Maria asks…
What kind of camper are you?
Starting a new campground concept throughout the states and just trying to get some feedback on everybodys ideas on camping.
1) When you go camping what kind of campground do you usually go to and why?
2) How far do you usually travel to get to that campground?
3) How many times a year do you camp and for how many days per stay?
4)What type of camping do you do (ie RV, tent cabin, backcountry)?
5) Average $$ spent per night on a campsite
6) Do you bring your own food and supplies or get them on the way or at the campground?
7) Average $$ spent on supplies and food
What types of activities are you interested in and what activities do you do while camping?
9) What amenities do you like to have when you go camping?
10) What amenities do you wish more campgrounds had?
11)What turns you off from staying at a particular campground?
12) What is your age?
13) What city do you live in?
Martin answers:
1. Weekend campground or long term vacation
2. Anywhere from 50-1000 miles
3. How many times a year DID I camp – 2 weekends of each month (April-October) and an average of 3-5 days per stay
4. We are now on our 5th travel trailer
5. $23-30 per night
6. Bring it all
7. No more than it would cost if we were eating at home.
8. Nothing – I went to relax
9. Water, electric, free showers, playground for the kids
10. They have all I need
11. When they charge me extra for bringing my dependant children along. When the showers cost money. The water is not hot until you have put in your 3-4 quarter-what a waste.
12. 45-55 age group
13. Small city in northern MS
ps – I am a campground owner, which is what brought me to this question. If you are a camper first and a campground owner after several years of camping, you will be a more successful owner because you know what your clientele will be looking for.
Lizzie asks…
am I wrong to feel pissed?
I Joined the Air-force and moved out of the house when I was 18, I got married and soon realized my 89 Honda was just not going to cut for the both of us and we needed to get a second vehicle. I mentioned to my parents about what was going on and they stated that they were buying a brand new 2008 truck and that my dad would give me his old one.
I was really excited and surprised that they were doing that because they have never helped financially before, growing up I never received an allowance, help buying my first car, I had a full time job at 15 working nights that paid for all my school supplies and clothes. Don’t get me wrong I am very grateful for the food and roof over my head but that was it, I have never even received 5 dollars to go to the movies in my entire life from them.
Anyway two years passed by, me and my wife got a divorce, she took my old car and I kept the truck. Recently I got orders for Korea for a year, so I decided to take leave and drive back home to spend time with parents before shipping off; I mentioned to my parents I would need to store my truck because I can’t take it to Korea.
Well yesterday my dad says to me that he will be driving my truck every day to work because he does not want to put the miles on his brand new truck, his work is about 2 hours away, I really did feel this was a little messed up but I didn’t want to tell them no, I mean they are my parents what do I say to them?
Now today my dad blindsides me and says they are now in fact going to take the truck back from me and that I need to sign the title back over to them because they want to use it for when they go camping with the RV. Please keep in mind both of my parents are very wealthy, both drive vehicles well into the 35k price range. My dad didn’t even flinch when saying this; he said it like I should be completely okay with this and started showing me what loans I can get for buying a new truck.
I just got half of my stuff taken from me from my cheating wife, she left me completely broke with only my computer, a futon and my truck. I have been completely stressed out for the last 3 months trying to get this divorce finalized and also get everything in order to move to a foreign country for the first time all at the same time, and now I got this going on, there is no way I can afford any car at this state in my life and now I’m freaking out because now I don’t even know If I have a car when I come back as well.. What should I do?
Martin answers:
I don’t blame you for being pissed. Your dad is being selfish and insensitive. First, try to keep a level head and approach your parents. They may not realize how this is making you feel. Tell them you expected to have your truck there when you come home next year. Because your father gave you this truck in the first place he may still be thinking of it as his truck. Second, since you will be gone for at least a year, maybe its just not worth the fight. You feel pretty down right now because of your ex taking so much from you. My son just got back from a 2 year tour in Seoul, South Korea. He loved it there. There is lots to do there, easy access around the city, and the people were very nice. He actually fell in love with a very nice Korean girl there and is now at Fort Bragg. Be strong. Your life is taking you to a new adventure and the truck will just rust. You’ll be able to save money while you’re overseas and have a better vehicle when you come home. I know it seems like you are losing a lot right now. It’ll all come back to you and be better. Have faith in yourself and remember your parents love you. They’re just being dumb.
P.S. Thanks for your service to our country. You are in my prayers.
Donald asks…
I need to know some facts about Burning man?
I want to go to the next burning but there are some things I need to know and can’t find out unless I ask people who have experienced it first hand.
Okay, here’s what I need to know:
Is it difficult to reach on your own, say without a car? Is it possible to ride a bicycle or walk in and out?
What are the living arrangements like? Do you just pick a spot and make camp? If I just brought a tent and some supplies, would there be places to go to the bathroom or shower or buy food, or is a RV or trailer a necessity?
How bad are the cops? Seriously? I’ve been to a few couple-day-long music festivals where the cops have been totally out of control, beating up fourteen year old kids because the kids had a bag of weed and an attitude. Do the cops leave you alone to do your own thing or are they constantly up in peoples’ business? I read on a few websites that each year the number of citations and arrests increase at Burning Man. Is it possible to just smoke a joint while sitting in a lounge chair comfortably at night, or is there no possible way that could happen because of police control?
Are the people there generally pretty friendly, willing to help someone else out if in trouble?
Is everyone there generally into it and there to have a good time? There won’t be any people who will criticize me for my costumes or inventions will there?
Any info would be great. Thanks a lot.
