August 2023 - 4

A COUPLE PENNIES
WYOMING
WILDLIFE
Camper
conundrum
By Robert Gagliardi, associate editor
One of the proudest moments of my
outdoorsy life was when I purchased
my first camper trailer four years ago.
It's not big at 19 feet long. It's not fancy
with electric-powered jacks or slide outs.
That wasn't what I sought when I made
the purchase.
I wanted something small and simple
that kept me and my dogs out of the elements
at night. A Labor Day weekend
camping trip with friends in the Snowy
Range in tents hammered that point
home. When overnight temperatures
dipped into the teens I quickly realized
my days of tent camping were over.
Buying my first camper also brought
memories of my youth. I loved everything
about campers, but especially sleeping
in campers. I romanticized it then and
still do today.
This camper filled a need and void.
However, when my wife became part of
these adventures my mind got to racing
- which is dangerous.
Maybe it's time to upgrade to a bigger
camper? Even though we don't go
camping to spend all our time in the
camper, it's tight quarters with two
people and two dogs. There isn't much
space, sleeping arrangements are tight
and simple tasks like getting dressed or
getting ready for bed aren't as simple in
those close confines.
Recently my wife and I went camper
shopping. We knew what we wanted -
something in the 22-24-foot range with
more space, better storage and a larger
bed. After looking at floor plans online, we
needed to see in person what was out there.
We found a couple we liked and went
back-and-forth about what we liked the
4 | August 2023
best. It was kind of a roller-coaster ride
of emotions and thoughts. At one point
we felt like we would buy camper A, then
camper B. What if we could get camper A
with that dinette or bed from camper B?
When we got home we did more
research and number-crunching. That's
where things got scary. It's not that we
couldn't afford what we wanted, but did
it make sense financially in the bigger
picture of things?
After long deliberation that took a lot
out of us, the answer was no.
There was a sense of disappointment
of not getting a camper - at least not
yet. But there also was a sense of pride
and satisfaction that my wife and I talked
this out - we made a written list of pros
and cons and posted it on our fridge as
a reminder - and made a smart and
sound decision for us. A good example of
adulting, not always fun, but necessary.
Now, our focus is on how we can
make our little camper better and more
efficient. My wife is an expert on organization
so she is already thinking of
ways to better utilize the space we have.
I get a feeling a lot of the things in the
camper will be coming out. As she says,
" You don't need six of everything. " We're
also looking at ways to brighten things
up and make it more comfortable. These
are projects we can do together, which
makes it more enjoyable and special.
The point of camping is to get away
from the rigors of everyday life. You don't
have to rough it when you camp, but
that is part of allure in some respects.
There is a fine line between camping and
glamping. We are still on the camping
side of that line, but now we will work
together to find a better balance between
the two.
VOLUME 87, NUMBER 8 * AUGUST 2023
State of Wyoming
Wyoming Game and Fish Commission
Governor
President
Vice President
Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner
Ralph Brokaw, Arlington
Richard Ladwig, Manville
John Masterson, Casper
Rusty Bell, Gillette
Kenneth Roberts, Kemmerer
Ashlee Lundvall, Powell
Mark Jolovich, Torrington
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Director
Deputy Director
Deputy Director
Chief of Fiscal
Chief of Wildlife
Chief of Fisheries
Chief of Services
Chief of Communications
and Education
Brian Nesvik
John Kennedy
Angela Bruce
Greg Phipps
Richard King
Alan Osterland
Eric Wiltanger
Nish Goicolea
Magazine Staff
Editor
Associate Editor
Creative Director
Contributing Designer
Mark Gordon
Tracie Binkerd
Robert Gagliardi
Patrick Owen
Emalee Roth
Wyoming Wildlife (ISSN 0043-9819) is published monthly (including the November
calendar issue) by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Periodicals postage
paid at Cheyenne, WY and additional mailing offices. Postmaster, please send all
changes of address to Wyoming Wildlife, P.O. Box 469001, Escondido, CA 92046.
Printed in the USA. COPYRIGHT 2020 BY THE WYOMING GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
CONSERVING WILDLIFE
SERVING PEOPLE
How to subscribe
Call 800-710-8345 (toll-free) to subscribe or to modify a subscription.
SUBSCRIBE / ADDRESS
CHANGES / GIVE A GIFT:
Wyoming Wildlife
P.O. Box 469001
Escondido, CA 92046
Visa/Mastercard accepted.
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
$14.95 for 12 issues
$38 for 36 issues
$2.50 per issue on newsstands
ADDRESS LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR TO:
Wyoming Wildlife
5400 Bishop Blvd.
Cheyenne, WY 82006
wyomingwildlife@wyo.gov
BACK ISSUES:
Back issues from the past year are
available at
wgfd.wyo.gov/store/
How to connect
wyomingwildlife@wyo.gov
facebook.com/wyomingwildlifemagazine
instagram.com/wygameandfish
youtube.com/wygameandfish
wgfd.wyo.gov/email-sign-up
twitter.com/wgfd
Affiliations
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/about-us/wyoming-wildlife https://governor.wyo.gov/ https://wgfd.wyo.gov/About-Us/Game-and-Fish-Commission/Meet-the-Commissioners http://wgfd.wyo.gov/store/ http://www.facebook.com/wyomingwildlifemagazine http://www.instagram.com/wygameandfish http://www.youtube.com/wygameandfish http://wgfd.wyo.gov/email-sign-up http://www.twitter.com/wgfd https://www.irmamagazines.com/ https://www.aci-net.org/ https://www.wyopress.org/
August 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2023
