Camping Etiquette

RV campers meet Tent Campers

I have just returned from a beach camping trip.

My husband and I are camping purists - strictly tents, campfires, no radios, with cell phones off and hidden in the glove compartment. The whole point of camping for us is to get away from it all, including the television, news, e-mail and phone calls.

Unfortunately over the last few years our favorite State Park campground (which used to be practically deserted) has been inundated with behemoth RVs, retirees and inconsiderate campers.

Nothing eases a tired soul more than the sound of wood crackling in the fire pit, the wind rustling the palmettos, the constant chirruping of crickets; offering that tropical, island feel. Delicious wafts of campfire cooking, suntan oil and brine.

The rhythmic, hypnotic crashing of waves on the beach nearby, a melodious avian chorus above ...and the NBC national news on full volume!

At first I mistake it for a conversation between the occupants of the monstrosity on wheels across the way. Then I conclude it must be a radio playing and little pangs of annoyance start creeping in. I get up from the comfort of my modest green camping chair and glance over. The two retired RV'ers are gathered around a television - outside. My jaw drops. I'm thinking "why on earth (not verbatim!) don't they go inside their hotel room on wheels and watch it there - since they chose to drag the bloody thing with them onto this lovely campsite that used to be so quiet!"

We encountered a similar situation on a previous camping trip when the RV'ers next to us bought out a TV and dumped a troupe of toddlers in front of it. Home Alone was on and we could hear each scene loud and clear. Not that it's a bad movie. I love Home Alone, but not when I'm camping thank you. Here they have miles of pristine beach to explore, beautiful weather and the Atlantic Ocean a short walk away. Instead the adults are locked inside their RV (probably watching another TV) and the kids staring at the box. And then there's the people that insist on playing their music - all night long. And of course you cannot quite make out the tune at some points, so all you hear is the boom of the base or the tinny guitar rift. Does one grin and bear it? Try and tune it out? Ask said revelers to turn it down or preferably off?

On another occasion we spotted a group of kids playing video games outside their tents. Why do such people go camping in the first place if they can't let go of their electronic gadgets? Please go stay in a hotel instead - they all have cable!

And hence the need for camping etiquette suggestions to be posted somewhere in bright red letters for all and sundry to read. Be considerate of your camping neighbors.

Some people want to escape the 'real world' for just a few blissful days, to sit around a campfire and, gasp, have a conversation and just maybe, have some peace and quiet in between.

I don't mind the sound of laughter from other campers, in fact, it's music to my ears. The sound of children playing and enjoying themselves in simple ways, with no need of electricity, is also welcomed. I love to chat and laugh around a campfire myself. But I don't want to hear rap music blasting from the next campground, a newscaster relaying the day's disasters, or child actors messing up some bad dudes, while I'm roasting my marshmallows!

Happy Camping!

Alison Hill is a featured writer for Xomba.com. Read the rest of her work, here .