glamp·ing
/GLAMP-ing/
noun
1. a form of camping involving accommodation and facilities more luxurious than those associated with traditional camping.
With that online definition (from Oxford Languages) in mind, let’s explore the phenomenon known as glamping as it affects some people you might know. (Hint, hint)
Now, by definition, Evelyn’s and my motor home might be considered glamp-worthy. It does sport a microwave/convection oven, air conditioning, a full-size refrigerator (with two-drawer freezer) and three TV’s, one outside. It will accept electricity, water, and, when offered by the campground, sewer service. It will sleep six people, two on a queen-sized bed in a rear bedroom separate from the rest of the camper. The bathroom offers toilet, sink, and shower. For all intents and purposes it’s a mini-home on wheels. Evelyn and I have told people that we are “unabashed glampers” – if there’s no AC, TV, or microwave, we’re not going!
It’s truly a pleasure to get away for special breaks now and then. Being situated in a campsite surrounded by trees, knowing that a swimming pool or general store are only minutes away, allows us to enjoy our temporary relocation. That’s the upside.
On Wednesday, August 3rd, we experienced the downside.
After having traveled to several locations recently, the RV was in need of a good sprucing up, inside and out. The chore is not one I particularly enjoy. The only thing that kept me going was knowing how nice it was going to look when we were done. Evelyn tackled the inside. I washed the outside.
I’ve tried several approaches to washing the RV. When I got my pressure washer I thought I had it made. Imagine my disappointment when it left the black streaks and other stubborn marks that I ended up removing by hand anyway. Neighbors (and Evelyn) encouraged me to use the new dish liquid, Dawn Ultra Platinum Powerwash spray. It’s supposed to be a super-penetrating cleaner that loosens cooked-on food so all you have to do is “spray, wipe, and rinse.” Actually, it works really well on dishes. And I discovered that it works well on those black streaks on the RV. But these people had some idea that I should spray the entire RV with this stuff and wipe it down! For one thing, I have no idea how many bottles it would take to clean a 32-foot long, 11-or-12-foot high vehicle. For another, if I tried cleaning it that way, I’d still be out there spraying and wiping and rinsing, spraying and wiping and rinsing, spraying and ….
It’s bad enough that the best approach for me comes down to good ol’ elbow grease, a sponge, and liquid car wash. It takes several hours to do the job right, but when it’s done, it looks really good – a job I can be proud of. By rights I should follow up the washing with a nice coat of wax, but, hey – one thing at a time, folks. I’m “tard!”
Evelyn, in spite of her chronic fatigue and other issues, succeeded in wiping down the fridge and freezers, the stove, and other flat surfaces inside (I ran the generator so the AC would work for her). Once she was done with her areas, I went inside and, on all fours, wiped down the floor with Pine Sol water and a rag. It was getting close to time for the storage place to close, so rather than take on any more projects, I decided to return the RV for the night. Next time, which should be soon since we’ll be taking off for a weekend coming up, I’ll apply a coat of vinyl protector that also gives the floor a nice shine and wash the windshield.
My point is that glamping looks glamorous when you see those motor homes zipping down the highway on their way to their next ventures. But it takes a lot of effort to keep them looking that way. I guess that, as long as we’re able to keep up with the demands of cleaning, we’ll endure the downside so we can enjoy the upside of glamping.