April 30, 2025 • 29 mins
In this heartwarming and candid episode I (Patti Hunt), embarks on a first-time RV camping adventure with a very special guest—her youngest daughter, Emily. What begins as a casual getaway becomes a powerful experience of reconnection, self-discovery, and overcoming expectations. Recorded at Spacious Skies Country Oaks in New Jersey during the Girl Camper Kickoff Weekend, this episode explores everything from childhood memories to modern-day inspiration for hitting the road. Listeners gain honest insights into camping for beginners, bonding through shared experiences, and the empowering community of Girl Campers.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
First, I'm camping with my special guest and her
honest reaction.
I'm Pettie Hunt and you'relistening to the RV Life Podcast
.
What made you say yes when Iasked you to come camping with
(00:20):
me?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Honestly, I know that you wouldn't bring me on
anything that I can't handle,and also, if you can handle it,
then I can too, and I have beenwanting to come stay at a
campground for a while now, so Ihave been very excited to come
live the RV life.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Today's guest is very special to me and, if you
didn't already pick up on it,emily is my daughter and she is
the youngest, so I wasn't surehow she'd handle camping, and
this has been a learningexperience for both of us.
Today we're going to take youthrough what her thoughts were
(00:59):
before the idea of camping, howshe managed camping, what things
she enjoyed, what things shedidn't, and you're gonna hear at
the end whether or not she isgoing to go camping ever again.
Open Roads Resort is a greatplace to go camping because they
have five amazing locations inIdaho, nebraska, new Mexico and
(01:23):
two locations in Texas.
All of these locations arehighly favored on
campgroundsrvlifecom and theyare highly favored by you, the
RVers.
You can check out everythingabout these five campgrounds by
going to campgroundsrvlifecom oropenroadresortscom.
(01:45):
Now, emily, as I said, is mydaughter.
She is the youngest.
I honestly didn't think of heras a camper, being out in nature
.
Sorry to say that, but asanybody, we change.
I don't know that anybody wouldhave thought I ever would have
wanted to go out and do thecamping or RV life.
(02:06):
So welcome, emily, to the RVLife podcast.
Thank you, it's great to haveyou, and so I like my listeners
to hear a little bit about you.
So tell a little bit about youand your experience in the past
with camping RVing.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
So I just want to say this is really not my first
time camping, because the lasttime I went camping I think I
was 14, I was in eighth gradeand it was with a school trip
and we went to like it was asummer camp, but they let our
whole school come for a few daysand we stayed in log cabins and
(02:46):
bunk beds and, honestly, Iremember never, ever, ever,
wanting to leave there.
And yes, I'm scared of bugs.
Yes, sometimes I have a littlebit of a problem with dirt, but
I think that's just part of megetting acclimated, because,
honestly, I am alwaysfantasizing about running away
and living in the woods andtrying to figure out how to
(03:08):
start a fire and live off ofsquirrels and whittle an
arrowhead.
Wait, wait, wait live off ofsquirrels, maybe like, maybe a
deer, wow wow, you know okay.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
So this is gonna be real authentic.
This is news to me, realauthentic.
This is news to me.
And again, can I say hello, canI say hello to these millions
of listeners.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
That's fine.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Emily's going to be 27 in a month from the time this
is posted and you know, as amom, I have lots of kids and
great kids and you have theseexpectations.
As a mom, I have lots of kidsand great kids and you have
these expectations.
So you're saying things that Ididn't think of.
And when I think of camping.
So for my listeners, let mejust go back.
Some of my listeners arefull-time RVers or part-time
(03:56):
RVers.
They're thinking about goingRVing or camping.
So RVers people who stay in anRV, go camping.
And this is for listeners thatare trying to get acclimated to
what these words mean.
I just want to clear somethings up.
So, as an RVer, I went camping.
It was just I stayed in my RV,if that makes sense, just to
(04:19):
clear that up.
I never, I didn't necessarily,think of you as a camper.
The one time I took you campingwas it a tent.
You were about eight or ninemaybe.
So what?
Speaker 2 (04:31):
happened.
You don't remember, I rememberhaving a good time.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
You're happy to say that.
I just remember you not likingbugs and being a little more
high maintenance.
I'm sorry, but did I have fun?
Did you have fun?
So we stayed in that tent.
It was probably 12 hours.
We came in the late afternoon,we were in somebody's backyard,
(04:58):
we packed up the next day and wehad breakfast and we left and
so well, this is a goodconversation.
I'm glad we've done this.
I'm glad we're having thisconversation because we're going
to talk about how this weekend,when we've been here for the
whole weekend, so let's get intoit.
And this is a good message forpeople.
(05:18):
I have a lot of RVers campersthat say, well, I'm waiting for
my kids to be grown, or I don'tthink the kids would like it, or
how will they meet friends?
I've done lots of episodes, soeven my preconception obviously
is wrong.
So again, thank you, I'm gladwe've done this.
I'm really, really happy aboutthis, but let's talk about it.
(05:41):
So, on our way here, you weretalking about camping, but let's
talk about it.
So, on our way here, you weretalking about camping.
Your idea of camping before wecame here, you just were saying
was more what I call roughing it.
So what do you see like?
Ultimately, what camping wouldbe like?
Speaker 2 (06:09):
I mean, I would love to pick like a temperature
normal day that's not super cold, it's only in the, I would say,
upper 50s and for some reason Iam not handling it.
Well, I have been in this andthen a whole fluffy blanket when
we're all out together, whenwe're not in the camper.
But, um, honestly, I havealways, since the time that you
left me behind.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Let's talk about that .
Yeah, because I've been.
Let's talk about this time Ileft her behind.
