mountaingirl - most everything I say is redundant as we have really beat on this tent subject here on this fourm! But you never know when you might hear of a new idea or a new style of tent. Obviously, since your shopping large tents, weight is not a big factor, at least not critical like for a back packer or even for Brian and his motorcycle. Let me ask, have you ever considered two tents, maybe two mid sized tents, rather than one large tent? I have a mid-sized nylon dome tent, 9'X 9' (6' center height), that I use for an overnight canoe trips, or even a short overnight or weekend "car camping" trip (I really have a pick-up truck). Now this tent is touted as being able to sleep 4-5 (and I suppose it could in an emergency), but there's plently of room for two and their gear and with my thinking, just comfortably right. What I like about this sized tent, and it being a dome tent, is it's weight of about 18 pounds and the ease of setting up and taking down. Should say that I also use this tent along with my small Starcraft popup camper - pitch it close to the camper and use it for a storage shed to keep camping and fishing gear out of sight. Over the years I've had different type tents, all the way from the small "pup" tents, to a large old timey canvas wall tent and even an umbrella tent that connected to the back of one of my station wagons of years past. Seems there were some other kinds of tents, too, but the point is all of them had their advantages and dis-advantages. Looking back at all of this mess, for what I do, I have to say I like canvas. Yes, it's a lot heavier and it cost more, but I don't think it required any more maintenance than nylon. So the bottom line for me, if I were in the market for a tent as my main stay (meaning that I did not have my tent trailer camper), I would think two tents: one like I presently have, a 9'X 9' nylon dome tent for traveling light, and a Kirkhams "Spring Bar" canvas tent for long stays. (Here's the idea what I'm talking about) - www.kirkhams.com Hippy touched on the subject ... just about everything has gone out of this country for manufacturing, except in this case, the Spring Bar tent, and that makes me all the more interested in having one. I realize there's a cost factor, but having two tents is a far cry cheaper than having a popup camper and a tent ... considerably so! Anyway, that's the best "profound wisdom" I can come up with today! Dale

Eureka Timberline 2X. Great 3 season, self suporting, light weight tent. I have used them for years and have been very pleased with their preformence. You may want to search your local area for outfitters that may carry them. Campmor is a great company to do business with. But always try to find a local business to purchase your camping items first. That way you will have their support and be able to pick up and hold what you may wish to buy. Here is a link that might be useful: Campmor

We have purchased the Sierra Designs Bedouin 6 tent off Ebay for $183.00. I've set it up inside our garden room and there's room for four large ThermaRest pads and room to cruise up the middle. The tent is only 8 square feet larger in area than our SD Base Camp '88 model, but the headroom is over six feet so it feels a lot larger. I really like the bends in the X-poles and the as-always top-shelf quality of Sierra Designs products. I counted 27 different pockets in the tent, really like the adjustable clothesline too. There are three different dual cupholders attached to the tent, they are mesh and also have small pockets above them. The dual vestibules are a nice feature that the Agnes Big House didn't offer. Brow poles make them possible and don't require stooping for entry like most vestibules. The amount of mesh is just right, there's ventilation but with the fly there is heat retention as well. We're taking it into the back country next month for camping in the Laguna Mountains.

Loribee sez:"I'd much rather share my free time with people who don't take everything so seriously all the time (or don't get so irate if someone asks a question that *gasp* has been asked before)." Over here, I don't think it matters when a SIMILAR question turns up, for several reasons. First, your circumstances are probably unique. It isn't a matter of cut and dried one-answer-fits-all. Our smaller homes all have unique personalities, and the solutions to different things must be shaped accordingly. We all have kitchens. Some are original, some are redone. Some are tiny, but when given the chance to expand, some choose to put the additional space in the kitchen, and some put it in a bath or maybe a bigger dining/living room. And some are reaching retirement age and want the changes they make to allow them to remain in their homes, not go to some strange place and give up everything they love. Then again, one or two are young and just planning to begin their families. Then we have divorced folks who want room for the kids when they come, and make them feel at home too. So INTENT is a big part of the right answers. I suppose that is why we look behind the question to get to know the individual asking it. We do not think houses exist in a vacuum, we are much more personal than that. Glad you noticed. I'd been on the garden side for many years, but now only visit occasionally. Like recently when my azaleas and then the birch tree had pest problems. And then I went to the greenhouse & garden structures forum. I met Jey_L there, and now I think s/he (?) comes over here to visit with us. Jey said this forum is like a social network all on its own. However, GardenWeb in general is scanned by the web-bots and shows up in a Google search, which is not true of the Facebook or Twitter exchanges. While we think this is just a few folks off in a corner chatting privately, it is not....somewhere out there, other ears/eyes are able to listen in. I wish more places would give the feeling we get here. It might help if folks remembered an old prayer that is one of my favorites: OH LORD LET MY WORDS BE SWEET, FOR I MAY HAVE TO EAT THEM. (I've debated whether the word SWEET is appropriate now that I am diabetic, and wondered what word to use instead...any ideas appreciated.) :)