I am the type of person that has some of the worst luck when it comes to the weather. I just bought a new car, my first week of owning it, it hails… If you are anything like me, firstly I empathize with you, and secondly no matter how well you plan a camping trip the chances of you getting rained out is inevitable. I personally have learned to turn that frown upside down and find the silver lining of rainy days. These are the days I make excellent use of “unexpected” spare time.
PLAY SOME GAMES
My husband and I love playing games. We like playing all the classics like chess, checkers, and Uno. Our most recent purchase was the Nintendo Switch, and I am in love with it. Classics like Risk, Mario Party, and Monopoly were the first games to be downloaded!
We always keep a simple deck in the RV for those hundreds of card games like War and Rummy. When my godchildren go on camping trips I pack their favorites: Candy Land, Trouble, and Jenga.
HOBBIES
If you’re anything like me, it’s hard to find the time to catch up on all those hobbies you love to do. I feel like rainy days are perfect to catch up on painting or decoupage crafting. The pitter patter of the rain is a calming sound to paint to! For others, hobbies like puzzling, knitting, or writing might be ideal for a rainy day!
MEAL PREP
I am not a big fan of cooking all the time in an RV. There is never enough kitchen space, so the less times I have to cook the better. If I’m going to be stuck in doors all day I will try to make the best of it by getting the week’s meal prepping out of the way. Doing it this way allows for more fun in the sun!
If you happen to love cooking, keep a recipe book or two on hand to try out new dishes on a rainy day. Heck, if you don’t want to pre-cook all your food for the week, you could still always use this time to plan what meals you are going to prepare. We all know that making decisions while hungry isn’t fun!
MAINTENANCE
While I am doing the meal prepping, my other half uses his rainy day time for the upkeep of the RV. Traveling can take a toll on your unit. He maintains things like repairing the cabinet hinges, replacing the busted water fittings, or maintaining the air conditioner. Keeping up with the minor repairs removes the stress of everything breaking at once.
If you’re looking to redecorate, rainy days make for the perfect opportunity to hand those new curtains, or installing shelf liners.
CHORE TIME
When it comes to chores I tend to put off for tomorrow what I could get done today. It may not be exciting, but using rainy days to catch up on folding that laundry you've been putting off all week is not a bad way to utilize being stuck in doors. Since I use rainy days to prepare meals, my chore is always the dishes. For my other half, he’s sweet enough to clean our bathroom. (My least favorite thing to do!) You could always use this opportunity to organize your pantry or clean out that junk drawer!
Chores may not be a fun thing to do on a rainy day, but at the end of the day when you’re resting and looking around at your clean RV, you will feel a sense of personal accomplishment. I know I do when I take advantage of the opportunity, no matter how much I grumble.
EXPLORE
For some people, being trapped in doors just isn’t an option. If you have the availability to drop your camper and go explore the town, the rain can be a good day to go explore the town. I know we like to travel because we enjoy seeing new things. Use this time to go to the local museums, or check out the local mall. You might be surprised what the nearest town has to offer! You get the chance to learn about the local culture and escape the confines of your home on wheels.
In a town where there isn’t anything to see, or you’ve simply been there long enough to have experienced the culture, then you can always go for a pleasant drive. If it’s raining cats and dogs then this isn’t something I would suggest. However, on those light rainy days, there is something peaceful about riding along the country roads and connecting with my partner.
CONNECT WITH FAMILY
We are all guilty of getting caught up in our own lives. If you have internet access, utilizing the bad weather to connect with your friends and family is never a bad idea! I know my mom always loves hearing from me while I’m out on the road. They are always concerned with my safety, so checking in with them helps keep their minds at ease. You can always use this time to update your Facebook and Instagram, or simply be silly by making a TikTok video.
Stop looking at rainy days as a damper on your vacation! Start looking at them as an opportunity to get caught up, relax, or gain quality time with your loved ones. You might even find yourself looking forward to the rainy season! I would love to hear about your favorite things to do during a rainy day! Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
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