Retired without the RV

A comforting campfire glowed as a rising full moon bathed distant rocky outcroppings in soft light. While we savored the evening's peace a woman entered our campsite and asked if she could chat.

She was our temporary neighbor camped with her family in Mesa Verde National Park.

'My husband and I tent camped when we were first married and often camped as our kids grew up. We've noticed that many empty nesters give up their tents and either buy an RV or quit camping. We'd like to continue enjoying our tent when the kids leave. You're older and I wonder if you still enjoy tenting?' she asked us.

She had us pegged. We're 65 and have been tenting for decades. Quit camping or buy an RV? It never entered our minds. We love tenting and encourage anyone to try it.

Tent camping offers intimate contact with nature. A gentle rain's patter while we're tucked into warm sleeping bags, or the distant yipping of coyotes' songs, or and the soughing of the breeze through pines are relaxing music of the night. Birdsong and the aroma of perking coffee follow at dawn.

Tent camping has downsides. No sane person would say that packing up a cold camp in a driving rain is fun. For us, though, tenting's allure outweighs its challenges. We camped when we were young and dating, took our children camping when they were still in diapers, and now we continue to enjoy it years after they grew up and moved away. We camp in various Iowa county and state parks for quick getaways, enjoyed an extended trip to national monuments in New Mexico and Colorado last fall, and have a camping trip to Tennessee coming up this spring.

Camping's joy is independent of age and we encourage people of our generation to give it a try. If they are experienced campers, keep at it. If they've never tented, age 65 is not too old to buy a first tent and head out on an adventure.

As we have grown older and gained experience, we've learned a few tricks that make travel and tenting more pleasant. Some are adjustments due to our age and finances. Years ago, when the family budget was slim and we were bolder than today, we'd have camped in any weather. Despite driving rain or frigid wind, the tent was temporary home. Not anymore. Now we spend most nights in the tent but don't hesitate to retreat to a motel if the weather sours. Even in perfect weather we spend every third or fourth night in a motel, giving an opportunity to clean up, engage with the modern world and charge electronics.

In the old days we'd bring along most of our food and cook camp meals. Camp cookery remains a love and we still prepare many meals on an open fire or portable stove, yet we don't hesitate to sample local cuisine in local cafes and restaurants. On our Southwestern trip we dined on outstanding Mexican dishes in family-owned restaurants, mostly in small towns.

Nancy Saurerman and her husband, Bruce Bachman, are more dedicated older campers than we are. Both retired, they tent no matter the weather and prepare nearly all their meals in the campsite. Camping since at least 1972, they embarked on a three-week trip to the West.

'Our record is 14 nights in a row in our tent and we plan to be gone three weeks on this trip,' she said.

We tent camp by preference, but there's no doubt it's an inexpensive way to travel. All our gear easily fits in the family Prius, which averages about 50 miles a gallon.

Our Federal Senior Pass saved us more than $100 on entry fees and half-price campsite rentals on our national park swing last fall. It is one of the best deals going for anyone age 62 and older.

One can be purchased for $10 at national parks, some national forests and Army Corps of Engineers areas. The card is good for life and grants free entry to thousands of fee areas and half-price campsite rentals. Combined gas savings and discounts on our recent trip easily funded a few nights in quality motels beyond what we would have afforded in younger years. Had we stayed every night in a motel or purchased a gas-thirsty RV, our trip would have cost much more.

Age gives an opportunity to choose travel times. Our schedules are more flexible than when we had full time jobs, letting us enjoy the shoulder seasons of April and May and September and October. Crowds are down and sometimes off-season rates ease cost. The weather also is normally more pleasant than during mid summer's heat.

There is a downside. Fall and spring's early sunsets and late sunrises leave less daylight for hiking, sitting in the sun or poking around outside. A good reading lantern is an important piece of gear.

Shoulder seasons can be chilly so we bring quality sleeping bags, warm clothes and the 'hand grabber' heating packs. Open them up, toss them in the sleeping bag about an hour before retiring, and you stay toasty warm all night.

When traveling out West we use elevation to our advantage. The higher the elevation the cooler it's likely to be, so when cold snaps are forecast we head for lower elevations. If a hot week lies ahead we seek a lofty campsite.

We know an older couple who decided to try camping for the first time and spent a pile of money on equipment. They went once, decided it wasn't for them and gave away their gear. A newcomer scanning a camping equipment catalog or visiting a camping store could easily get the impression that an investment of a few thousand dollars in equipment is needed. That's not the case.

