer about thrill or discovery, but also about relaxation and family time. Which games to take? Pastimes for a rainy day - or three. Mum's orthopedic pillow.

Those people who enjoyed being close to the ground, who were o.k. to improvise meals, who giggled when they had to shelter in the shower block from rain at three o'clock in the morning - it's them who will still want to go camping when they're older. Some strong, healthy individuals out there will continue to carry their tent on their back, especially if they don't have children or, if they do, their offspring are old enough and willing to schlep stuff themselves. For each of them, though, plenty of others will no longer be able to slum it. For most of us, health problems, the needs of their children, the necessity to rest more will eventually rule out a traditional camping holiday in a tent.

How can you recapture the magic of camping, relive the immediacy, experience the intensity of life? You can't retain all of it, but RVing is the viable alternative. I hope you'll be able to afford it when the time comes. RVing has a lot of the original features, it's manageable and still a very personal way to travel and explore. You know you've kept the spirit when your children go off on their first independent camping holiday - with a tent.

Learn more about this author, Judith Otto.
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