When I realized a couple of months ago that I wasn’t going to feel comfortable getting on an airplane for some time, I started looking at RVs, trailers and campers. Not traveling at all, for me, is simply not an option. Road trips are clearly the way to go now.

After a deep dive into the rabbit hole that is the camper/trailer/RV world online, I fell in love with tiny fiberglass campers. There are plenty of varieties, but I settled on a Scamp, in part because the company is still in business, so help or parts are easily available (if needed). Also, Scamp owners are fiercely loyal to the brand and everything I’ve read made me feel like I’d be happy with it. Scamps also seem to last forever and hold their value.

Though I ordered an official Scamp catalog to review my options (a 13-footer starts at about $12K), in the end, I decided I’d rather buy a used Scamp, which would prove to be easier said than done. I knew I wanted a 13 foot one because I knew our Honda CRV could pull it (I did my homework!). I obsessively checked the Fiberglass RVs for Sale website daily, along with Craigslist. Considering we’re in a pandemic, I only considered options that I could look at within a two-to-three hour drive. After a couple of false starts, I found the perfect one. I saw the ad on Sunday, called the owner on Monday and we bought it on Wednesday.

Because our CRV doesn’t have a tow hitch yet (appointment made for installation next week!), my husband and I borrowed a friend’s truck with one and headed up to Maine to get it. It’s a 13-foot 1981 model that the last owner completely rebuilt after buying it from a couple who had simply stored it in a barn, so it was in rough shape, but with his work, it’s pretty much good to go. Speaking of going, it does have a portapotty, which means we don’t have to use public bathrooms, yay! It also has a stove, sink and heat. I’ve ordered a solar shower and a privacy tent, so it will have everything we need to head out to explore.

That said, we have some decorating to do, so check back here for updates and more info on this new adventure. One last thing, every Scamp needs a name, right? If you haven’t already guessed, ours is called the “Escape Pod.”