It was traumatic.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
I have been wanting to go camping since I was little
.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
But let's share with our listeners.
So I'll start the story and youcould talk about how you felt
about being left behind and,again, it's a good thing for
people to realize perception andit's great because I'm always
about having open communication.
So Dan and I have five kidstogether, as a lot of my
(06:56):
listeners know.
For those of you who don't,there's five of them and we all
decided we were going to gocamping.
Dan and his son and daughterhad been camping quite a bit and
we're talking intense.
So the idea was we were goingIntense, intense, intense,
intense.
Okay, t-e-n-t-e.
(07:16):
Intense is where we were going.
So it was the four kids and thentwo of them had girlfriend or
boyfriend.
So there were six kids andEmily was going to be, was being
dropped off at her with her dadso that we could go camping.
And we were in Pennsylvania andwe just went to the Poconos and
(07:38):
literally Emily went with herdad and was crying.
You could talk about that.
But I felt like you were little, you were afraid of bugs, you
were afraid of the dark andbeing in a tent, you had to go
to a bathhouse, to go to thebathroom and that kind of thing.
(07:59):
So I just felt like she wasn'tready, she wouldn't want to do
it, and with all of these kids,what was I going to do if you
had a meltdown?
So how did you feel about beingleft behind?
And then, and it sounds likeyou're saying that was your, hey
, I want to do this.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
And that was the last time they ever all went camping
together.
So now here I am, 20 years later, and she still thinks that I'm
going to be scared because.
So my advice is, if you have akid that you're worried about,
or just an adult that you'reworried about bringing with you,
if they are interested in it,let them have a meltdown, let
(08:42):
them come out and have ahorrible time, because I and now
I sound like I'm 50 years olderthan I am but I see so many
kids that just don't want to getoff of their devices, but
whenever they have theopportunity to go outside, they
don't care about the deviceanymore, and I think that
everybody should be pushed alittle bit, because I, as soon
(09:04):
as she asked me if I wanted togo camping, I didn't ask where.
I didn't even know if it wasgoing to be in a camper.
Yet I was like, yep, I'm in.
I'm just craving getting out ofmy house, not listening to my
computer in the corner of myroom.
Maybe that's a weird thing, butI'm the kind of person that can
hear electricity and it justbothers me to be inside all the
(09:29):
time.
So I mean, we have access toelectricity here, but being a
little bit off the grid is justvery refreshing.
I'm very happy that I came.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
That is incredible advice and again, for anybody
who's new to the RV Life podcastI do have this in front of me.
I have to get my sponsors in isnot scripted.
We did not have a conversationbefore this like what we're
going to talk about.
That is right there.
That piece of what she justsaid will be a clip in itself,
(09:58):
because that is incredibleadvice.
And we even talked about, youknow, there are five grandkids
that are in our area and a lotof them.
We were talking about it, youknow, on devices all the time
and as, as you just said, theyget outside, they forget the
devices, and we even talkedabout bringing them camping.
So that's something we're goingto do in the summer.
(10:19):
Yes, it's been cold here.
I mean, it has been chilly anddreary and we still had an
amazing time.
So we were here invited to theGirl Camper kickoff weekend.
This is the time of thisrecording is the first weekend
in April.
We are at Spacious Guys CountryOaks in Dorothy, new Jersey,
(10:41):
and I just have to give a shoutout to them because I just felt
welcomed from the moment Iwalked in the door.
This place is amazing and I wantto talk a little bit about this
place because I'm alwayslooking to share with my
audience amazing places.
There will be a little bit of avideo camper and review but
(11:01):
again, keeping in mind it isapril, things have not started
blooming yet.
It was cold and rainy anddreary here, but if you could
use your imagination, and in amonth from now it'll be green
and lush, the pool will beopened.
And just keep that in mindbecause, again, this place is
just incredible.
(11:22):
So let's check a little bit.
First of all, about this place,let's give a shout out to
spacious skies, country oaks.
This campground is in the woods, it is more.
I don't know if rustic is theword.
Primitive is definitely not theword.
That is not the word no, no, sothey have.
Let's just talk about what itis.
You could go online, you couldcheck out their pictures, go
(11:45):
into spacious skies campgroundswith an scom and you can find
all of their campgrounds, butthere are full hookups.
It isa gravel level site.
There's a picnic table, there'sa fire pit, um, and.
But it is in the woods and itis not your cement sites that
(12:05):
some of you want.
So I just want to be clear Ilove this type of environment.
I truly love this type ofenvironment.
Okay, so that's the campground.
We were here invited becausegirl campers, who I did an
interview with you could seethat on the podcast.
I'll put the episode in theshow notes.
Also, there will be video of iton my new YouTube channel,
(12:31):
inspire Travels with patty.
A lot of information here, um.
But I was invited by girlcampers.
I've known janae pettit forjanine janine pettit I always
say her name wrong for years andshe said, hey, we're having
this event and I just said, yes,I didn't know what it was,
didn't know what to expect.
It is a girl, girls' event.
(12:51):
So I told you about the event.
What did you think?
Let's talk about the event.
What did you think of that?
Speaker 2 (12:57):
I that?
I mean, listen, I didn't knowwhat to expect, but I have
decided that wherever the girlcampers go, I want to follow
them.
That's awesome, they reallyjust.
They just sucked me in.
And now I my mother walked awayfrom me for about 30 minutes
last night and she came back andI'm like mom, I need to get a
(13:17):
tent, I need to get a differentcar, I need to get rid of my car
that I got a couple weeks ago,by the way, because I need my
jeep back.
