If you’re an RV owner, you’ve no doubt spent time and treasure stocking your rig with all the accessories you hope will personalize your experience. But what if you’re traveling in someone else’s RV – and they don’t quite consider “must-have” camping or music festival goodies the same as you do? How can you ensure you’re prepared to make the experience your own, even if you’re riding shotgun?
Enter the “go bag.”
Expectant parents nearing term are encouraged by their gynos to pack a go-bag. For that matter, so are people who face natural disasters. This bag is stocked with indispensable items, like a change of clothes, toiletries, maybe a book, a flashlight, some snacks or gorp (GTS), you know, stuff to survive the time away.
Campers and music festival goers could benefit from the same concept. Whether an actual bag, or a list on your phone, the camping or festival Go Bag can ensure you’re ready to roll without the normal frenetic rush and memory lapses as you’re hustling to get out the door.
What would you pack? A recent trip to the Resonate Music Festival revealed the essentials. The morning after arrival, fellow roadtripper Brian went looking for a hammock in RV Bertha’s pass-thru storage. Straps? Yes. Hammock? <crickets>
There’s the first accessory – a hammock and straps.
Walking past a meadow with short-cut grass basking in the sun, man, a Frisbee sure would be fun right about now.
There’s another box for future checking.
Once the band went on and the volume went up, the ear holes were begging for relief. There’s a dozen pair in the RV back home, with another pair on the keyring. They’re always nearby when the camper’s nearby. But you can’t be assured others will be as protective or stocked as you are regarding hearing protection.
Whether camping or doing a festival, a drawstring bag is always a handy accessory. It’s a great place to stash your hammock and straps, Frisbee, hearing plugs,
This isn’t a replacement for your duffel packed with clothes, toiletries and the like. This is stuff you could do without, but why would you want to? Bringing it along would elevate your camping experience.
As I’m putting pen to paper, I’m thinking what would make the short list. OK, so we have a hammock and straps, a Frisbee, and ear plugs or higher-end hearing protection, and that draw-string bag to schlep it all around the fairgrounds or on a hike.
What else? How about a cigar case with a few smokes, a cutter and a torch. My festival chair would be nice.
Make sure your list is dynamic. Things change, depending on mood, season, event. Is rain or a chill in the forecast? Remember that slicker.
Remember to start your list and update it often. Things change. Just be prepared to roll.