Packing for a Family Road Trip
When we decide to go on a road trip with the family of four plus dog and cat in our truck camper for 2-3 weeks – I’m learning to pack lightly and quickly. Many of our trips are planned on the fly during the summer holidays. I’ve learned not to stress about making sure I’ve thought of every activity and planned for every moment of boredom.
When the kids were young, I would cook and bake until all hours of the morning making sure we had good food to snack on, by-passing the drive-thru. But you know what? We still ended up at the drive-thru or stopping at the grocery store for snacks. Why? Because we all wanted something that was different from home!
And if the kids get bored? Great, kids need to experience downtime; they don’t always have to be entertained. I remember coming across Canada a few times when I was young – my only entertainment was a book and my Walkman (remember how long it took to skip to the next song and then realized you went too far?), and my little brother who spent the whole trip spitting on me (he was 4 and I was 12). And yes, my parents stopped periodically to ‘pretend’ kick us out. Looking back, those were the best trips ever!
So, I made packing up a little easier and simpler so I can go to bed at a decent hour. My biggest helper is making sure I ‘reset’ the camper after every trip. I restock fresh sheets, towels, pantry items and give the bathroom, kitchen, and floor a quick cleanup. During our trip I keep a little notepad and pencil in a drawer that I can write down what we need and what would be helpful on the next trip. We’ve got our system mostly figured out.
That leads me to the cat and dog. Milo (our cat) has a tote with a locking lid I bring for his kitty litter. We found the perfect spot in the camper bathroom for it. When we’re setup in the campground, I move it outside for him. We’ve never had an accident…yet! He’s pretty easy going and has decided the bathroom cupboard with the beach towels is where his bed is for the night. I don’t argue with the cat. Bailey is our border collie aussie shepherd x that just wants to be loved by all. Doesn’t care where she sleeps or hangs as long as her family pack is nearby.
When we’re on the road Milo has a few spots in the truck he likes to sleep and has no problem walking over Bailey or even sitting on her to look out the window. Not sure which one is more demanding to have the window open and the wind in their face. I have a new product to try out for the next season. It’s a suction cup windowsill cat perch that I can stick to the back window of the truck up high. It’ll leave enough room for Bailey to lay down on the seat beneath Milo freeing up other spaces. I’ve tested it in the car, and it works perfectly!
The hubby is pretty easy going and doesn’t pack or ask for much. He LOVES driving long distances sipping on a small bottle of coke cola, his only vice. My hubby is awesome, and I couldn’t ask for more. We both love our adventures on the road. I hope our kids follow in our footsteps with their own families one day.
For me? How do I manage a few weeks in a camper truck with them all? Let’s just say when I really need my downtime time, I send DH and the kids into the grocery store, with a list that won’t allow a quick in and out, as I dash into the camper and make a quick gin & tonic in my coffee travel mug.
Sigh… the world is good once again!