When we started camping a few years back we used camp stoves, sleeping bags, lanterns . Our reason for camping was to be close to the fishing areas we frequented. Tents and sleeping bags were all we had at the time. If we weren't allowed to have an open fire to cook on we used a stove. We camped mostly in National Forest campgrounds where tents and stoves were accepted. Lanterns and sleeping bags were necessary for comfort. The camp stoves and lanterns were the type that had been around for a long time. Bags were bulky, tents were made of canvas and if very big were very heavy. Tents are much lighter and easier to put up these days. Camp stoves are either white gas or propane now. Lanterns are battery operated and safer to use in a tent. These improvements are very welcome for safety and ease of use.
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My wife and I decided to try long term RVing. We left for our first trip the day after I retired. The retirement party ended at 11 PM. At 7 AM we were on the road heading for Arizona to visit our son and his family in Phoenix. Our first stop was Quartzsite, AZ. A small town on I10 about 20 miles east of the California border. Being in December and in what is called "The Snowbird season" in the South we were surprised to see hundreds maybe even thousands of RV's of every description scattered across the Sonora desert. Both sides of I10. What a sight.We had heard of this but didn't expect the size of the crowd. We pulled into a "Free Zone" and stayed the night. Left early in the morning for the rest of the trip to Phoenix.