Um, just within 30 minutes, Iwas inspired to get back in
nature again and I used to havea Jeep Wrangler, so I not I, my
(13:38):
parents would drive it for me uprock formation.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
So we were in Las Vegas and went up to up above
Red Rock Canyon, where onlyJeeps should go over rocks truly
rock climbing.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
I had the pass, that was my giant tires that I had at
the time.
But now I'm like I want thatcar back because that's I could
attach a little sleeper camperin it.
I don't know, they got me allinspired and I absolutely love
every single one of them.
I may have been the youngestgirl camper, but I believe I was
(14:19):
.
I didn't get a chance to talkto everybody, but I'm pretty
sure I was the youngest girlcamper, but I just love them to
death.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
And let's talk about what girl campers are for people
who don't know, because Iwasn't sure about this either.
So girl campers is just thatthey are ladies who want to go
out camp.
They camp solo, but then theyget together with groups of
people, like we did this weekend.
Um, what I didn't realize mostof these women, I was told, are
(14:47):
married and you know, some haverelationships whatever that
looks like this is or families,young kids.
They have families, they havejobs that they go to.
This is their way to escape, toget away, and one of the
stories that somebody told meand I won't give names or
details, but they were goingthrough a hard time and this was
(15:09):
a way to escape, to sit withsome of the ladies to talk about
it, to vent, to cry, and it'snot all about that.
I mean, they were having agreat time laughing together.
We had food together.
So we brought our meals and gottogether and had food.
Some of it is structured, someof it is oh, I'm going to a
(15:30):
winery today.
Who wants to go with?
So, any kind of activity,anything you want to do, you
could pair off the Girl Campers.
As I said, there's a wholepodcast episode on it, but they
have different chapters indifferent states.
You could go to any of thechapters and I'm just going to
have you check it out ongirlcampercom.
We obviously highly recommendit and you just find your people
(15:54):
that you want to be with andtalk to.
I talked to so many ladies thisweekend so that made it just an
incredible experience and,given the fact that it was cold
and we were sitting outside, wesat outside and we just bundled
up.
But I didn't want to miss thecamaraderie and the conversation
and people encouraging eachother and people you know
(16:16):
explaining different things andhelping.
And if you said, hey, I'm notsure how to hook up the RV to
the to the sewer, somebody wouldhave been there to help.
So it's been amazing.
I have to just pause herebecause I want to talk about my
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(16:36):
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Now let's talk a little bitabout it Again, just to give
listeners my new listeners somebackground information.
I started full-time RVing fouryears ago and we were in my
(17:21):
husband and I were in a 40-footClass A RV.
It had a lot to put my espressomachine because I had to have
my cafe mocha every morning, sothat was my priority.
It had a refrigerator for mymilk and all that's what I call
(17:41):
amenities, right Shower and allof that.
Now I have since, over the lastyear, sold the RV and have been
traveling for the last year byflying or driving and staying in
cabins.
I stayed in a yurt and today,this weekend, we stayed in a
retro RV, and this little RV isso cute.
(18:05):
I did some pictures of it thatyou could see on the YouTube
channel.
I am looking at ways to staywithout an RV.
I'm not sure I want to go tankcamping.
If you get the tent, if you getthe stuff, emily, I will go
with you.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
I already have a tent .
Actually, you have the tent.
I have like every piece ofcamping supplies because my
roommate is a camper, so there'sreally nothing we have to sleep
for.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
So I'm going to have to go take camping, and my
roommate has sleeping bags.
There we go, let's go.
So now I will be going to aTarget or Amazon and ordering an
inflatable, inflatable mattress, like I'm a little old to be
sleeping on the not old.
(18:51):
That's terrible.
My back I'm a little old to besleeping on the not old, that's
terrible my back.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
I'm a little old to be sleeping on.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Yeah, so we're gonna get a nice air mattress or a
foam roll up.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
All you have to do is get an air mattress with a pump
, and it's true, I just feellike I'm gonna wake up and I'm
just gonna be on the ground youhave to get a good air mattress.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
I've had that happen.
That is a that is an issue.
So we're going to go tentcamping.
I'm going to continue visitingcampgrounds like this and
staying in yurts and cabins.
They have cool little um logcabins here that you can stay in
and we'll get some video ofthat.
So I I guess if I'm going to gosomewhere and stay in a cabin,
(19:31):
you're going to go with me.
You're my side rider person nowwhatever we're calling it.
And yes, I will commit thatover the summer I will do tent
camping.
We just have to plan itweather-wise, because while it's
cold now, it's going to getreally hot.
We can do an episode.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
We absolutely can and we can do an episode.
We absolutely can.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
We can find the perfect spot to tend to camp
that's right, I'm pitchingthings into your show now so,
yeah, that's great thinking wewill find a perfect spot to take
camp.
It sounds like I've made acommitment here on the show, so
you guys are witnesses.
So this camper as you saw, ifyou saw the video, there is a
(20:14):
queen size bed over here andthere is a bunk on this side,
and it's one of those bunks thatyou feel like you're in a space
capsule, as you called it, andyou know what was your.
You had your choice at the topbunk or the bottom bunk.
What'd you choose?
Speaker 2 (20:31):
So I chose the top bunk because no real good reason
.
Just when I was younger, Ialways liked sleeping on the top
bunk whenever I had an option.
I like feeling high up andperched and in my little zone,
like there's really no goodreason for it.
However, I did notice that thebottom bunk is taller by quite a
(20:53):
bit like about half a foot, Iwould say and the one thing that
sort of got me was every time Ihad to sit up or I don't know.
I apparently stretch my armsout a lot.
The only thing is that I kepthitting the sides.
But that was just the firstnight and I got used to it
really fast and I love my littlecozy nook.
(21:14):
Honestly, I slept great inthere and I didn't want to leave
.
