Every single year I tell myself to make a list of the things that i forgot, or could have really used. And every year I forget to do it.

Things I wished I had:
--canopy
--more rain gear
--MORE ADVIL
--Larger satchel for carrying supplies

Things I was glad to have:
--Collapsible laundry basket (to sort between "reusable" and "WAY FUNKY")
--cutting board
--extra gallon sized ziploc bags
--extra sheets for the bed
--Baby wipes
--salt and pepper

Given last year's weather - my SCUBA gear would have been a good addition.

Last year I forgot the canvas floor for the pavilion and the extra canvas tarp for blocking the morning and evening sun from my door.

Last year I had the boat, too bad it was on the trailer at the marina where I was getting the leaf spring that broke replaced.

Gee, I had the tubing cutter in the toolbox from the time at Gulf war when I forgot the six corner sections for the pavilion frame and had to refabricate them.

I was really, really glad to have the large battery powered fan.

I actually bought a little notebook at the Coopers store last year right before I left. On the way home I made a list of things we needed and didnt have, things we needed more of and things I wanted for next time around.

Shockingly, I was actually ABLE to find the notebook again when I started preparing for this year, so hopefully, I will be well set :-)

On the list were things like non-staining PABA free sunblock, more water, more white wine, extra hair pins and hair ties, more towels (I am taking triple what I had last year), single layer linen garb like early period tunics, etc.

Wish I had but i didn't:
packed more time. Some sort of Silent alarm pest control device. (nothing like waking up to feeling something on your chest and when you go to wipe it away you get a hand full of spider, which you then fling and hear the little pitter patter of it's giant legs padding across your tent floor)


Had and LOVED:
muslin. I've found so many farkin uses for the stuff it's amazing. My personal fav is dipping it in a mostly melted cooler (perferibly not the one the meats were in EW) then wrapping it around my head like a turbin. It cooled me off so well, then when it got warm, i'd unwrap it, flap it about a bit, then put it back on and it was cool again. GLORIOUS!

This will be my first year in a perioid tent, I'll probably learn very quickly what I wish i had.

FYI ... best purchase ever, which I forgot to bring last year but will never forget again:


Ryobi personal 18-volt fan, from the Ryobi tool system exclusive (I think) to Home Depot and 18-volt batteries.

Buy a few batteries, precharge them and then bring the charger, too. (It takes about an hour sitting around the barn to recharge the batteries; but with a full charge you can get at least 5 hours of a blissful breeze that's strong enough to rival the most powerful electric fan.)

A trench around my tent, which sits in a ditch (on pebbles). Fortunately I had a good ground tarp and ended up with a water mattress for a floor rather than a stream for a floor.
But this year I'm definitely buying a trench once I get there (actually, it's pre-paid).

I shoulda thought of this years ago - offer a free ride and lunch to a man (or two) without a car in exchange for truck-loading and tent-setting-up. And trench digging.

I should have brought: more garb!

Glad I brought: my camp bed! my rugs got saturated but everything I owned was protected either by that bed or the plastic bins stuff came packed in. My shoulder bag was also invaluable.

A better mug!
...rather a non breakable mug. Why I Ieft my tankard at home and just brought my bellydance coffee mug, I have no idea. After 20 years doing this I know better!!