gypsy97 wrote:I camp alone out of necessity when my big dog passed away a couple of years ago. I camp in a tent, so there are no locked doors between me and the outside world. Whereas I would love to set my tent up in the backwoods, and am trying to convince myself to try backpacking again, I usually stay in National Forest or National Park campgrounds. I keep a heavy flashlight by my sleeping bag, plus my car keys with the panic button. I don't leave the tent after dark, and pee in a large plastic cup and toss it into the trees. I've always enjoyed camping alone, but at 73 I would really like some company once in a while. I really don't feel unsafe, just a little spooked when I'm the only one in a campground.
Gypsy
You're a marvel, Gypsy! Tent camping at 73!!! One more easy thing that you can do is simply get a strong safety pin (maybe an old diaper pin?) and pin the inside zipper tab for the side zipper together with the bottom zipper tab when you're inside for the night. People don't expect tent campers to do this; but, it will alert you, should a person try to unzip your tent door; thus, buying you a couple extra seconds to wake up and protect yourself.
Knock on wood, I never had a person bother me when I tent camped; but, bears are another matter. It makes me really uncomfortable when a curious bear comes around and sniffs my head and I've had that happen a couple times. (They must smell toothpaste on my breath.) Bears don't bother with a zipper. They just bite right through the tent or swipe it with their paw or whatever. Thank goodness that never happened to me; but, it has happened to others. Having a TTT/hybrid TD seems to have helped a lot.