A good way to begin camping is to buy or borrow the bare necessities and spend the first few outings in a nearby state or county park during warm weather — or even camp in the backyard. If the weather turns bad, it's easy to retreat home.

Equipment needs for an Iowa summer campout are simple. An inexpensive tent, sleeping mat and ice chest are all the specialized items needed. Most everything else can be scrounged from the house. Kitchen cookware works for meal preparation and during summer a sheet and few blankets eliminate the need for sleeping bags. Even food preparation for a weekend can be as simple as tucking sandwich fixings in the cooler for lunches and bringing cold cereal for breakfast. Grilling dinner in the campsite works fine. Remember to bring charcoal and lighter. Basic equipment for a summer overnight can cost as little as $100.

Enjoying a longer car camping trip far from home requires a bit more experience and better equipment. Some campsites are far from motels and restaurants and the weather can turn wet, windy and cold.

Anyone who viewed the recent film 'Wild' saw Reese Witherspoon make a common camping mistake. She didn't practice setting up her tent or lighting her stove before hitting the trail.

Tired and hungry, she had to read instructions on how to set the tent up and light her stove. So, be smart and before leaving on a trip, camp in the backyard and practice setting up the tent and lighting the stove. Then just enjoy the stars and fresh air.

To start, take in this year's Great American Campout. The National Wildlife Federation sponsors this family activity.

The National Wildlife Federation encourages people to participate in the Great American Campout. It's on June 27 but people can camp any other night. The organization welcome campers to visit its website www.nwf.org/campout to learn camping tricks and take a pledge to camp this summer. For every person who pledges, the federation will donate $1 to conservation.

Camping is one of the best ways to enjoy nature and the companionship of good friends. It can be enjoyed in a suburban backyard, an Iowa park, or on a lengthy distant trip. Give it a try this season.

Get the gear

Good gear makes camping more pleasant. Here are the basics:

Tent: Hundreds of tents are on the market but invest in a good one. Quality tents have aluminum, rather than fiberglass, poles and are made to withstand wind, rain and insects. Tents are normally rated on how many people will fit inside, but don't believe the numbers. Four people can sleep in a tent the manufacturer calls 'a four person tent', but they better be friendly. There won't be a square inch inside to store clothes or other items. We've found that a supposed three or four person tent is comfortable for two people and a six person tent is good for three or four. It's a good idea to buy a thick plastic sheet to pitch the tent on and keep ground moisture from wicking upward.

Sleeping bag and mats: Comfortable sleep is essential. Cold nights on hard rocky ground will turn anyone away from camping. Quality sleeping bags and mats ensure comfort. Bags are either insulated with goose or duck down or synthetic fibers. Either work well, but down bags compact into smaller a smaller size for travel. Manufacturers give their bags a temperature rating by claiming that they are good down to a certain temperature. It's best to err on the warm side and buy bags rated for colder temperatures than are likely to be encountered. A lightweight insert adds little weight and lots of comfort.

Many sleeping mats are on the market. A common type self inflates. Roll it out, open a valve and the mat expands. Close the valve and enjoy a comfortable night. Another type is made of closed cell foam that doesn't expand. Collapsible cots work for people who dislike sleeping on the ground but they are bulky and heavy.

Cooking gear: The traditional camp stoves made by Coleman burns liquid gas and require pumping to create pressure. Somewhat tricky to operate they are dependable and inexpensive to run. More common in recent years are propane fueled stoves that are easy use. Most have two burners and operate on green fuel bottles available in most grocery and hardware stores. We prefer propane models. When on an extended trip and car trunk space is limited we use a single burner backpacking stove that runs on special fuel bottles available in camping stores. Ours is so tiny it fits in cooking pots that nest together.

Lanterns and headlamps: In recent years there has been a revolution in battery operated lighting. Various types of LED lanterns throw enough light for comfortable reading and run for hours on a few batteries. They are far superior to the old fashioned gas lanterns that required pumping. A headlamp tucks into a clothing bag and us useful for nighttime clean up and reading.

Overall, a $1,000 investment will purchase a decent quality tent, two sleeping bags and pads, a stove and cookware that will last for years and dozens of camping nights.

Other gear: Many common household items are handy to bring along. Cooking gear, water bottles, travel mugs for hot liquids and small pillows are all lying around the house just waiting for an adventure.

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Marion and Rich Patterson live in Cedar Rapids and own Winding Pathways, a business designed to encourage and help people create and enjoy wondrous yards. For information check windingpathways.com.