September 1, 2020

Camping During a Pandemic

By Mary Schricker Gemberling

“Look at life through the windshield, not the rearview mirror.”
……….Byrd Baggett

As many of you know, camping is a fairly recent addition to my list of favorite things to do. When I was just getting to know Gary, he mentioned that he had an RV and enjoyed camping. I was not overjoyed by this news as my camping experiences in my younger years had left a lasting and less than positive impression on me. In the early 1980s we owned property on the Wisconsin River near SpringGreen where we would often go tent camping on the flea infested sandy shores. My mental picture these many years later is still that of two little boys covered by sand and bug bites. The planning and packing took days, and the clean up afterward even longer. All in all I vowed to NEVER go camping again. Some 30 years later in 2010, on our way back from Florida, Gary and I stopped at an RV dealership in Alabama to pick up his recent purchase, a 40’ Winnebago. In an effort to act somewhat enthused by his new “toy,” I decided to take a look around while he completed his transaction. What I found was a roomy, well-designed living room with fireplace, bedroom and bath, both with ample storage, and a kitchen large enough to easily cook a gourmet meal. It was at that moment that I learned “never say never.” It did not take me long to realize the benefits of traveling in a home on wheels. No packing and unpacking as you move from place to place, food available whenever you want it, accessibility to a bathroom (even when you are heading down the highway), and the great outdoors just steps away.
During the last ten years we have seen many beautiful spots in the United States while RV-ing. It has come in handy while visiting family and friends in the Quad Cities and also as a guest house on our property when our home is bursting at the seams with visitors. Last year we downsized to a smaller 25’ RV, anticipating more US travel in the coming years.

In early August, stifled by Covid-19 restrictions and feeling the need to get away from the mundane, we decided to hop in the RV and head to southwest coast of Michigan in search of less humidity and fresh blueberries. After about an hour on the road I called to book two nights at a campground near a bike trail and within walking distance of South Haven. Much to my surprise the first three places I contacted were totally booked. We compromised and stayed in a couple of different places that had available sites.

What a difference a year makes! In August of 2019, a double-digit drop in RV shipments was seen as a warning sign that a recession might be around the corner. Because RVs are considered luxury items, sales are often considered a bellwether for economic anxiety. Here we are now in the summer of 2020, less than a year after RV sales were in free fall, and the trend has completely reversed. The RV market is the strongest it has been in decades. What accounts for this reversal of fortune?

After weeks of being stuck at home, Americans are starting to travel again, but they’ve shifted gears so they can spend more time outdoors yet have a safe, self-contained place where they can eat, sleep, socialize and have private bathroom facilities. RVs allow people to avoid crowds, and with many offering amenities such as TVs and cellular/satellite Wi-Fi, remote workers can even take their office on the road. Not only will regular campers be taking trips that were postponed or already planned, but other travelers also plan to replace trips that included air travel and hotel/resort stays with camping trips that will be safer, closer to home and more affordable. Americans love to travel, especially during the summer when kids are out of school, days are longer and weather is warmer. But the COVID-19 pandemic forced many Americans to
cancel or change their travel plans, particularly those that involve airline travel. The International Air Transport Association expects demand for air travel to remain low at least until 2023.

Now is definitely a good time to be in the RV business, and if you’re fortunate to already own one, now is a great time to hit the road. Which is exactly what Gary and I plan to keep doing!

Autumn is just around the corner and we have already begun to plan our ‘2020 Pandemic leaf peeping trip.’

“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us”
…anonymous

Mary, a former educator and Seniors Real Estate Specialist, is the author of three books: The West End Kid, A Labor of Love: My Personal Journey through the World of Caregiving, and Hotel Blackhawk; A Century of Elegance.

Filed Under: Personal Growth

Trackback URL: https://www.50pluslife.com/2020/09/01/camping-during-a-pandemic/trackback/