Camping

A four-photo collage from the campground: a fire burning in a steel fire pit, a selfie of me in a blue jacket and cap with our tent and one of the kids among green trees, three of the boys at the edge of a fishing pond watching the water, and a wide view of leafy trees under a cloudy sky.
A few photos from the campground: the fire, the tent, the fishing pond.

For the past 10 years or so, we've gone to the same campground at least once a year.

The owner and staff always recognize us. And now they recognize the kids too.

They always go out of their way to make us feel special in some small way.

An extra case of wood. Metal stakes when our plastic ones couldn’t get through the hard ground. Some meat from their freezer for us to grill.

The kids love it there.

Fishing. Hiking. Swimming in the ice cold river. Searching for tadpoles, snakes, lizards, and whatever else they can find.

There are probably hundreds of other campsites we could go to within driving distance.

But this one gets the vote every time.

A lot of companies seem to be valuing the human element and customer relationships less and less.

I just don't see it.

I can't imagine a future where people stop wanting that kind of connection.

So to the businesses that still value it: Keep doing what you're doing.