Chortle! My ex-SO, the Lord of Frugal, loves to camp and is very, very good at it. That notwithstanding, I came to wonder what is the attraction to sleeping on the ground and having to do all your ordinary daily activities–cooking, cleaning up, toileting, bathing–with no running water and no electricity. If you are a woman in your reproductive years, there are times when you need something better than the far side of a shrub (or, if you stay in campgrounds, a dirty public outhouse) for a bathroom and personal hygiene.

Since we live in an area that people pay to visit as tourists, it always seemed to me we would have been better off to vacation at home, where we had a comfortable bed, a kitchen, and a bathroom. A few day trips in a car to nearby attractions cost less than good camping gear, and you can cook up some mighty fine outdoor chow on your backyard barbecue.

The Lord of Frugal extends his camping expertise to all kinds of travel. When forced to stay in a motel (something he resists with all his considerable might), he buys food at the local grocery store, breaks out his camp stove, and cooks a three-course meal (meat, vegetables, and starch) in the bathroom! He absolutely, positively will NOT eat in restaurants. After the first blush of love wore off, I personally got real tired of eating on motel room floors and eventually refused to travel with him at all. But I hafta admit: we spent three months roaming the backcountry of Alaska and Canada, and it only cost a few hundred dollars.

Trent, good luck with the birth. I am sure everything will be fine. 2 of my friends also got induced recently and both went very well.

Ironically, my money leak is camping gear. LOL! Well, any outdoor gear really. I have the mountain bike set up and clothes, the backpacking set up, the car camping set up, the snowboard set up, the backcountry ski setup, the roof rack to carry it all…..you get the picture. I keep my gear in good shape and for a long time, but it seems like I’m often at REI for something. But, then again, I live in the mountains in Colorado and the weather can be dangerous at any time of year if you are not prepared. I don’t have cable and I don’t drink coffee if that helps!

vh, I have never had a problem with personal hygeine in the backcountry.

Pardon the off topic: I’m noticing lots of ads here for Prosper promising very high returns. Has anyone had any experience with lending money through Prosper and did you get it back? Are there any reviews out there?

Best of luck on the birth!

Trent, than you for the link & best wishes for you & your wife! I’ll work on a baby freebie post for you in the interim.

Well, they don’t call it LABOR day Weekend for nothing! Have fun bouncing the new baby!