Getting Significant Others into Camping
Opposite attract…at least that is how the saying goes. For many couples, that turns out to be right, and usually it means one person loves to be outdoors and camp, while the other does not enjoy it as much. This begs the question, how do you convince your significant other to go camping/off-roading, Especially when you have all of this gear? I have the same problem with my wife. Here is the way I make it work when I love camping while she could live without it.
Start off Slow
Wife getting in some wheel time
One of the first big tips is to ease into the process. Don’t just throw them into the fire of a multi-week trip or an extremely challenging off-road trail. Start off with a one night trip at a campground. Then graduate to maybe a weekend trip. Eventually once they are use to it, you can take them on a week long trip. Once they are comfortable with the camping, you can ease them into dispersed camping without a toilet/shower and they may enjoy it as much as you.
Same thing applies with off-roading. Start off with a super green trail while you are driving. Maybe after lunch, you let them get behind the wheel so she can get her seat time.The more and more wheel time they get, the more comfortable they will get. You never know, they may soon fall in love with it too.
2. Make Life Comfortable
Wife suffering to cook in 0 degree weather
The one big reason your significant other may not enjoy the outdoors because they are use to the comfort of the city life. That means they would want to be comfortable while they are out in the wild. For me, that meant a few things. One, I switched to the roof top tent where she is off the ground and in a much more comfortable sleeping space. Eventually, I upgraded to a camper after attempting to cook and eat in 0 degree weather in the Mojave. A camper gives us a place to escape poor weather.
The more comfortable they are while outdoors, the higher chance of them wanting to do it more often. Whatever I could think of that would make life easier, I would spend the money. From a t a pop up toilet and a privacy tent so she do her business in peace to a portable shower to take care of the dirty hair portion (that has been used once), I am always on a quest to make camping glamorous.
3. Compromise, Compromise, Compromise
Relaxing with a fire in a can
This is probably the biggest one of all. Relationship is always a balance of compromise between what makes the both of you happy. I give a lot of credit to my wife as she is always up for an adventure or to try something new. But, I don’t just do everything the way I want it. One of the best ways that we have compromised is for any long trips, we break it up with a hotel on the 3rd or 4th day. This lets me still get my camping fix in while she gets a reprieve from the wilding it life. During a 3 week trip through Colorado, this proved extremely effective and made the trip memorable for the both of us.
These three things helped us enjoy the outdoors together as a couple. What other tips do you guys have?