I was kind of worried aboutclaustrophobia when I first got
here.
My bedroom at home is huge.
I live in a suburb and I justhave a lot of space that I take
for granted on a regular basisbut I honestly loved feeling
(21:35):
cozy in my little nook and nothaving to deal with the
overwhelm of, like, a bunch ofstuff and where to put
everything.
Speaker 1 (21:42):
So I had a great time we talked about the RV
experience, camping experiencewe really didn't talk about you.
Do you want to share, like yourbackground, who you are, what
you do, because you have apretty flexible schedule so we
can pick up and go campingwhenever we want.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
Really so I do have the flexibility to just leave my
house whenever I want to.
I don't work a nine-to-five.
I do astrology and psychicreadings full-time and I also
sew clothes that I make,customized clothing for people
that I upcycle from stuff that Iget from the thrift stores.
And, yeah, I can just take mylittle sewing kit with me.
(22:25):
I mean, that might change if Iwas in a tent.
I think most of the time Iprefer to just get away if I'm
getting away and take a breakand check out like early check.
Yeah, but I am able to bringwhat I do with me.
And it's so fun becauseeverywhere I go, I meet people
who end up saying, oh, let'seither trade, I'll do a reading
(22:46):
for you or I'll make yousomething.
And you give me an astrologyreading.
Tell me what the heck is goingon in my life right now, and
it's a good time.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
I know you're working on your website.
When you have that up andrunning, we will put in the show
notes where to reach out toEmily and, as listeners know, if
you're new you can reach out tome and certainly I'll get
messages to Emily, but reach outto me.
I'd love to hear your comments,questions.
You have questions for me orEmily, you know, on RV Life
(23:18):
Podcast at Instagram or Facebook?
Love to hear from you.
So please do that.
Okay, I think we've covered alot here.
It's now time for the questionof the week.
I'm going to ask you thisquestion.
We did not talk about thisbeforehand.
Honestly, I'm going to ask thequestion, then give you a minute
to think about it and then I'llcome back and get your answer,
(23:41):
okay, so the question of theweek is brought to you by Cool
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There is a link in the shownotes.
So, emily, you've had a lot tothink about this weekend for
(24:48):
sure.
Is there something that you'veput on your bucket list, and
will you be making a bucket listat this point?
Speaker 2 (24:55):
so I do have a place that I have wanted to visit for
a long time.
Um, this is where some of ourancestors come from, but also as
a fan of dracula, I have alwayswanted to visit the
transylvanian mountains inromania.
I didn't see that coming at all, but if you have ever seen a
(25:17):
picture of these mountains, itis stunning.
Over there, it just looks likea fairy tale.
The mountains are beautiful,there's big trees, there's so
many log cabins and I would doanything to visit and by that I
mean I would buy a plane ticketand then go there.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
So I will make that happen someday that's incredible
, and every week on the show Iask people what's on their
bucket list.
Of course we know each otherobviously did not see that
coming at all not at all.
Again, leave a comment.
Anybody ever think of goingthere?
I've never had any of my guestssay anything like that, so
(25:57):
would love to hear your commentson that one.
It's now time for the FeaturedCampground of the Week, and it's
brought to you by RV Life.
The RV Life suite of productsincludes RV campground reviews
(26:18):
views.
This week's featured campgroundis Thousand Trails Sea Pines RV
Campground in Cape May,courthouse, new Jersey, and
that's not far from where we areright now at Spacious Skies
Country Oaks.
This is a Thousand Trails andyou don't need to be a member to
stay there.
The campground offers lots ofamenities and activities and
it's close to all areas of theJersey Shore.
(26:38):
They have vocal cups,waterfront sites and, for people
like me, they have rentals forpeople like you, and I'm not
sure if they do tents, so somecampgrounds don't do tent sites,
so we'd have to find that outif we're going to tent.
They have an 8.1 rating on theRV Life campground review site,
(26:58):
with 26 reviews.
It is so easy to go find outall there is to know about this
campground or any other.
You go to campgroundsrvlifecom,enter Thousand Trails, sea
Pines RV Campground and onceyou're there, you can see a ton
of photos, the tips, the fulllist of amenities about this
(27:21):
property.
Everything you need to knowabout this property will be
there, and the reviews are byRVers, and that's what I love
about this review site.
Rv Life Campground is part, likeI said, of the RV Life suite of
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, campgrounds, resorts, as wellas city, state, national parks,
(27:45):
core of engineer properties andmore, and that is
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But if you are not already amember, go to the link in the
show notes and you get 25% off.
This suite of products is worththe full price of $65 a year.
With a 25% off, it's under $50and it is well worth it.
(28:06):
Okay, so, emily, we will put inthe show notes where people
could reach you.
We'll put it in the show notesif you want to add social media,
whatever it is you want to add.
That'll all be in the shownotes, and I want to thank you
so much for not only being onthe RV Life podcast but hanging
out with me for the wholeweekend, running camera for me
(28:31):
and, I'd say, making sure myhair worked.
But my hair just, you know we'recamping, it is not hair is not
working For those of you thatare going to go to the YouTube
channel and see it.
But you were a big help and Iappreciate it.
But, most important, it was anincredible weekend.
I learned a lot about somethingmore about who you are and the
(28:56):
fact that this is something youwant to do.
So thank you for being on theshow with me.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
Thank you for having me.
I had a really good time Goodgood.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
I'm glad to hear that and I want to thank you, my
listeners, and remember life's ajourney.
Live each day to the fullest,without regrets.
I'm Patti Hunt and you've beenlistening to the RV Life Podcast
.
First, I'm camping with my special guest and her
honest reaction.
