Homer Outside
When we first started our camping adventures 10 years ago, we slowly built our list of comfort items we would take on each trip to enjoy the outdoors. A couple of lawn chairs, an outside table and trash can, a mat for in front of the door, a couple of side tables and our grill of choice. We didn’t need much in order to cook a meal and be outside. Now that we have become full-timers, we use those same items and have added a few more to make our “home of the moment” feel more like us. When we owned our sticks and bricks home, our front yard was an area we always took a lot of care and pride in keeping beautiful. What we’ve found is that just because we travel from place to place, there’s no reason we can’t still have a front yard that is pretty and inviting.
The Basics
When starting with the basics we wanted comfortable seating and found lawn chairs we liked. A small side table to hold an adult beverage sits between them and easily folds down to travel fairly flat. An outdoor trash can and eventually a rug where it all sits. We added in the larger, outdoor table to hold items we use during our meals and for cooking supplies. When we built this space to start, it really was just for function and not so much the “pretty” we have today.
We were pretty happy with our set up for weekends until Rocky hit the screen door just right and was able to escape and run the campground. Bark, bark, bark and after chasing him down and finally getting him back, we decided we needed to add a pet fence to prevent future escapes. We like this one because we can add sections to grow it, which we have done now that we are full-timers.
Full-timer Must Haves
After spending a few months traveling around the US and then parking for the winter in Mississippi, we decided a few more items would be helpful in our yard area setup. Our large table is a must have for cooking and holding those frequently used items, but its location is pretty much limited to being outside our slide due to its size. I found a smaller table with adjustable legs that I place just outside our front door and it’s a great place for unloading groceries, placing potty bags to easily grab prior to walks with the pups, and to just use as a work surface. The adjustable legs ensure it stays the right height based on the terrain where we are parked and has been a welcome addition to our overall setup.
In addition to our yard space, we also added a few items just for our creature comforts inside and for their useability outside. Our water softener saves our internal plumbing and avoids the dryness that comes from so much chlorine in some of the cities we have parked. A second hose and connector make it easy for Dave to flush our black tank and in case we need to do a little outside cleanup. Tire covers keep Homer’s shoes from sun damage and since we landed in Minnesota for some family time and mice decided to visit us, we have added a string of outdoor lights under Homer and we keep them burning to prevent the nasty little pests from arriving at night. Mud dauber screens prevent those pesky flying insects out of our appliances and these stair tread covers are amazing! Even after a heavy rain, they are dry in as little as 10 minutes. They wash off and they keep our pups from slipping on the steps as they make their way in and out of our home.
And now we add the pretty!
I love to have some color in my yard to provide that “pop” against the typical tan and green background we usually have at our locations. I limit myself to one plant just so it’s easier to move it from place to place, although, I couldn’t resist the little palm tree we found in Mississippi earlier this year. I also like to use baskets and trays to hold items for easier access outside and for those that we use over and over again. Clothespins, dog potty bags, bug spray, etc. I am also a fan of using natural elements in my decor and am currently obsessed with using driftwood to make projects. I love to search for ideas and then try to copy them and put my own twist on them. All of these add to pretty we call our yard no matter where we are parked.
Becoming full-timers doesn’t mean you have to give up all those areas you used to have at your sticks and bricks home. I think it means you just have to make the most of the space you have each day to add your personality and style. All the items we use fold easily and are stored easily for travel. For instance, all my outdoor decor items fit inside my outdoor trash can and that fits easily into our basement storage area. It also means if we are just stopping for an overnighter, I don’t have to set them all up if I don’t want.
In the end, when I walk outside Homer, it feels like an extension of who we are and is warm and welcoming. Just because you travel around, don’t limit yourself to just set up and tear down items. Let your personality shine through and let your campground neighbors get a peek into the wonderful people you are.