There are very few reasons to prevent you from camping or other outdoor activities if you want to do it. I suggest your personal health and family obligations should be high on that list. Another one that all too often holds us back is finances -- or rather the lack thereof. We either don't have the money to go camping or can't afford to take the time off to go camping. If that is the case, it is time to try hard to make time for camping because the personal release and family bonding we will miss can never be replaced. In most cases the hours you spend camping will make you more productive when you get back to work. I once worked for an aerospace company who even gave incentives for taking vacation time because they recognized people were indeed more productive after a well-earned break. Saving up vacation time over long periods of time was greatly frowned upon and you had to use it or lose it!
COVID-19 regulations caused some campground closures but in general most camping activities can still be safely enjoyed while observing COVID-19 protocols (masks and social distancing).
Owning a tent or RV often makes it possible spontaneous outings. However, whether your outing is planned or spontaneous, there are some circumstances where you might want to (read that SHOULD) change your plans. Planned outings are harder to reschedule, but it can usually be done.
One of the most common things that can force us to change our plans is weather. Sometimes we can endure a little rain or even snow, but it is usually best to avoid camping in bad storms. I, for one, would gladly postpone a trip if it would take me into a hailstorm, blizzard or flood! We also need to stay home from forest camping or exercise extreme caution when hot, dry winds create HIGH or EXTREME fire danger. In all these cases the risks are just too great! We did have to change our destination for one winter dirt bike outing in the Mojave Desert when we arrived at the turn off to our scheduled site and found the road clogged with more than a foot of fresh snow! Not a good place to try to drive an RV pulling a motorcycle trailer over miles of unmaintained dirt roads!
Traffic problems might also cause a change in plans. A bad highway accident, wildfire, flood, or landslide along a planned route could mean hours of delay, seriously impacting the time left for our anticipated activities. Road damage or even planned construction might create unexpected problems on roads we know and use regularly. Some problems, like power outages, and water or sanitation problems, or structural issues, might cause the closure of some destination venues.
Health issues can pop up unexpectedly, Sometimes we, or one of our immediate family or companions gets ill at the last minute. Traveling when sick or with someone who is can put a real damper on plans. In some cases it might even be life threatening! Sometimes the illness might be outside our immediate group but has happened to someone important to us and we need to alter our plans to assist or support them or their family.
Health issues may also be chronic, forcing us to abandon or adjust our preferred life style. No matter how much we love our outdoor activities we should avoid them if they pose a risk to our health or the health of anyone close to us. Age often introduces health issues that may limit our activities, but age itself is usually NOT a valid reason by itself not to go camping! I have seen many people way past retirement age who are still active in RVing, camping, boating, and OHVing. A good friend of mine was still organizing and leading 2-week off-road motorcycle rides in Mexico well into his late 70s.
Destination Problems can crop up without warning. Fires, floods, snow, wind, other natural disasters, power outages, equipment failures, and structural defects are just a few of the many things that might happen to a much anticipated destination that would put it off limits for a time. Earthquakes can shut down roads and bridges and sometimes jeopardize structures at venues. If your planned destination is closed, you will have to find an alternate destination or postpone your trip.
If a good reason to stay home comes up, stay home! Chances are you will regret going a whole lot more than you would ever regret postponing the outing. Health problems or an unacceptable environment can have long lasting consequences. Most outings can be rescheduled and safely enjoyed some other time. You don't want to turn a highly anticipated outing into a disaster you regret!
There is, however, some good news! The very nature of our camping and RVing lifestyle is that we can usually be flexible. Just about any planned excursion can be rescheduled when the problems have been mitigated.
Chronic health issues might force one to permanently retire from their preferred outdoor activities. I, for one, would want to explore all the possible alternatives before resigning myself to that fate. The time may come when I can no longer drive my own RV. If/when that happens I hope I an recruit a family member or friend to do the driving so we can still enjoy outings together. I hope if the time comes when I can no longer ride my dirt bike that I can switch to a side-by-side and still enjoy off road activities.
Financial problems might limit travel plans. Unemployment or unexpected expenses might significantly reduce our disposable income. In that case, we may have to decide if our outings are optional or essential to our mental health. Even outings we deem to be essential might have to be rationed or postponed if we can't afford it but do remember that recreation is essential to maintaining productivity and well as general health and happiness.
Family obligations are another valid reason to cancel or postpone a camping trip. Significant family events should always take priority over recreational pursuits. Fortunately we usually have advance notice of important family events and can plan our outings around them, but if one comes up rather unexpectedly, you might have to change your plans.
In short, don't go camping if:
- You are sick
- You are seriously injured
- Someone close to you is sick or seriously injured
- You have important family events that conflict with your outing
- The destination or the route is unsafe
- The destination venue is closed (sometimes due to COVID-19 restrictions these days)
- The weather forecast includes dangerous conditions
Don't give up, reschedule!
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