I'm Pettie Hunt and you'relistening to the RV Life Podcast
.
What made you say yes when Iasked you to come camping with
(00:20):
me?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Honestly, I know that you wouldn't bring me on
anything that I can't handle,and also, if you can handle it,
then I can too, and I have beenwanting to come stay at a
campground for a while now, so Ihave been very excited to come
live the RV life.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Today's guest is very special to me and, if you
didn't already pick up on it,emily is my daughter and she is
the youngest, so I wasn't surehow she'd handle camping, and
this has been a learningexperience for both of us.
Today we're going to take youthrough what her thoughts were
(00:59):
before the idea of camping, howshe managed camping, what things
she enjoyed, what things shedidn't, and you're gonna hear at
the end whether or not she isgoing to go camping ever again.
Open Roads Resort is a greatplace to go camping because they
have five amazing locations inIdaho, nebraska, new Mexico and
(01:23):
two locations in Texas.
All of these locations arehighly favored on
campgroundsrvlifecom and theyare highly favored by you, the
RVers.
You can check out everythingabout these five campgrounds by
going to campgroundsrvlifecom oropenroadresortscom.
(01:45):
Now, emily, as I said, is mydaughter.
She is the youngest.
I honestly didn't think of heras a camper, being out in nature
.
Sorry to say that, but asanybody, we change.
I don't know that anybody wouldhave thought I ever would have
wanted to go out and do thecamping or RV life.
(02:06):
So welcome, emily, to the RVLife podcast.
Thank you, it's great to haveyou, and so I like my listeners
to hear a little bit about you.
So tell a little bit about youand your experience in the past
with camping RVing.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
So I just want to say this is really not my first
time camping, because the lasttime I went camping I think I
was 14, I was in eighth gradeand it was with a school trip
and we went to like it was asummer camp, but they let our
whole school come for a few daysand we stayed in log cabins and
(02:46):
bunk beds and, honestly, Iremember never, ever, ever,
wanting to leave there.
And yes, I'm scared of bugs.
Yes, sometimes I have a littlebit of a problem with dirt, but
I think that's just part of megetting acclimated, because,
honestly, I am alwaysfantasizing about running away
and living in the woods andtrying to figure out how to
(03:08):
start a fire and live off ofsquirrels and whittle an
arrowhead.
Wait, wait, wait live off ofsquirrels, maybe like, maybe a
deer, wow wow, you know okay.
Speaker 1 (03:22):
So this is gonna be real authentic.
This is news to me, realauthentic.
This is news to me.
And again, can I say hello, canI say hello to these millions
of listeners.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
That's fine.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Emily's going to be 27 in a month from the time this
is posted and you know, as amom, I have lots of kids and
great kids and you have theseexpectations.
As a mom, I have lots of kidsand great kids and you have
these expectations.
So you're saying things that Ididn't think of.
And when I think of camping.
So for my listeners, let mejust go back.
Some of my listeners arefull-time RVers or part-time
(03:56):
RVers.
They're thinking about goingRVing or camping.
So RVers people who stay in anRV, go camping.
And this is for listeners thatare trying to get acclimated to
what these words mean.
I just want to clear somethings up.
So, as an RVer, I went camping.
It was just I stayed in my RV,if that makes sense, just to
(04:19):
clear that up.
I never, I didn't necessarily,think of you as a camper.
The one time I took you campingwas it a tent.
You were about eight or ninemaybe.
So what?
Speaker 2 (04:31):
happened.
You don't remember, I rememberhaving a good time.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
You're happy to say that.
I just remember you not likingbugs and being a little more
high maintenance.
I'm sorry, but did I have fun?
Did you have fun?
So we stayed in that tent.
It was probably 12 hours.
We came in the late afternoon,we were in somebody's backyard,
(04:58):
we packed up the next day and wehad breakfast and we left and
so well, this is a goodconversation.
I'm glad we've done this.
I'm glad we're having thisconversation because we're going
to talk about how this weekend,when we've been here for the
whole weekend, so let's get intoit.
And this is a good message forpeople.
(05:18):
I have a lot of RVers campersthat say, well, I'm waiting for
my kids to be grown, or I don'tthink the kids would like it, or
how will they meet friends?
I've done lots of episodes, soeven my preconception obviously
is wrong.
So again, thank you, I'm gladwe've done this.
I'm really, really happy aboutthis, but let's talk about it.
(05:41):
So, on our way here, you weretalking about camping, but let's
talk about it.
So, on our way here, you weretalking about camping.
Your idea of camping before wecame here, you just were saying
was more what I call roughing it.
So what do you see like?
Ultimately, what camping wouldbe like?
Speaker 2 (06:09):
I mean, I would love to pick like a temperature
normal day that's not super cold, it's only in the, I would say,
upper 50s and for some reason Iam not handling it.
Well, I have been in this andthen a whole fluffy blanket when
we're all out together, whenwe're not in the camper.
But, um, honestly, I havealways, since the time that you
left me behind.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Let's talk about that .
Yeah, because I've been.
Let's talk about this time Ileft her behind.
It was traumatic.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
I have been wanting to go camping since I was little
.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
But let's share with our listeners.
So I'll start the story and youcould talk about how you felt
about being left behind and,again, it's a good thing for
people to realize perception andit's great because I'm always
about having open communication.
So Dan and I have five kidstogether, as a lot of my
(06:56):
listeners know.
For those of you who don't,there's five of them and we all
decided we were going to gocamping.
Dan and his son and daughterhad been camping quite a bit and
we're talking intense.
So the idea was we were goingIntense, intense, intense,
intense.
Okay, t-e-n-t-e.
(07:16):
Intense is where we were going.
