There I was – though I didn’t have a name yet - standing proudly head and shoulders above a vast field of used Fiats - a gleaming white Volkswagen Camper with a round black spare tire nose. Newly cleaned, vacuumed and polished, I waited happily for a new owner to come along - completely unaware of the embarrassing flap of canvas peeking out from under my pop top.
A look inside would reveal a cavernous expanse of living space - more than enough room for two claustrophobic kids, four suitcases, four sleeping bags, and miscellaneous other odds and ends needed for traveling. I had a built-in galley - a sink with running water (with the help of a small hand pump), a small refrigerator (an icebox set on end holding up the sink), and a small shelf that could be lifted up when the side door was open to hold a camp stove. I had a full length closet with a mirror, a cabinet for small items along the wall behind the closet, and storage under the "sofa" and rear facing jump seat. There was even a table attached to the wall that could be lifted to form a dinette where the kids could play games as we traveled (seating safety issues were yet to be invented). And best of all, I would accommodate all four family members at night - Jennifer on a hammock stretched over the two front seats, Jeff on a cot in the space created when the top was up, and two adults on a "full sized" bed formed when the sofa back was lowered and the luggage area was cleared out. What luxury!
MnJ thought this would be traveling and camping the easy way - although they thought calling it "camping" was stretching the meaning of the term a bit. They would be free to travel into the evenings, to explore where there may not be campgrounds (are there such places?), and to pack up and go at the drop of a hat.
Although my heater was barely adequate in spring and fall and virtually unnoticeable in the winter and my power left no one in my dust, I served the family well for over ten years. The kids slowly outgrew being able to sleep in the cramped quarters provided inside and moved out into tents. And after a few years even "outgrew" wanting to travel with us at all.
By that time I had served, not only as a home away from home, but a second car, a commuting vehicle and a training vehicle the teenagers learning to drive. And things had begun to break down more frequently causing repair costs to exceed payments for a new car. But in spite of my shortcomings I had become a well loved member of the family earning a special place in all their hearts.
I was ready for another makeover. But would it be another Volkswagen or would it be back to tents?
A look inside would reveal a cavernous expanse of living space - more than enough room for two claustrophobic kids, four suitcases, four sleeping bags, and miscellaneous other odds and ends needed for traveling. I had a built-in galley - a sink with running water (with the help of a small hand pump), a small refrigerator (an icebox set on end holding up the sink), and a small shelf that could be lifted up when the side door was open to hold a camp stove. I had a full length closet with a mirror, a cabinet for small items along the wall behind the closet, and storage under the "sofa" and rear facing jump seat. There was even a table attached to the wall that could be lifted to form a dinette where the kids could play games as we traveled (seating safety issues were yet to be invented). And best of all, I would accommodate all four family members at night - Jennifer on a hammock stretched over the two front seats, Jeff on a cot in the space created when the top was up, and two adults on a "full sized" bed formed when the sofa back was lowered and the luggage area was cleared out. What luxury!
MnJ thought this would be traveling and camping the easy way - although they thought calling it "camping" was stretching the meaning of the term a bit. They would be free to travel into the evenings, to explore where there may not be campgrounds (are there such places?), and to pack up and go at the drop of a hat.
Although my heater was barely adequate in spring and fall and virtually unnoticeable in the winter and my power left no one in my dust, I served the family well for over ten years. The kids slowly outgrew being able to sleep in the cramped quarters provided inside and moved out into tents. And after a few years even "outgrew" wanting to travel with us at all.
By that time I had served, not only as a home away from home, but a second car, a commuting vehicle and a training vehicle the teenagers learning to drive. And things had begun to break down more frequently causing repair costs to exceed payments for a new car. But in spite of my shortcomings I had become a well loved member of the family earning a special place in all their hearts.
I was ready for another makeover. But would it be another Volkswagen or would it be back to tents?
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