From Achewood, on Michael Jackson's death:

"He was your Elvis, and when your Elvis dies, so does the private lie that someday you will be young once again, and feel at capricious intervals the weightlessness of a joy that is unchecked by the injuries of experience and failure."

I was never really a fan of Mr. Jackson. But I get this.

So, childofsnow and I have been talking about camping. There are a certain number of large SCA events that involve camping. And for a certain amount of time, I / we are going to be stuck with a tent... the large Coleman number I currently own, or a period pavilion, or what have you.

She's said that she's still not a fan of camping, but will not refuse to come. I, in turn, have promised to find ways to make the experience more comfortable, and less objectionable. Here, therefore, are links to things I need to acquire at some point when I have money:

• She says one of the worst things for her was having dirty hands. Well, REI has a portable camp sink which will help take care of that. Back when I was a member of the Carolina Canoe Club and my ex-wife and I spent a lot of time hauling boats out to the middle of nowhere and then paddling them down rapid-infested rivers, we bought a lot of stuff from REI, and I have confidence in the quality of their goods.
  
  
• My air mattress blew a seam while we were at Highlands War XV. Later, childofsnow shared with me the fact that she's not all that fond of air mattresses, anyway. Kat and Curlew let us borrow some folding futons, and they were very nice. Bulky, difficult to pack, but very nice. Foam Order has some tri-fold foam beds that I'm looking at. Hmm. I should ask Curlew where theirs came from....
  
  
• It was cold at night during the war. And, one night at the last Estrella, I woke up with frost on my blankets. So, I know that I've said it before, but I'm thinking a tent heater might be a good idea. The Coleman ones are designed to be used in a tent, and they produce heat through catalysis, rather than burning, so they don't give off CO / CO₂.
  
  
• None the less... I carry a fire extinguisher to events, and I should probably also think about a CO / smoke detector.
  
  
• Nobody tell childofsnow about the camping coffee maker, okay? We'll let that be a surprise for her.

Anyone else have suggestions for making camping more comfortable?