Two Week Test
Russ & I had been on several “weekend-warrior” style camping trips, but we had not been in the camper for more than a week at a time. As an excuse to vacation for two whole weeks instead of one, we decided it was necessary to do a two week test of trailer living. Don’t worry, a two week test in camping is much different than a two week test in say physics or calculus. We had chose to use Castaways outside of Ocean City, MD as the location of our test. It was a familiar campground, as we had spent a week here last year during our maiden year of camping. Due to this being our annual family vacation, the anticipation and excitement grew in the weeks leading up to the trip. Meals were planned, beach chairs packed, and the big truck was making its first trip as a tow’er. Russ towed our travel trailer & bikes with the big truck while I followed behind in the Yukon towing our jet boat. As Mike would say, we looked like professional fun-havers - we were just missing a few kayaks!
While we were calling this a test trip of whether we could truly live in a camper, we weren’t overly concerned about it not working out. We had 6 sites and created a nice compound to enjoy through our time at Castaways. Denny & Judy, Jay & Karen, The Kapustas, The Wamplers, and the DeWalds all arrived, unhitched, and got ready to create great memories! The first week consisted of morning walks, bike rides, water aerobics, big breakfasts, beach trips, afternoon reading (often turning into afternoon naps), boat rides, dinners that stuffed ya’, campfires and way too many trips to the ice cream store! We spent many hours on the bay beach located at the campground as well as the pool & hot tub often more than once a day! Located conveniently to both Ocean City & Assateague Island National Seashore provided options for different styles of beaches to visit as well.
As the first week came to a close, some of our friends and family had to leave to go home. While we were sad to see them leave, it was so refreshing knowing we had another week of “test-taking” ahead of us. As our neighbors would come and go and the grass grew higher around our trailer, we were certain we had made the right decision booking two weeks. Week two was filled with much the same as week one. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. We may have even visited the ice cream store more during week two (which I didn’t think was possible)! Aaron & Kylie impressively downed large sundaes & shakes like champs - thanks to Grandma & Grandpa DeWald! $50 and 12 lbs later - the ice cream trips had to stop for the good of our waist and wallet!
The second Saturday morning was rough when the time had come to hitch up and leave our little slice of paradise. On our drive home, Russ & I talked about how we typically are sad a vacation is over, but are happy to be back home. As we pulled the camper back toward Limerick, PA, we didn't have that same feeling. We had our home with us this time, while not our sticks & bricks home, it still had everything we needed! This was just the reassurance we were looking for to pursue our dream of Full-Time RV living!
