Raindrops Keep Falling on the Roof .................

A friend of mine took two of her grandsons away to Filey in their caravan a few weeks away. We were talking about their trip and the weather they had. She said she was surprised just how much the boys had loved it when it rained. Far from disappointing they had found the sound of pounding rain on the caravan roof immensely exciting.

The conversation got me thinking because, like those small boys, I find being tucked up in my caravan when the rain is plip-plopping on the roof a peculiarly comforting experience. It is especially so when you wake in the middle of the night and you hear the pitter, patter of big, fat rain drops upon the roof.

Now, I know that we all enjoy our camping experience for a wide range of reasons. For the change of scenery, for the rest from everyday work and chores, to take the kids away or just to meet friends, family or fellow campers. All these make a lot of sense but why do we love it so much?

After all, most of us are leaving large, comfortable houses behind. We leave substantial brick built homes with every home comfort to spend a week or few days living in a glorified tin box! Admittedly, this is often a very well appointed tin box but, at the end of the day, it is still a small tin box.

Why, I wondered, do we have this overwhelmingly strong urge to do this? Why do we willingly swap our warm, big houses to live for a few days in a small caravan or campervan? Not only do we willingly swap but we find the whole experience a happy and exciting one.

My friend and I were musing on this when she suggested that maybe it reminded us of being children again. More accurately she wondered if it made us feel safe in the same way that when we made camps, shelters and tree-houses as children it was a big, exciting adventure. And when we snuck inside it was if we couldn't be seen. We felt invisible and safe. We felt protected. Nothing could get us any more. We were safe from the bogeyman.

Is this this the almost primeval feeling we get in our caravans and campervans? A subconscious reflection back to our childhood? Maybe it is because for a week or two we all escape the cruel realities of life. We can forget about the nagging boss, the unpaid bills and the bedroom that needs decorating.

So now you know. When we are camping in our caravans and camper vans we are really all just hiding from the bogeyman ….........................!