So it was the four kids and thentwo of them had girlfriend or
boyfriend.
So there were six kids andEmily was going to be, was being
dropped off at her with her dadso that we could go camping.
And we were in Pennsylvania andwe just went to the Poconos and
(07:38):
literally Emily went with herdad and was crying.
You could talk about that.
But I felt like you were little, you were afraid of bugs, you
were afraid of the dark andbeing in a tent, you had to go
to a bathhouse, to go to thebathroom and that kind of thing.
(07:59):
So I just felt like she wasn'tready, she wouldn't want to do
it, and with all of these kids,what was I going to do if you
had a meltdown?
So how did you feel about beingleft behind?
And then, and it sounds likeyou're saying that was your, hey
, I want to do this.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
And that was the last time they ever all went camping
together.
So now here I am, 20 years later, and she still thinks that I'm
going to be scared because.
So my advice is, if you have akid that you're worried about,
or just an adult that you'reworried about bringing with you,
if they are interested in it,let them have a meltdown, let
(08:42):
them come out and have ahorrible time, because I and now
I sound like I'm 50 years olderthan I am but I see so many
kids that just don't want to getoff of their devices, but
whenever they have theopportunity to go outside, they
don't care about the deviceanymore, and I think that
everybody should be pushed alittle bit, because I, as soon
(09:04):
as she asked me if I wanted togo camping, I didn't ask where.
I didn't even know if it wasgoing to be in a camper.
Yet I was like, yep, I'm in.
I'm just craving getting out ofmy house, not listening to my
computer in the corner of myroom.
Maybe that's a weird thing, butI'm the kind of person that can
hear electricity and it justbothers me to be inside all the
(09:29):
time.
So I mean, we have access toelectricity here, but being a
little bit off the grid is justvery refreshing.
I'm very happy that I came.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
That is incredible advice and again, for anybody
who's new to the RV Life podcastI do have this in front of me.
I have to get my sponsors in isnot scripted.
We did not have a conversationbefore this like what we're
going to talk about.
That is right there.
That piece of what she justsaid will be a clip in itself,
(09:58):
because that is incredibleadvice.
And we even talked about, youknow, there are five grandkids
that are in our area and a lotof them.
We were talking about it, youknow, on devices all the time
and as, as you just said, theyget outside, they forget the
devices, and we even talkedabout bringing them camping.
So that's something we're goingto do in the summer.
(10:19):
Yes, it's been cold here.
I mean, it has been chilly anddreary and we still had an
amazing time.
So we were here invited to theGirl Camper kickoff weekend.
This is the time of thisrecording is the first weekend
in April.
We are at Spacious Guys CountryOaks in Dorothy, new Jersey,
(10:41):
and I just have to give a shoutout to them because I just felt
welcomed from the moment Iwalked in the door.
This place is amazing and I wantto talk a little bit about this
place because I'm alwayslooking to share with my
audience amazing places.
There will be a little bit of avideo camper and review but
(11:01):
again, keeping in mind it isapril, things have not started
blooming yet.
It was cold and rainy anddreary here, but if you could
use your imagination, and in amonth from now it'll be green
and lush, the pool will beopened.
And just keep that in mindbecause, again, this place is
just incredible.
(11:22):
So let's check a little bit.
First of all, about this place,let's give a shout out to
spacious skies, country oaks.
This campground is in the woods, it is more.
I don't know if rustic is theword.
Primitive is definitely not theword.
That is not the word no, no, sothey have.
Let's just talk about what itis.
You could go online, you couldcheck out their pictures, go
(11:45):
into spacious skies campgroundswith an scom and you can find
all of their campgrounds, butthere are full hookups.
It isa gravel level site.
There's a picnic table, there'sa fire pit, um, and.
But it is in the woods and itis not your cement sites that
(12:05):
some of you want.
So I just want to be clear Ilove this type of environment.
I truly love this type ofenvironment.
Okay, so that's the campground.
We were here invited becausegirl campers, who I did an
interview with you could seethat on the podcast.
I'll put the episode in theshow notes.
Also, there will be video of iton my new YouTube channel,
(12:31):
inspire Travels with patty.
A lot of information here, um.
But I was invited by girlcampers.
I've known janae pettit forjanine janine pettit I always
say her name wrong for years andshe said, hey, we're having
this event and I just said, yes,I didn't know what it was,
didn't know what to expect.
It is a girl, girls' event.
(12:51):
So I told you about the event.
What did you think?
Let's talk about the event.
What did you think of that?
Speaker 2 (12:57):
I that?
I mean, listen, I didn't knowwhat to expect, but I have
decided that wherever the girlcampers go, I want to follow
them.
That's awesome, they reallyjust.
They just sucked me in.
And now I my mother walked awayfrom me for about 30 minutes
last night and she came back andI'm like mom, I need to get a
(13:17):
tent, I need to get a differentcar, I need to get rid of my car
that I got a couple weeks ago,by the way, because I need my
jeep back.
Um, just within 30 minutes, Iwas inspired to get back in
nature again and I used to havea Jeep Wrangler, so I not I, my
(13:38):
parents would drive it for me uprock formation.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
So we were in Las Vegas and went up to up above
Red Rock Canyon, where onlyJeeps should go over rocks truly
rock climbing.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
I had the pass, that was my giant tires that I had at
the time.
But now I'm like I want thatcar back because that's I could
attach a little sleeper camperin it.
I don't know, they got me allinspired and I absolutely love
every single one of them.
I may have been the youngestgirl camper, but I believe I was
(14:19):
.
I didn't get a chance to talkto everybody, but I'm pretty
sure I was the youngest girlcamper, but I just love them to
death.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
And let's talk about what girl campers are for people
who don't know, because Iwasn't sure about this either.
