Wording Matters? - US to Canada crossing
(Some of y'all are getting cranky about me asking questions and expecting me to have my trip fully fleshed out NOW when it's not for many months, and all upset because I'm asking specifics when you give me broad terms or don't think about many other questions something you say can bring up. Also, many of you give some conflicting info. Some make it seem like I can have a normal fun vacation there like I'm hoping and some of y'all are making it out like I can't unless I'm some rich mogal and have to have everything super strictly planned and scheduled.
Downvote my questions and concerns all you want but it doesn't make your anger or crankiness valid to me or my situation.)
I want to note that this is my first trip out of the US and I'm trying to do something big for myself, for once, as I'm almost 40 and have always heavily focused others in my life and put myself last, so I am planning a big long trip to Canada by the end of the year.
So, I want to make a trip up to Canada, from the US (by vehicle) near the end of the year, for a few months.
I was wanting to bring a good many outfits with me and such, because I'd like to do fun TFP (both parties trade skills and no one is paid. It's a creative collab) stuff with any Canadian photographers along the way, when I have a major stop for a week or two.
My friend, who lives up there, told me to be careful about telling Canadian border patrol why I have so many outfits (other than me wanting to be up there for a couple months), since my answer involves collaborating with photographers and they could see it as 'work' and get petty and require me to get a work visa.
I wanna know what wording to use because it's not gonna be paid work. It's just creative collabs I'll be doing because I really enjoy it and so do the people on my page.
I'm also not a big content creator. I only have about 3k people following my page so it's not like it'd be for 'work' even though I'll be posting my photos for 'content'.
Is this something I'm going to have to worry about?
Has anyone been in a similar situation? Would love advice, even from content creators.
I'm also going to be bringing a few electronic items so I can do my digital art orders while I'm traveling. Even though my customers are mostly in the US and they're digital, as well as me having done them well before trying to cross, will they try and say that I need a work visa since I'd be bringing my co.puter and tablet setup for my hotel room?
I'll be in an SUV and the things I'll have packed into the back will pretty much all be clothes, some bathroom/makeup items in a large rolling makeup case, a couple of comfort/sensory items, a few art supplies/electronics, and some camping stuff to camp out the back of my SUV if I find a nice spot and it isn't too horribly cold by the time I can make my trip.
I know that it will likely seem like a lot to border patrol but, for 2-3 months and to be able to have some fun hobby stuff I love to do while there, since it's not like I'm gonna be doing tourist stuff constantly and will have plenty of down time.
Some of the time I intend to drive around and camp out the back of my SUV and such to save money, and some I will be staying somewhere for a bit, for a month at one location and anywhere from a week or two at whatever other place I'd like to stop that long, along the way. I'll at least be able to provide the month long stay place, on my itinerary, for border patrol if they need it. Cause it'll be my first stop.
I feel like it'll be reasonable, as long as I explain properly? Or do they expect you to bring barely anything even if you're gonna be road tripping for 2-3 months?
I'm also wondering if bringing a couple of extra things as surprise gifts for my friend up there, is gonna be an issue? Like my old desktop computer, cause his is dying and the main way we hang out is video games.
Should I not bring the desktop? Would it, with my clothes and such, look too weird to them? I really want him to have it if able but also don't want to ruin the surprise.
Any tips on wording or anything in general, so I can make my trip the way I'd like (or as close to it as I'd like) and get to have lots of fun for myself for once, would be great appreciated.
I want to make sure I get to make my trip because I worked so hard for it this year and have always worked so hard for others around me all my life. I just want to go up on my trip and live my best life while on it, taking beautiful photos all dressed up in fantasy looks, eating yummy new food, and getting to chill and play my games and do my art while I'm just chilling in my hotel in the evenings. 🖤
Thanks!