I don't know about you (so please let me know), but I for one feel like I've been experiencing the full range of human emotions in the past few months. The grief, the fear, the hopefulness, the hopelessness, the uncertainty, the joy in the little things, the crippling boredom, the lack of job security, the fear for my family and friends, everything and then some. Fortunately, I haven't allowed all this time indoors to make my anxiety worse. I've been doing some research and found out that it's now possible to get a medical card online in the USA in states where medical stuff is legal, like Georgia! This means that those of us who suffer from anxiety can seek relief without even having to leave our homes. Countries shutting their borders really freaked me out (though I'm sure it was one of the best ways to stop the spread of corona). It freaked me out partly because I love travel, partly because my job depends on me travelling, but mostly because it was so easy for one of our greatest freedoms - the freedom to travel - to be taken away from us. I was worried it would never return.
Camping After Covid
But enough about me and my crippling anxiety... ever the mathematician (slash tarot reader), I've been obsessively looking at travel trends and wondering what will happen after COVID-19 is officially over. I've been listening to what people are craving, what they've learnt during these hard times and, okay well, I'll be honest - I'm cheating a bit by looking at countries where they're starting to relax restrictions and I've been paying attention to what they're up to: Although the eye of the media is fixated on the USA at the moment (Travelling Weasels supports Black Lives Matter) and to a lesser extent the UK (go Bristol!) the country where I am (Hungary) and it's neighbours seem to be relaxing the restrictions and predicting no second wave. So, what's everyone doing? CAMPING!! But why?
#1. CAMPING IS A GREAT WAY TO WORSHIP NATURE
Over and over for the past few months I've heard a uniting want - no matter if it was from the furloughed forced to stay inside or the key workers forced to work and then stay inside the rest of the time, one thing is clear: people want to go back to nature. I was not surprised:
I had this boyfriend once who laughed when I said I was busy with work "don't you just watch Netflix all day" he laughed. Dumbass. I don't even have Netflix. My point is, I knew before many of you that sitting on your butt all day watching Netflix is fine for like a day or two, but gets tedious very, very quickly. That's when you start going outside and exploring this beautiful planet of ours. Additionally, nature got better whilst we were away, or rather whilst the cars were away.. the quality of the air is incredible at the moment, making me wonder why cars aren't illegal all ready... Okay, I appreciate that they are essential for many: For example Alicante, on the Costa Blanka, with it's palm tree flanked boulevards and sea breeze is perfect for camping, but due to it's unfriendly pedestrian slash public transport vibe you might find that hiring Alicante cars to get to your campsite may be an unavoidable necessity for you. Although we're super anti cars.
Anyway, back to this actual point. Camping is, in my humble opinion, the best way to get back in bed with nature, literally. Wake up with the sunrise and the bird song, spend the day foraging, collecting water, climbing mountains, climbing trees, going to sleep after your mind is full of sunset and your belly full of campfire supper. HEAVEN.
I had this boyfriend once who laughed when I said I was busy with work "don't you just watch Netflix all day" he laughed. Dumbass. I don't even have Netflix. My point is, I knew before many of you that sitting on your butt all day watching Netflix is fine for like a day or two, but gets tedious very, very quickly. That's when you start going outside and exploring this beautiful planet of ours. Additionally, nature got better whilst we were away, or rather whilst the cars were away.. the quality of the air is incredible at the moment, making me wonder why cars aren't illegal all ready... Okay, I appreciate that they are essential for many: For example Alicante, on the Costa Blanka, with it's palm tree flanked boulevards and sea breeze is perfect for camping, but due to it's unfriendly pedestrian slash public transport vibe you might find that hiring Alicante cars to get to your campsite may be an unavoidable necessity for you. Although we're super anti cars.
Anyway, back to this actual point. Camping is, in my humble opinion, the best way to get back in bed with nature, literally. Wake up with the sunrise and the bird song, spend the day foraging, collecting water, climbing mountains, climbing trees, going to sleep after your mind is full of sunset and your belly full of campfire supper. HEAVEN.
#2. YOU CAN CAMP IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY
One concern our readers have been voicing almost unanimously is that although some restrictions might have been removed, they're still reluctant to leave home - what if a second wave hits and they are stranded somewhere? Some even experienced this the first time around and are un-eager to experience it again - I myself got into Hungary (from my own home country) just a day before the border closed.
Whilst I am a true advocate of the idea that if you're scared of something you should do it anyway... in this case I'm not sure it's the most wise. Luckily a great way to combat it is with... you guessed it... camping!! You can camp in your home country - no risk of getting stranded abroad that way. And seeing as camping is so different from (most of) our daily lives, it can feel like you're in a whole new world.
Many of us 'discovered' the joys of the nature that surrounds our homes during our once per day walks, it's now to take it a step further and try living in that environment! And worst comes to worst, if you're really really scared, but have the luxury of owning a back yard - why not try camping there?
Whilst I am a true advocate of the idea that if you're scared of something you should do it anyway... in this case I'm not sure it's the most wise. Luckily a great way to combat it is with... you guessed it... camping!! You can camp in your home country - no risk of getting stranded abroad that way. And seeing as camping is so different from (most of) our daily lives, it can feel like you're in a whole new world.
Many of us 'discovered' the joys of the nature that surrounds our homes during our once per day walks, it's now to take it a step further and try living in that environment! And worst comes to worst, if you're really really scared, but have the luxury of owning a back yard - why not try camping there?
#3. CAMPING CAN BE CHEAP
With many suffering from cut hours or even job losses, there's never been a stronger case for the universal wage, in my opinion, but until that time arrises many are having to cut back and are looking for cheaper alternatives. Camping has always been one of the cheapest, if not the cheapest, ways to travel. Even if you or your family don't own a tent you can borrow one from friends or find one second hand. Many countries in Europe offer free-camping spots and for the ones that don't rates for camping plots are very reasonable (much more reasonable than hotel prices for example). (Also, even if free-camping isn't allowed, you can easily work out the spots where you can get away with free camping, especially if you are camping in your home country).
#4. CAMPING CAN BE LUXURIOUS
Luckily, like gender and sexuality, camping is a spectrum: it goes all the way from cheap (see above point) to posh camping or glamping - and anything and everything in between, take these cool treehouse glamping spots for example. So if someone (or someones) in your family isn't into the 'rough' outdoor lifestyle, there are plenty of options for them too! I was first introduced to glamping when I did it in Slovenia, at a time where I thought camping was boring. I got addicted to glamping very easily, but I'm happy to announce I am now (having spent time on an organic vegan farm in Eastern Europe), more into rough camping.
Wrap Up: Camping Trending?
So if you're itching to start exploring again but unsure where to start / worried of leaving your home country, consider camping: it's fun, it's environmental, and nowadays there's a camp for everyone. And if there isn't, consider joining the petition for legalising wild camping in the UK - the land should belong and be used be all who respect the ecosystems they choose to camp in! Also, here's a great video about wild camping essentials that we highly recommend:
P.S.: If you're interested in a way of travelling and getting accommodation cheaply, you might wanna check out house sitting. Trustedhousesitters.com was kind enough to provide us and our readers with a 10% discount, feel free to click on the link to use it :)
ABOUTME
We overland. We eat plants and fungi. We live outside as much as possible. We are all connected. A female travel blogger overlanding and writing about ecotourism, ethical and sustainable travel, socially conscious travel and housesitting. An online travel magazine since 2015.
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