AIBU for not wanting to sleep in the garden

[Captaincarnoustie]

Sounds a bit obvious when you put it like that 🤣 but opinions welcome. Being intentionally vague on age genders etc as SIL is on Mumsnet.

YABU - suck it up and sleep in the damn tent
YANBU - the only thing I like to bring camping is a hotel room

We’re a mixed family but have been together a while (5years) and we have a big family get together coming up over Easter hols and it’s myself, partner, and a bio kid each, attending. Hosted by my partners parents.

Lots of family coming from a very drivable distance but we are not - at least 3h drive one way and it’s very rural so no airbnbs etc nearby we have always just stayed over at the hosts house and it’s been good.

we got told today that because “older family members are coming over and they want to drink and have to take priority” we have to set up a tent in the garden instead of having an actual bed, hot water etc. I’m thinking … nope 👎 That sounds like my personal definition of hell, and just no. I am just keen to make our polite excuses, however partner thinks we should still go.

I’ve suggested they go themselves but they think it would cause “drama and speculation” about our relationship if they go and I don’t (tbf it would) and offend them if we decline because they told us about this months ago.

AIBU?

I would stay over say 45min-1 hour a way and just drive. Why can't you sleep on airbeds in the lounge etc

Can you hire a campervan rather than pitching a tent? Or drive to the nearest town for a cheap hotel or Airbnb?

This! House swap, it's the best idea.

I imagine pitching your tent will be instead of socialising with the other guests....

Yes good idea about staying in one of the closest homes.
I like camping and even I wouldn't like this.
The hosts should sleep in the tent and you have their room!

Just tell your partner you're not going and he is free to go on his own! If the family want to speculate about your relationship, good luck to them 🤷‍♀️ no way would I be sleeping in a tent in the cold weather!

As a fellow Scot (and one who's not averse to the odd camping trip): Fuck. That.

No way would I or my child be sleeping in a tent in the Highlands in the current weather.

I agree - the hosts should have the tent if they think it’s acceptable to camp in the Highlands in March! Tell them it’s probably better that they camp because they’re more acclimated to the local weather, see what they come back with!

And don’t be making excuses about having bad backs or covid. Tell them you don’t want to come if you’re expected to camp in the garden in winter. And tell them you had been really looking forward to coming until you heard that!

Use Booking.com. to find accommodation.
Lots more options listed

I'm a regular camper and overnight at the end of March...? Absolutely not! It will be far too cold.
Hotel or Campervan.

This is a great idea if you have the funds

Not a chance in hell would I go if I was expected to sleep in a tent.

And as hosts, it’s extremely ungenerous of them to expect you to do so. I’d be giving up my bed/sleeping in with the kids/on sofas before I would treat guests like second class citizens.

Tent in March? That would be a no from me. Options -

1. Don't go
2. Sleep in older relatives houses
3. Sleep on floor in lounge
4. dh goes himself
5. Hotel

I'm a camper but Easter, especially when it falls this early, is a no for me.

We once did May day in Fife and it was minus two at night with heavy frost. We were fine but we have good kit and I wouldn't have liked it on an airbed taking the cold through it.

We are forecast snow up here next week.

There must be somewhere inside you can go, even if it's effectively indoor camping.

You'd need some pretty serious gear to camp in Scotland in March wouldn't you? I've just spent £60 on a sleeping bag for my DD to camp out in the south in May so I'm guessing upwards of £100pp just for sleeping bags unless you already have them?

You and your partner need to get a backbone and stand up for yourselves! Being expected to sleep in a bloody tent in Scotland at this time of the year is disgusting!

No I wouldn't be going, in fact I'd take this suggestion by them as being uninvited, as who would think this is reasonable?

Your DP just needs to give your excuses and go with his own DC if he's happy for both of them to run the risk of hypothermia.

It could well be sub zero overnight, what on earth are the hosts thinking.

That's what we've done, they're cosy and you can escape

This- easy enough.

Oh no, I feel your back going a few days before meaning the long drive will be unbearable and impossible to stay in the tent, such a shame.

Well if you can't afford an Airbnb or even a campervan, don't want to sleep in a tent, I'd stay home.

Nope.

I only camp in 3 star hotels. That is as low as I go. And even then I am picky.

Why can't your DP just say sleeping in the garden doesn't work for you so you won't be going? You're adults! And if they kick off ask them if they think it's fine why don't they camp out and you have their room 😂

For how many nights? You won't die from hypothermia with decent bedding and I assume you can stumble across the garden to the loo in the night. I would quite like it but if it's not your thing then just decline.

I’ve suggested they go themselves

Am I the only person whose brain inserted a short Anglo-Saxon verb between "go" and "themselves" here? 😂