Martin answers:
Burning Man is 100 miles from Reno. Most of that is on a two lane road with no shoulders, and very heavy (during Burning Man) fast moving (70 mph) traffic. Biking there is dangerous, although not unheard of. You should be able to find somebody in Reno who will give you a ride if you offer to pay for gas (just look for people wearing funny clothing at the airport/Walmart/casino hotels).
Places to buy food???? No. Absolutely not. There is no commerce at Burning Man. That’s pretty basic; you really need to read the Burning Man website more if you’re asking a question like that.
You can pick a spot to camp. Areas closer to the center of the action are reserved for theme camps, and will be marked as such, but aside from that you can camp anywhere. Tenting is fine, although an RV could be more comfortable if you have the money for it. It is dusty, very hot during the day and cold at night. RVs could help with temperature and dust issues, but I’ve been fine camping in a tent there. There are portable toilets, but no (public) showers. If a shower is a necessity for you, you’ll need an RV, or you’ll need to find a theme camp that has showers (more on theme camps below).
I’ve been to some music festivals where the police presence is heavier, but the cop presence at Burning Man is higher than at most music festivals. The cops don’t seem particularly assholish, but I’d be wary of doing anything illegal. Chances are you could sit in your camp and smoke a joint and be fine, but it is risky. If a cop sees/smells you, you will get arrested. Keep an eye out on your surroundings, smoke inside (if you’ve got an RV), or keep an RV/structure between you and the roads. If you’re in a high traffic area (i.e.,the major sound camps), you may get hassled for doing something innocent that looks suspicious; cops have hassled people for smoking hand-rolled cigarettes, handing an aspirin to a friend, etc. Consider bringing baked goods instead of smokables.
People are very friendly and open (more so than at any music festival I’ve been to), and will usually lend a hand if you need it. You need to come across as prepared and informed though. Two Burning Man values are “self-reliance” and “gifting”; there’s kind of a tension between those. For self-reliance, you’re expected to have everything you need with you. On the other hand, the best thing you can gift a stranger is something they NEED (i.e., should have) that they don’t have. If you’re really in trouble, people WILL help you out. If you show up there without food, thinking you’re going to buy it, you will probably find people who will feed you, but expect them to rag on you very heavily. Don’t be a mooch, bring everything you expect you’ll need for a week, but if something breaks, or you have an unexpected need, you’ll find somebody who will help you.
Everybody is into it, I would say. You’ll only get criticized for your costume if you don’t have one (i.e., jeans and a T-shirt). If you make even a minimal effort on costumes and bring artwork/inventions, people will be super friendly, welcoming and interested.
I would strongly recommend you look into joining a theme camp, rather than camping on your own. It will give you a group of people to be your home-base, and access to amenities that you wouldn’t be able to easily provide on your own. Every theme camp has a large shade structure (you don’t want to be out in the sun all day long) and many have showers for camp members. There’s quite a bit of variation in terms of what is provided and what is expected if you’re camping with a theme camp. Most require some money, some require you to work particular shifts (you’re always expected to do some help around the camp).
Before you try and join a theme camp, get more informed. People will flame you hard if you’re still asking basic questions like whether there is food for sale at Burning Man. Read the Burning Man website. Read some stuff on Eplaya (http://eplaya.burningman.com/), which is also a good place to ask (not too basic) questions. Find out if there’s a local Burning Man group near you (http://regionals.burningman.com/), and meet some burners face to face before you go. Once you’ve got involved locally and have a better idea what’s going on, you might be able to find a theme camp with people from your area that you could join. You can look on Eplaya for threads from theme camps that are seeking members. Also, check out last years list of theme camps (http://www.burningman.com/themecamps/) to get an idea of what various theme camps do. Some of the camps on last years list won’t be back this year, and not all of them will be open to having a stranger camp with them, but check the websites (for those camps that have them), and you may find one that suits you. If you do decide you want to join a theme camp, don’t wait too long. If you ask to join in August, it’s unlikely that anybody will have space for you.
Donna asks…
Zombie Invasion in U.S.: What would be the best way to survive for people living in Texas, Arizona, and Nevada?
These deserts posed as a problem for me to actually see how to move keeping supplies and ammunition to a level to sustain a group comprised of four to ten. If there were a zombie invasion, what would be the best solution to move around surviving through the harsh deserts and avoiding urban areas when possible? Keeping water around is obvious, but civilians moving from highly populated urban areas to the deserts I’m seeing a lesser chance of survival. If starting in the urban areas: would RVs be essential even though the noise would attract zombies? Where and how would you camp or settle for a short period of time? Where would you raid for more supplies? Do you trust the military?
Prisons and mountain tops were the only ones I could see that could maintain short period of survival unless the number of zombies entering the area over time was low. Overall, what would be the best course of survival for people who live in the deserts living around the major cities in these areas?
A lot of the people in those states, look like death at first glance, but then again so do a lot of the anarexics and balemics in California.
Baka, what part of Arizona are you from? If it’s even winter and you get into your car and you still can’t touch the steering wheel cause it’ll sizzle your hands I think that would be a legal desert!
Atherfool, if they take care of the rednecks that would be…amazing! I would cheer! I’d bust out a stereo system and make them dance to Thriller!
Martin answers:
Importantly, you need something big enough for transportation through the hot climate – in the old days this would be something like a wagon train.
A car would suffice, or a truck.
Just remember that means you need to be either carrying around a lot of ammo, or that you need to get in touch with the military.
There are ways to make certain they have the citizenry’s interests at heart.
Camping out near their base and watching what they do to other people who seek entry is one way.
Or you know, you could just do what they did in day of the dead and get a chopper.
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