Would it help if you took a television? My OH is dyslexic so whereas I will read for hours, he will watch an hour of TV now and again.
As others have said you need to sit down and analyse what he likes and what he doesn't like and then consider whether you or he can do any things to change the way he feels about your trips.
My OH is heavy handed and very short of patience, he loves the camping side of things and will happily sit and watch the sky for hours but we've moved to a set up that works for us. We use a frame tent so the poles are pretty bullet proof and we have a big trailer so we keep all our kit in it rather than having to pack/unpack/repack etc. and we pack in a way that requires minimal set up to save time.
You really need to have an honest chat and work out whether you can change anything that will make a difference or whether you will camp on your own. Just make sure you listen to him to see if you can provide solutions.
List the likes, dislikes and then you will get a clearer picture of what sort of camping he prefers. If it is for weekend breaks for quality time together, would a smaller set up make it easier. Less putting up and putting down. Get him to try pin down what it is he really doesn't like and see how you can change that bit.
At the same time, which bits does he really enjoy. What does he want to do when away. That will help getting the right camp site. My OH likes to be near a beach to walk on in the evening and this is what he expects on his main holiday each year. Short breaks, I like a view but I also like to be able to hear trees in the breeze. I only realised that after this years easter break where the site didn't have any mature trees near and I really missed the sound lulling me to sleep.
If he really, really hates it, could you go on a girls only camp with girls from work or family.
Thank you for all your advice I think we have sorted it he wants to look at trailer tents as he feels now we have outgrown our tent he would prefer to Euro camp on abroad holidays as everything is set up for you when you arrive. He also would prefer much bigger sites with lots going on e.g park resorts, Haven that sort of thing. He is quite happy to still go camping as long as we try to make it easier and he does not feel like its a job.
We were going to Ireland next year camping this trip will still go ahead either in a trailer tent or hire a mobile caravan either way this makes us both happy and a solution to our problem.
Quote: Originally posted by robnchar on 28/6/2011
OMG i dont get how some people have got together if you carnt enjoy your spair time together . . i carnt imagine doing things with out OH we do do our own thing but the big things interest holidays are done together as a couple or a family
It seems to have worked for the last 20 years! I think most of us are only talking about the odd weekend apart, not main holidays. It's better in the long run to do the odd thing separately rather than forcing someone to do something they don't want to, or giving up something you do want to do.
was the other way round for me and my OH she only recently got into it and is now addicted and buying everything she bloody can.
The eurocamp, keycamp and haven(Europe) i used to work for and have some amazing sites, also you can go from site to site as well and is well worth it, just pick sites that arnt just big and busy its also whats in the area to go visit, again my OH sits on the pc looks at places she wants to go see and then looks for the site to visit.
TBH she driving me nuts i used to find asite with fire allowed then head out with pack on
------------- If you want the ultimate, you've got to be willing to pay the ultimate price. It's not tragic to die doing what you love.
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Just going camping without him - that's what I do!
My OH works 6 days a week and isn't that fussed about camping.
He came along with me a couple of times in the beginning as I was keen to try camping and he wanted to be supportive.
I really loved it but he wasn't that bothered and we didn't camp for almost a year.
I then bought a smaller tent that I could pitch on my own and I've never looked back. He is supportive of my hobby and doesn't mind when I say I'm going away for the weekend.
I'm sure you could find a camping buddy on here to meet up with if you don't like the idea of going away totally on your own.