So girl campers is just thatthey are ladies who want to go
out camp.
They camp solo, but then theyget together with groups of
people, like we did this weekend.
Um, what I didn't realize mostof these women, I was told, are
(14:47):
married and you know, some haverelationships whatever that
looks like this is or families,young kids.
They have families, they havejobs that they go to.
This is their way to escape, toget away, and one of the
stories that somebody told meand I won't give names or
details, but they were goingthrough a hard time and this was
(15:09):
a way to escape, to sit withsome of the ladies to talk about
it, to vent, to cry, and it'snot all about that.
I mean, they were having agreat time laughing together.
We had food together.
So we brought our meals and gottogether and had food.
Some of it is structured, someof it is oh, I'm going to a
(15:30):
winery today.
Who wants to go with?
So, any kind of activity,anything you want to do, you
could pair off the Girl Campers.
As I said, there's a wholepodcast episode on it, but they
have different chapters indifferent states.
You could go to any of thechapters and I'm just going to
have you check it out ongirlcampercom.
We obviously highly recommendit and you just find your people
(15:54):
that you want to be with andtalk to.
I talked to so many ladies thisweekend so that made it just an
incredible experience and,given the fact that it was cold
and we were sitting outside, wesat outside and we just bundled
up.
But I didn't want to miss thecamaraderie and the conversation
and people encouraging eachother and people you know
(16:16):
explaining different things andhelping.
And if you said, hey, I'm notsure how to hook up the RV to
the to the sewer, somebody wouldhave been there to help.
So it's been amazing.
I have to just pause herebecause I want to talk about my
sponsor, blue Compass, and whenyou're an RVer, you want to know
(16:36):
someone is with you every mile,whether it's sales or service.
That someone is Blue Compass RV.
With more than 100 locationscoast to coast and a thousand
service bays, with morecertified RV technicians than
any other dealer, blue CompassRV is with you today, tomorrow
(16:58):
and the road ahead.
Visit your local Blue CompassRV dealer or go to
bluecompassrvcom today.
Now let's talk a little bitabout it Again, just to give
listeners my new listeners somebackground information.
I started full-time RVing fouryears ago and we were in my
(17:21):
husband and I were in a 40-footClass A RV.
It had a lot to put my espressomachine because I had to have
my cafe mocha every morning, sothat was my priority.
It had a refrigerator for mymilk and all that's what I call
(17:41):
amenities, right Shower and allof that.
Now I have since, over the lastyear, sold the RV and have been
traveling for the last year byflying or driving and staying in
cabins.
I stayed in a yurt and today,this weekend, we stayed in a
retro RV, and this little RV isso cute.
(18:05):
I did some pictures of it thatyou could see on the YouTube
channel.
I am looking at ways to staywithout an RV.
I'm not sure I want to go tankcamping.
If you get the tent, if you getthe stuff, emily, I will go
with you.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
I already have a tent .
Actually, you have the tent.
I have like every piece ofcamping supplies because my
roommate is a camper, so there'sreally nothing we have to sleep
for.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
So I'm going to have to go take camping, and my
roommate has sleeping bags.
There we go, let's go.
So now I will be going to aTarget or Amazon and ordering an
inflatable, inflatable mattress, like I'm a little old to be
sleeping on the not old.
(18:51):
That's terrible.
My back I'm a little old to besleeping on the not old, that's
terrible my back.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
I'm a little old to be sleeping on.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Yeah, so we're gonna get a nice air mattress or a
foam roll up.
Speaker 2 (19:00):
All you have to do is get an air mattress with a pump
, and it's true, I just feellike I'm gonna wake up and I'm
just gonna be on the ground youhave to get a good air mattress.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
I've had that happen.
That is a that is an issue.
So we're going to go tentcamping.
I'm going to continue visitingcampgrounds like this and
staying in yurts and cabins.
They have cool little um logcabins here that you can stay in
and we'll get some video ofthat.
So I I guess if I'm going to gosomewhere and stay in a cabin,
(19:31):
you're going to go with me.
You're my side rider person nowwhatever we're calling it.
And yes, I will commit thatover the summer I will do tent
camping.
We just have to plan itweather-wise, because while it's
cold now, it's going to getreally hot.
We can do an episode.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
We absolutely can and we can do an episode.
We absolutely can.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
We can find the perfect spot to tend to camp
that's right, I'm pitchingthings into your show now so,
yeah, that's great thinking wewill find a perfect spot to take
camp.
It sounds like I've made acommitment here on the show, so
you guys are witnesses.
So this camper as you saw, ifyou saw the video, there is a
(20:14):
queen size bed over here andthere is a bunk on this side,
and it's one of those bunks thatyou feel like you're in a space
capsule, as you called it, andyou know what was your.
You had your choice at the topbunk or the bottom bunk.
What'd you choose?
Speaker 2 (20:31):
So I chose the top bunk because no real good reason
.
Just when I was younger, Ialways liked sleeping on the top
bunk whenever I had an option.
I like feeling high up andperched and in my little zone,
like there's really no goodreason for it.
However, I did notice that thebottom bunk is taller by quite a
(20:53):
bit like about half a foot, Iwould say and the one thing that
sort of got me was every time Ihad to sit up or I don't know.
I apparently stretch my armsout a lot.
The only thing is that I kepthitting the sides.
But that was just the firstnight and I got used to it
really fast and I love my littlecozy nook.
(21:14):
Honestly, I slept great inthere and I didn't want to leave
.
I was kind of worried aboutclaustrophobia when I first got
here.
My bedroom at home is huge.
