AIBU to have put a tent up in the garden just because I WANT TO?

[WeBuiltCisCityOnSeeingSouls]

I am bored out of my fucking skull (on the shielding list plus nocturnal teenagers and cats who aren't about in daylight to provide company and entertainment for me, the selfish little fuckers )

It's warm and sunny here. AIBU to have erected a tent in my garden (not one of my big ones, just a little four person one, no separate bedroom pods). It has fairy lights, a big shaggy rug and beanbag chairs etc. I can drag an extension cord out too.

My reasoning is that my DCs who share a room and moan about it, can use it as an extra bedroom, or they can just chill out in it in the day. It can be a change of scenery for me. Plus I just fucking love tents

But this morning I saw my neighbour (big garden, so tent not blocking their light or anything) look at it and laugh while exchanging a comment with their DS.

That's OK. They don't feel the tent love, fair enough although wrong. I know MN loves a tent thread, AIBU to have my tent up?

(DH has "helpfully" suggested I live in it in my own for 12 weeks as an isolation pod . He also doesn't like tents but I love him so much I married him anyway )

I can't believe your neighbours laughed. I know loads of people that went camping over Easter weekend in their gardens. I do not like camping but own a very old tent and camped one night with the kids. They played in it during the day. They loved it. If my DH wasn't so paranoid about his precious grass we would have left it up a few days.

My DH has got the roof tent up on the car just now (it's not as if it's going anywhere!) for the kids to play in. They love it!

Crack on, I think it's a great idea.

You will bring down property values in your street!

But I'm sure Enid Blyton would approve.

Beware unsympathetic neighbours with fireworks......

You will need lashings of ginger beer!

Go for it OP!

ds15 put his 2 man tent up this week. He slept in it one night for a change of scenery to (with a bowl of popcorn.) :)

Sounds like a great idea. If it wasn't raining I might do it myself.

It sounds great and I bet the cats can't resist taking command of it soon. I'm also with the other posters who think your neighbour could be laughing with you, not at you. A sort of 'that will be our holiday destination this year too' type of laughing maybe?

Actually I'm wondering if I can persuade my dd and her boyfriend to take a "holiday" to the bottom of the garden, they drive me made, all over each other constantly!

Great idea. It's good to have a change now and then.

I’m jealous! I only have a tiny little 2 man tent. I want a bigger one I can put up in my garden!

Do it! If we weren't all gravel I may do it myself!!

@TwoZeroTwoZero

We've gone all posh now and bought a glorified shed summerhouse for the garden. The dc want to spend the night in there but I'm not sure if we should let them

We (me, DH and our dogs) sleep in ours sometimes, it's great! (no kids)

OP: Facebook groups such as Family Camping Group and TentTalk UK are full of people putting their tents up and camping in the garden.

Why not start a thread on the MN Camping Board?

Your tent sounds ace.

YANBU, and it sounds lovely. I might give the extension lead a miss though, soundproofing is something tent designers never really managed to achieve.

We had to get rid of our motorhome last year (needed a hugely expensive bit of welding) and haven't found another yet, and we really miss it. I'd sleep in it on the street, just to wake up looking at something different.

We couldn't sleep in it on the drive. Our drive is quite steep and I'd keep rolling out of bed!

YANBU, I wish I could do that but our garden is really small and wonky and our only tent is massive!

Do it, have fun
Easter weekend in Aus is traditionally a time many go camping
This year camping in your back yard was encouraged and done by many

It doesn’t sound as though your tent has ANY impact on your neighbour. Your neighbour is a judgemental prick. Carry on as you are.

OP - Brilliant idea! We will be putting our tent up as soon as it is a bit warmer overnight - we usually go camping in the summer so this year will truly be a staycation - at least I know the showers & toilets are clean!!!!
DH would also love a Mazda bongo!
If I was your neighbour I would be chatting tents and all things camping with you!!!
Something so relaxing about being in a tent
Stay safe

I had forgotten I posted this! I have been having a pity party (for one, alone in my tent ) over the last week.

I know I shouldn't really moan as there are much worse things going on for others) but I am so fucking fed up. I feel even more self centred moaning as I am lucky to have a garden and The Tent but the thought of not leaving the house until fucking July, the attempts to home school, worry about DH's very wobbly job, finances, stress about family members for all sorts of reasons, feeling lonely etc is making me feel really...heavy.

I'm sure lots of us feel like that.

I am actually trying to think of ways to make my tent even better as I have been spending a lot time in it I want to sit outside as I can't go anywhere else but (oh first world problems I know) the sun is too bright for my pale transparent skin so reading in the tent is like being in the fresh air.

Any ideas welcome.

PS at least the playmobile threads are cheering me up a bit. And Thug Cat. If anyone also feels fed up and hasn't seen them, I recommend but can't link as I am on the app.

God I would LOVE a summerhouse.

Our neighbours have passed some interesting comments over the years, when I have trialled my main (4 main, 1 sleeping pod) tent before use and to dry it out after a couple of bad Cub camps, and also when I trialled my tiny (1 man) tent before it was due to be used with older Scouts on a windy island (so 2!! reasons not to get pitching it wrong!!). I have had to put them up on the very large green out the front, as our back garden is stones and paving.

Mostly they have been good - a few somewhat laughing, but a few jealous also that I get to go camping.

Enjoy it!!

If you get the chance, sitting reading in the tent in the rain would be awesome!! WHile it has been a pain to dry it out afterwards, I have always loved the days I wake up to rain on camp (especially as opposed to Cubs yelling at 5am, or needing medical or "substitute mammy" attention at 2am!! ), the gentle patter of drops on the canvas is just so nice. And there's far less likelihood of others disturbing you in the rain (but its easy to get a hot shower and dry clothes after running from the back garden....!! )

And bring a flask of tea and a packet of biscuits, along with a comfy cushion to sit on, to really enjoy your reading time.

Sign up to a months free trial of audible and if you're at all interested in crafting find something simple you can do to keep your hands and brain engaged while you listen?

Aww I wish we could put our tent up, but a) it's huuuge and b) we don't have any lawn to put it on.