Last year, the hubs and I bought our first camper. We had a 20-year-long Camper vs. Boat debate that handicapped us from committing to either. Finally, we settled it by deciding that a boat would be a luxury, but a camper would encourage us to get out in nature more as well as keeping our old bones off the ground, a necessity when camping in your mid-40s.
Our first mini-sized camper was a teardrop, which was too small for my 6’ 1” husband and our 55-pound basset hound. So that first camper graduated to a larger one (with a bathroom!) this year. Will we use it enough to justify the price tag? Probably not. But we are still smitten with the idea of packing up the dogs and some beer and heading off to parts unknown.
As it turns out, camper sales are booming, mostly because the pandemic spurred a whole new age of people who camped when they were kids and have rediscovered a love of dinners cooked on an open fire and crawling into bed smelling of smoke—but who do not love sleeping in a tent. In this issue, Jared Fiel interviews a couple of adult campers who love the independence offered by their little home on wheels. Even with gas prices at astronomical highs, camping can save the wallet (especially when you add in a couple kids), create the best memories (we discovered last year that the basset hound absolutely loves fishing!), and give us the opportunity to unwind in Colorado’s great outdoors.
A Colorado summer also includes plenty of barbeque, which we are breaking down for you, including how to craft your own sauce, and plenty of live music enjoyed outdoors. I love summer, and I am going to try and fit it all in; I don’t want to miss even a little bit of the best parts of Colorado’s best season. Who needs sleep?
Along those lines, our online calendar (nocostyle.com) is a fantastic resource for everything happening in Northern Colorado. Make sure to check it out for your summer fun master plan. I’ll be seeing you on a patio nearby.
Until next month,
Angie Grenz
