By Gail Marsh
The conversation around the campfire a few nights ago took a whimsical turn. Someone asked the question, “If you had a magic wand, how would you use it for RVing?” The resulting discussion was unexpected and entertaining at the same time. Listen in and you’ll see what I mean.
RV campsites
Frank began, “I’d use a magic wand to make every campsite a pull-through. Parking my travel trailer can be so stressful. It starts our vacation off on a sour note every time!”
June added, “Well, I’d wave the wand to make every campsite nice and wide … wide enough for a picnic table and fencing for my dogs. Oh! And I’d also make it level and shady.”
Nods all around. Seems like that magic wand would be really helpful at campsites.
Rig magic
“I’d like to wave a magic wand over our motorhome so that it wouldn’t break down!” Harold exclaimed. “Or, if it did need work I could ‘wave’ myself to the front of the line for repair at my RV dealership.”
Several folks said they’d use the magic wand to make more accessible storage inside their RVs, change the dated décor, and magically perform maintenance duties on their rigs without lifting a finger.
The RV experience
“I’d wave the wand and return camping prices to what we paid for RV campground sites a decade ago, Ruth suggested. “RVing today is getting really expensive.”
I dittoed Ruth’s suggestion and added lower fuel prices to the magic wand’s duties.
How about you? If there was a magic wand for RVers, how might you use it? Please respond in the comments below.
Last week in “Around the Campfire”
##RVT1074
We just need RVs that are small on the outside and big on the inside
Just what the Dr. (Who) ordered!
Yep, a 35’ motorhome with the storage of a 45’ one.
Sorry, I don’t read fiction!
RV’s as well built and reliable as my Tundra.
Ha! No maintenance sounds great! However I have seen plenty of weekender campers who seem to think that is reality, no magic wand needed. No wonder they think they are ‘roughing it’. What’s the old saying about maintaining horses in regards to rode hard and put away wet? Fortunately we meet many more people with well maintained rigs who tend to be a lot less grumpy and happy to meet other people.
My magic wand would turn down the “BOOM BOX” next to me at the campsite.
“I get no respect” as the saying goes, with outdoor loud speakers.
I’d use the wand to make dog owners not let dogs off leash and clean up after the dog.
A magic wand to make obtaining camping reservations a much easier process!
I’ve been campaigning for a lottery system at the super popular parks. John Pennekamp State Park in Florida is a prime example.
I’d wave my magic wand to take us back to the years between 2017-2021 when everything was good and our country was safe from our enemies. I know that’s semi political, so give me 50 demerits.
Hopefully, we’ll never see those days again!
I would love to go back to that time period.
2017 – 2021?? you mean yesterday??? I’d wave my wand to the 1950s / 1960s..
Notwithstanding where this wouldn’t give the best views I’d like sites to be oriented so the passenger/awning side faced east or southeast. Most people spend more time sitting outside in the afternoon and evening when it’s hottest than the morning. This orientation uses the R to shade us from the Sun.
I would use it to make HOA’s more understanding and RV friendly. Right now , I have a 19 g Majestic that fits comfortably on my driveway in my sub-division (Providence Manor in Matteson ), Illinois. I have asked for some concessions during RV season and these folks won’t budge. Next thing is I get an attorney.
You have wheels, move.
I would make all sites pull-thru
A mom n pop campground just when I need it, just before I get tired. One about every 500 miles.
3oo miles.
I too would lower the prices on all the shady, spacious, pull-thru sites. Camping ain’t cheap anymore folks!
Wave my magic wand to get rid of all the haters. They don’t like fires, kids having fun, people laughing, music, bicycles, golf carts, anything that invades their peace and quiet. They should boondock only.
Agreed, but I’m not sure that in some cases the expectation of common courtesy constitutes hate.
I don’t mean to be snarky, but I would wave my magic wand at all the people who complain about things over which none of us has any control. Campsite fees and fuel prices increase, just like the prices of food and other products. This is 2023, soon to be 2024, and reminiscing about how good it was in some previous time isn’t going to bring it back. Prices and times are what they are. My magic wand would sing out what I have seen on bumper stickers…..Quityerbitchin’.
Agree with Carl. My first purchase of gas in my first vehicle cost 35cents for an imperial gallon ( + – 5 quarts)…but my weekly pay was of about $75…as a teacher. Do the same math with the price of cars, houses, rv’s, etc. Results are astounding.
Carl, some people would not be happy if they weren’t unhappy.
A ” chain” of Just the Night campgrounds. Water, electric and pull through.
Nothing else, maybe a dump and trash can.
This thread should be titled, “If Wishes Were Horses, Beggars Would Ride.”
Or, as Grandpa Gustafson said in the movie Grumpy Old Men: “You can wish in one hand and cr@p in the other and see which one fills up first!”
If horses were wishes, then you would have to learn to ride. (Imagine all those grumpy people on horses.)
Wave the wand to morph the RV for any situation. POOOF…its a 4WD Class B or pickup camper for getting into far off spots in the mountains, then POOOOF, it’s a 45′ motorhome for a beach resort. POOOOF…it’s a toy hauler…….
A return to family business campground ownership with stable & consistent management and regular maintenance, and with quality guest experience taking precedence over corporate branding slapped over shoddy infrastructure.
If I had to occasionally stay in a campground, I’d want generous space and privacy vegetation between the sites. No screaming kids and barking dogs. Not having to listen to my inconsiderate neighbor’s music or outdoor television watching.
One wave and I would change every pet owners mindset to clean up after their animals without giving it a thought. I can’t tell you how many times we pull into a great looking campground and the first time we walk the dogs we see poop everywhere. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY!
My wish would be that we had plenty of qualified techs to work on our rigs and that there were no supply chain problems!
Thank you, Gail! Sadly, I would use my magic wand in a way that ultimately would benefit no one beyond DW and me (unlike all the campground upgrades and price reductions mentioned above). 🙁 I would transform our RV barn (shed really as it only has a roof suspended by several 6″ x 6″ posts) into a well-lit, fully enclosed, heated, and cooled storage facility impenetrable, especially by any rodent or bird.
This is a tough question. I’ve had some beautiful sites that if they were pull through or wider or more/less vegetation, it would have made them less. I’ve had some great sites that if cheaper/closer/more accessible, they would have been much more crowded. If gas were a nickel a gallon, I’d be on the highway more than cherishing destinations. If breakdowns never occurred, trips would become episodic. Headwinds are just fresh air in disguise.
If I had a magic wand, I think I’d use it to take pictures for me of things I want to capture but too slow or not ready to get. And a peanut butter sandwich. I mean, come on, who doesn’t like PB&J?
I would wave the wand to go back 40 years when you could travel and not worry about where your reservation is. Just drive to a CG and pull in. No hassle finding a spot.