We took my son camping for his birthday. The goal was to be as connected to nature as possible. It was funny to me how many extension cords I had going around. Yes... the campsite had electrical power.

The background of the pic is a real place. Lake Motosu in Japan. It’s a popular camping ground. I don’t think they have electrical outlets at that site. So, what would I need to “camp” there? Solar, wind, and gas generator power, fridge, plug-in cooler, stuff in the tent. Got to charge my phone, you know.

Car Camping

Truth be told, I’d want to do car camping. I was thinking about buying one of those late '80s, early '90s GMC Vanduras. You know, those vans that had plush carpeting inside, wood paneling everywhere, a tube television embedded in there somewhere, a sink, a fridge. You can setup a bed in the back on top of the seats; that’s the draw. Plus, you can lock it up and go for a walk without worry.

I’ve seen some pretty posh van/truck camping setups over the years. Some are delightfully tech-heavy, too. Solar panels, satellite internet, water filtration even. I like those that you can attach an additional tent to the back of the vehicle, extending the living space.

These are the cheap options, of course. The more nimble, agile camping setups. But, of course, we’ve all seen a camper bus that literally transforms into a small home. Nothing like being part of nature, from the comfort of your own home. 😊

See the rest of my cartoons in the Engineering on Friday comic gallery.