"Change, when it comes, cracks everything open."
Dorothy Allen

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Camping

Just a bit of a head's up to everyone- my blogging will be irregular this week.  I am on vacation and have activities planned (I won't say specifically when or where, so all you house thieves out there can't plan your break and enters. :)

We are taking the littles camping this week and I am soooo looking forward to it.

Now, part of that is simply because I work for a living and I am looking forward to not working for an entire week.  That in itself is glorious.  If only that happened and nothing else- no camping, no day trips, no nothing, that would be enough.  Just the idea of not having to get up and be somewhere, to lose myself in the daydream that this someday could be my life, it fills me with hope and rejuvenates my soul.

Sawyer got pre-occupied leaving the tent
Plus, I get to spend time with my family, Geoff and the kids.  I understand the sacrifice that Geoff is making. He has his new comic shop and they are trying to do all these renovations and get it ready.  It will be hard for him to be away from that.  I know that he will probably skip out on us a day or two, to go and play with his friends.  I understand.  I don't like it, but I understand.  See, I need this vacation- I need it.  He doesn't.  He has been home for years at this point (with a couple of breaks in between).  I know being home isn't a vacation, but it also isn't full time (and sometimes more than full time) work, the pressure is a bit less and the freedom is a bit more.  So, I appreciate that he is trying to understand how much I need this break and he is trying to work with that and his own wants and needs as much as he can.
camping breakfast is the best
Thirdly, we are going camping.  I love camping.  I love the smell of camp fires and of pine trees.  I like hearing the cicada bugs and hunting for fireflies at night.  I like cooking over a fire, living out of coolers and watching the stars at night.

We haven't been camping as much as a family since Sawyer was born.  And this time, we are doing it a bit different.  We are actually borrowing a trailer from a family member and using that, instead of roughing it and tent camping.

While I think it is going to be great, I am a little disappointed.  


I like wilderness camping.  When I was pregnant with Sebastian, I would daydream about taking my son or daughter wilderness camping with me.  I thought that if I did it from the time they were little, they would grow with the appreciation of nature and learn the skills they needed naturally and develop this everlasting reverence for the interaction we have with the earth.  I had grand plans.
Daddy and Bastian, by the fire
Then reality set in.  Sebastian was born with his issues and camping and portaging and canoeing took a back seat.  Geoff really, REALLY isn't into that kind of camping experience, so it got back burnered.  Sure, we took Sebastian tent camping a couple of times, and he always seemed to love it.  It is a cheap(er) family vacation, and can be lots of fun too.  But, as always, life gets in the way, and things get shuffled to the side and then get forgotten.
happy camping boy
Then Sawyer came along.  I started thinking about that wilderness camping again.  But by now, it's been years- YEARS- since I have camped like that.  Since college and that is creeping up on 20 years ago.  Crazy, I know.  But I think I might want to give it a try someday.  I think it would be amazing, me and her, under the stars, her learning, me re-learning everything together.

But for now, we will start here.  A trailer with a microwave.  Ipod hook up.  Indoor kitchen with cupboards nicer than my own kitchen at home.  We will see how it goes and then take it from there.

Anyway, enjoy your week, and I will touch base as soon as I can...

Rosie N. Grey
The N stands for "nature loving, tree hugger".

6 comments:

  1. I LOVE the smell of pine trees. Quite possibly my favorite smell ever.

    Enjoy your time with the family! :)

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    1. Thanks, I had a great week. We didn't have many pine trees this time around and there was a fire ban on, so no campfire smell. :( What we did get was the constant bonging of chestnuts hitting the roof of the trailer, everytime the wind kicked up! :)

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  2. We keep meaning to take our kids camping but life always seems to get in the way. Maybe one weekend this summer, we'll actually manage.

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    1. I highly reccomend it and a weekend is a great way to start. Stick close to home, no more than a 45 minute drive away, so that you can run home to get all the important things that you will inevitably forget! ;) Kids love to camp, and after the technology detoxes out of their systems, they actually have a great time! Good luck and I hope you make it happen!

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  3. I always thought I would have kids that would grow up camping, but they're already 4 and 6 and still have never been. I'm still optimistic that it will happen one day, though. Hope your trip is going well!

    I also wanted to let you know that I tagged you in my latest post for the Sunshine Award. I enjoy your blog, and want my readers to enjoy it too. :)

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    1. Hey Melissa! Thanks for the post and the Sunshine Award! I will check and out and get posting tomorrow (as soon as I dig myself out from under the pile of laundry that came home with us!)
      I don't think it is ever too late to start camping. My kids love it, even Sebastian and his autism tendency let loose and had a great time! I hope you get a chance to make it happen!

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