I live in a suburb and I justhave a lot of space that I take
for granted on a regular basisbut I honestly loved feeling
(21:35):
cozy in my little nook and nothaving to deal with the
overwhelm of, like, a bunch ofstuff and where to put
everything.
Speaker 1 (21:42):
So I had a great time we talked about the RV
experience, camping experiencewe really didn't talk about you.
Do you want to share, like yourbackground, who you are, what
you do, because you have apretty flexible schedule so we
can pick up and go campingwhenever we want.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
Really so I do have the flexibility to just leave my
house whenever I want to.
I don't work a nine-to-five.
I do astrology and psychicreadings full-time and I also
sew clothes that I make,customized clothing for people
that I upcycle from stuff that Iget from the thrift stores.
And, yeah, I can just take mylittle sewing kit with me.
(22:25):
I mean, that might change if Iwas in a tent.
I think most of the time Iprefer to just get away if I'm
getting away and take a breakand check out like early check.
Yeah, but I am able to bringwhat I do with me.
And it's so fun becauseeverywhere I go, I meet people
who end up saying, oh, let'seither trade, I'll do a reading
(22:46):
for you or I'll make yousomething.
And you give me an astrologyreading.
Tell me what the heck is goingon in my life right now, and
it's a good time.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
I know you're working on your website.
When you have that up andrunning, we will put in the show
notes where to reach out toEmily and, as listeners know, if
you're new you can reach out tome and certainly I'll get
messages to Emily, but reach outto me.
I'd love to hear your comments,questions.
You have questions for me orEmily, you know, on RV Life
(23:18):
Podcast at Instagram or Facebook?
Love to hear from you.
So please do that.
Okay, I think we've covered alot here.
It's now time for the questionof the week.
I'm going to ask you thisquestion.
We did not talk about thisbeforehand.
Honestly, I'm going to ask thequestion, then give you a minute
to think about it and then I'llcome back and get your answer,
(23:41):
okay, so the question of theweek is brought to you by Cool
RV and the question is whatwould be on your bucket list of
a place you'd like to go orexperience you'd like to have?
So take a minute and thinkabout that.
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(24:02):
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There is a link in the shownotes.
So, emily, you've had a lot tothink about this weekend for
(24:48):
sure.
Is there something that you'veput on your bucket list, and
will you be making a bucket listat this point?
Speaker 2 (24:55):
so I do have a place that I have wanted to visit for
a long time.
Um, this is where some of ourancestors come from, but also as
a fan of dracula, I have alwayswanted to visit the
transylvanian mountains inromania.
I didn't see that coming at all, but if you have ever seen a
(25:17):
picture of these mountains, itis stunning.
Over there, it just looks likea fairy tale.
The mountains are beautiful,there's big trees, there's so
many log cabins and I would doanything to visit and by that I
mean I would buy a plane ticketand then go there.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
So I will make that happen someday that's incredible
, and every week on the show Iask people what's on their
bucket list.
Of course we know each otherobviously did not see that
coming at all not at all.
Again, leave a comment.
Anybody ever think of goingthere?
I've never had any of my guestssay anything like that, so
(25:57):
would love to hear your commentson that one.
It's now time for the FeaturedCampground of the Week, and it's
brought to you by RV Life.
The RV Life suite of productsincludes RV campground reviews
(26:18):
views.
This week's featured campgroundis Thousand Trails Sea Pines RV
Campground in Cape May,courthouse, new Jersey, and
that's not far from where we areright now at Spacious Skies
Country Oaks.
This is a Thousand Trails andyou don't need to be a member to
stay there.
The campground offers lots ofamenities and activities and
it's close to all areas of theJersey Shore.
(26:38):
They have vocal cups,waterfront sites and, for people
like me, they have rentals forpeople like you, and I'm not
sure if they do tents, so somecampgrounds don't do tent sites,
so we'd have to find that outif we're going to tent.
They have an 8.1 rating on theRV Life campground review site,
(26:58):
with 26 reviews.
It is so easy to go find outall there is to know about this
campground or any other.
You go to campgroundsrvlifecom,enter Thousand Trails, sea
Pines RV Campground and onceyou're there, you can see a ton
of photos, the tips, the fulllist of amenities about this
(27:21):
property.
Everything you need to knowabout this property will be
there, and the reviews are byRVers, and that's what I love
about this review site.
Rv Life Campground is part, likeI said, of the RV Life suite of
products and it's the mostcomprehensive source of RV parks
, campgrounds, resorts, as wellas city, state, national parks,
(27:45):
core of engineer properties andmore, and that is
campgroundsrvlifecom.
But if you are not already amember, go to the link in the
show notes and you get 25% off.
This suite of products is worththe full price of $65 a year.
With a 25% off, it's under $50and it is well worth it.
(28:06):
Okay, so, emily, we will put inthe show notes where people
could reach you.
We'll put it in the show notesif you want to add social media,
whatever it is you want to add.
That'll all be in the shownotes, and I want to thank you
so much for not only being onthe RV Life podcast but hanging
out with me for the wholeweekend, running camera for me
(28:31):
and, I'd say, making sure myhair worked.
But my hair just, you know we'recamping, it is not hair is not
working For those of you thatare going to go to the YouTube
channel and see it.
But you were a big help and Iappreciate it.
But, most important, it was anincredible weekend.
I learned a lot about somethingmore about who you are and the
(28:56):
fact that this is something youwant to do.
So thank you for being on theshow with me.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
Thank you for having me.
I had a really good time Goodgood.
Speaker 1 (29:04):
I'm glad to hear that and I want to thank you, my
listeners, and remember life's ajourney.
Live each day to the fullest,without regrets.
I'm Patti Hunt and you've beenlistening to the RV Life Podcast
.
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