Lessons from camping

Have you ever unwittingly made your life harder than it needed to be? And then had a good laugh at yourself when you realized how foolish you were being?! I have a million times but I still continue to do it. This past week I had six days to kill between airbnbs that I had booked. I was planning on camping around western North Carolina and North Georgia for this time. I had lived in the area many moons ago and knew it was beautiful and worth exploring.

I made a lot of assumptions as we all do when preparing for a trip. Most glaringly, I assumed camping in this area of the country would be the same as camping in the west. I have spent the past ten ish years perfecting the art of camping in the mountain west. I prided myself on always being able to find places to camp that were beautiful and quiet but most importantly free. I felt like it was unnatural to pay to sleep outside. And I strongly dislike camping where I can hear and see other people.

So I started the week doing my research and finding a great camp spot that checked all the boxes. It was quiet, easy to get to from town, next to a beautiful stream, felt incredibly safe and of course, was free. I definitely lucked out with this spot and soaked up three lovely nights here without seeing a soul.

But I felt like it was time to explore a new area so I packed up and headed to my next well researched spot. The first spot I checked was a bust. There were what looked like permanent camps close that made me feel a bit uneasy. My next spot seemed great at first but after a bit of an incident involving finding a pool noodle and spray cheese wiz the next morning, I didn’t want to stay another night. (After writing that, I’m realizing that sounds really bad, it was innocent fun) Don’t worry mom, I was safe the whole time.

So yet again, I packed up and set off to find another spot. I checked on three spots and each of them didn’t feel quite right for one reason or another. As I drove back into town to get service again, I felt a bit dejected. I must be doing this wrong if I can’t find a simple campsite for the night.

That’s when I stepped back and asked myself why it was so important that I find a place I can camp for free? Why can’t I just go to one of the dozens of fee sites that have clean bathrooms, hot showers and all the amenities? Why did I believe it was so important that I found a hidden gem of a spot on my own?

I realized my pride was getting in the way. I lost sight of why I love to camp. It’s not because it is a free place to stay. Even though I am more conscious of how much I spend since I am no longer making an income. I saved for this year and have plenty of funds.

I camp because I get to be closer to the wild. I get to disconnect from the real world for a bit and just be. Sleeping outside, under the stars, (or more often in the rain this week) I feel more myself in a way I cannot quite express. It doesn’t really matter where it is, whether or not I paid $20 for it or if I drove up a sketchy dirt road to find it.

So sitting in a grocery store parking lot in Hayesville, North Carolina, I quit making my life more difficult than it needed to be. I called the local KOA and booked a spot for the night. The guy laughed at me for pitching my tent in the rain but obliged none the less. And less than an hour after I got there, the sky cleared and the sun came out just in time for a beautiful sunset. As I was walking back to my tent after a luxuriously hot shower, I couldn’t help but laugh at myself.

Why did I not consider this camping!? I’m still in a tent, under the stars, next to a beautiful river. There isn’t anything wrong with the fact that I also had wifi, heated bathrooms and hot showers. I’m allowed to expand my definition of camping. Just because I would not choose this in Colorado, it doesn’t mean I have to operate the same way in a new place.

So often we rigidly stick with what we know and believe to be the truth. But the frustrating thing about truth is, it is relative. Of course, when I make my way back west this summer, I will 100% find free dispersed camping every chance I get. But while I’m here, in a place I am just figuring out, holding rigidly to my perception of what camping should look like does not serve me well.

So for my last two nights I booked a quiet little spot in a state park tucked into the hills of northwest Georgia. I can’t tell you the flood of relief that washed over me as soon as I knew where I was going to sleep the rest of the week. I didn’t even realize the mental energy that was going into trying to find a safe place to pitch my tent until that moment. I was definitely making my life more challenging than I needed.

I guess the moral of the story is that it is okay to change your mind. It is okay to take care of yourself and choose the easier path. And also, don’t let your beliefs blind you to why you are taking the action in the first place.

The beautiful thing about camping in early spring is that the campsites that will be full all summer, are ghost towns right now. So I can’t see or hear anyone around me, just the creek gently flowing near by. Just the way I like it.