Our latest trip approached 4 weeks out. I looked at our calendars and well, it was a “go or be held back” kind of decision. We are spontaneous by nature and traveling Casita small has always facilitated easier last minute plans and no reservation flying. Yes even in ‘20-23.

Then there was a new inexpensive solar drip system (purchased on Amazon) and a bargain 55 gallon food grade water tank (marketplace) picked up for outside porch watering, along with the inside plants (brought out).

There was quite a rush of activity needed to get on the road. The veggies towers had to be erected and planted, irrigation systems up and prayers said for the frost warnings to be lighter than expected or hoped for.

Guess the rush made me forget to take that picture but it involved a miniature inflatable kiddie pool and a long line of very loved houseplants… it was impressive. Thanks Hub.

Then the ordinary stuff that is way too much work: Meal Plans, Special Diet Food Market Runs, Dog Food, Treats…and the hauling it all out to the camper and stowing it. Oh, and the clothes prep and stowing. This trip required cold and warm clothes and extra blankets and puppy pads.

I will add here, that we bought all of our homes with a Casita parking spot plan on site. I am eternally grateful that we don’t have to pay for storage or go get it early to cool down the fridge. This has been another blessing of a ‘17 camper. It’s in having it on site that spontaneity can happen more easily.

Its current spot isn’t so easy to back into but between the two of us, we get it done. It’s got easy access to a power cord and that makes me happy.

And then the buttoning up of home and mail and yard…

But then…my original destination looked to be a storm problem so (one day before leaving) we headed in a much different plan and destination. Off we went through Indiana up to Lake Erie and criss crossing all of Ohio on what I call Ann’s: What One Man Can DO tours. More on that in subsequent posts. We saw so much. We kept extending and trusting the plants systems would work. They did. And it was such a fun trip of so many unexpected sights and people.

More on the trip later…

The In…

Coming home means arriving to knee height grass, picking up the mail, unloading the food and fridge into the kitchen where it all needs sorting and stowing again. And the clothes. And the laundry. In this case, having been out in coat and shorts and rain weather in equal measure, there was a HUGE pile of blankets, sheets, towels, clothes…even though we did stay at a KOA where laundry was easy to do one evening.

The Hub has a compulsive need to put the Tools kit (levelers, chocks, extra cords, etc) up in the barn so he unloads the truck bed and sorts that. He also does the kitchen and fridge wipe down and door prop in the fridge, toilet cleaning, paper products refresh. I will, one day, get him to hear me that the tub can just slide into the camper door…but maybe not. Hahaha

When we arrived home we found the latest storm dropped between 5-7 inches of rain and that flooded our new septic system. So, no soaking bath for me and laundry metered out over days. One just never knows what one will meet up with on a return. All is well now though.

Now we get to sheet reinstall. You know all Casita owners dread this. I know, I know, we could have bed buddies or sleep in sleeping bags but we moved out of tents for this big king bed. So wrangle sheets I did. It makes the outs of next trip so much easier.

And then, because of the time of year (read hot El Niño year on tap unfortunately) I decided an expiration approaching turkey needed to get out of the freezer and be cooked, bone broth turkey enchilada soup made and canned, while red onions were sprouting and needed to be pickled or lost and veggie garden rewards were already coming in full force. Whew!

So, for all of my “thinking about buying a camper” friends: It’s wonderful to have your own private traveling hotel but it doesn’t come without the extra work. In fact, sometimes I think an enterprising young college student in Tx (home of Casita factory and so many Casita owners) could have a summer job of post trip Casita maid and Egg washer.

Oh, and I almost forgot, the Hub scrubs off the bugs and road dirt and we put the cover on so the amorous spring birds don’t incur a serious contracoupe on the shiny fantastic fan cover, in their narcissistic mating craze.

Lest you think any of this is complaining, it is not. It’s realism. It’s life. Our trips are not simple camping. Our trips are done the way we do trips in other countries…see it all while we can. It’s more work but also so rewarding. We love our Casita. After over 70 trips it’s like a family member.

I hope you can find the follow/subscribe button. FB has so much complaining on it, I just don’t care to share much beyond encouraging friends there anymore.

©️zenandtheartoflittlehousetravelling.com2026 All rights reserved