Where You Won't Find Me
Friday, September 3, 2010 at 6:00AM This is Labor Day Weekend which means that all across America, families will be packing up cars, trucks and campers and heading out. They'll be going to the mountains, lakes, national parks and KOA Kampgrounds throughout this fine land. People will bustle about setting up tents, gathering wood and starting camp fires.
Because they are crazy.
Faith begged me last week to go camping. "Please, please Mommy. It sounds like so much fun. All my friends go camping. Why can't we?"
I replied, "Faith, darling, I am only responsible for the first 18 years of your life. You are in charge of the next 62. During those 62 years you can go camping as much as you please and I won't have to go with you."
If I were to play a word association game and the word thrown at me was "camping", these are the words I would throw back:
- Dirt
- Bugs
- Hot
- Cold
- Laundry
- Tired
- Uncomfortable
- Work
- Sleepless
- Why
None of those words fit into my description of a good vacation.
None at all.
"But Mindee!" You'll say "Camping is great! The fresh air! The fun! And you don't have to stay in a tent. We have a camper with beds and a stove and air conditioning!"
To which I say, "So does my house."
I have nothing against fresh air or fun or outdoor activities. It's just that when I finish with those things, I want a real bed and a real meal and, most of all, a real shower.
Plus, I have seen the amount of work that goes into camping. I know about the meal planning and prep; the packing of coolers and rolling of sleeping bags. I have seen men trying to cram way too much stuff into a vehicle ill suited for the purpose. I am familiar with the checklist of sunscreen and bug spray and ointments and bandages. I have heard the moans of my friends who are buried under a mountain of smoky, dirty laundry upon return from this so-called "vacation."
So I will be headed for the lake this weekend where my parents support my no camping stance by maintaining a house and a boat. We 'll get all the fun of a day on the water and then go take showers and cook in a kitchen with food from a refrigerator. We'll turn on the big game Saturday night and then climb into actual beds with actual sheets.
But . . .
Well a lot of people camp. And then they go back and do it again. So possibly there's something to it? Something enjoyable?
Help me out here. Tell me your position on camping.
And then have a great weekend!
Reader Comments (32)
Oh, I am totally with you girl. I'm going to be hanging out in a real house (even if it's a tiny trailer).
I actually almost have a problem with boating, because I always feel so gross after a day on the lake.
Marla @ www.asthefarmturns.wordpress.com
Tell Faith to join girl scouts- the only reason I was one for so many years was because I loved the camping.
I have no idea what I love camping. Maybe because you're out in the middle of nowhere and unconnected from society. And one of my favorite activities is to sit in front of a fire. for hours. just talking. It's a good way to connect with you family? Although I just went on a 4 day backpacking trip and we didn't make a fire any night- just used our little camping stoves for cooking and I still had a great time. I also like being dirty and having an excuse not to shower (I know I'm in the minority there)
As a reasonable person I can understand all of your hates about camping. But it's kind of like having kids; on paper it seems like a horrible idea (you get fat, they cost money, you have no more free time, your life will be spent slaving away for them and they're ungrateful) yet everyone loves them anyway!
I am opposed to camping as well. My kids wish I liked it, but being in the Girl Scouts for ten years did me in. My idea of camping is the Holiday Inn
no way! A/C, my toothbrush, a short trip to the potty in the midde of the night if I need it (without being afraid of stepping on a critter of some sort), crisp fresh sheets etc...must haves for me and nowhere to be found while camping out. I was a girl scout...found a litter (or whatever they're called) of newborn baby rats burrowed down into one of our mattresses...cured me from camping for good.
You're too funny Mindee. :)
If there is one thing you have always been negative about, it is camping. And I don't think anything will ever change your mind about it...LOL. Aren't you glad Rich isn't the camping type? Then what would you do? :)
Hey there,
I love all sorts of camping but my favourite is Glamping, glamourous camping, where we don't really rough it and have a real bed and proper crockery! But each to their own and I can see your point especially if you have the use of a house by the lake! Have a great weekend from England where there are no more long weekends until Christmas!
I loved camping as a kid...we had a pop-up trailer. :)
Now...it would take an awful lot of purell for me to head out to the wilderness.
I do not like camping. But my kids do. What's up with kids and camping?
Amen to that! I don't believe in going anywhere that doesn't have running water and electricity. Period.
I agree with you 100% I just couldn't say it as well. I am jealous of your boat and lake house. I think kids need a memory like that, away from the familiar. When you are in the "wilderness" it brings a closeness you can't get any other way. Maybe that's why people camp, because they don't have a boat and lake house. But I don't do either! This is turning into a very discouraging comment...
I do enjoy camping - it's quiet, there is a fire and Smores, BUT, I can only handle it for 3 nights MAX. I like seeing the stars, hiking, and letting kids get dirty and run free for hours. I also enjoy the lack of communication available. My kids have to figure out how to entertain themselves w/out TV and me without the internet. It's good, almost cleansing to me to unplug for a few days (bonus, my mom CANNOT call me while I am camping - supposedly no cell service).
I love to camp but we haven't been this year. I don't mind the dirt, etc but I am finding the bears a bit worrisome this year. I've never heard so many bear stories before. The other day my daughter and I were driving home (down a mountain road but still, many neighborhoods are off of this road) and a bear strolled right across the street in front of us. We stopped the car and watched and of course my camera was in my suitcase in the trunk so no photo but we were almost too dumbstruck to snap a pic anyway.
Have fun at the lake...I love that too!
I love camping. Of course, a lot of my best memories involve my group of HS friends (of which many of us were boy/girl scouts) heading off into the middle of nowhere, setting up a village of tents, and escaping from the watchful eye of parents. Ok, this started around the time we graduated, but still. Lots of fun.
As a kid - LOVED camping
As a mom - HATE camping (HOWEVER - TOTALLY not opposed to sending the boys camping with someone else!)
As a get-a-way with the Honey - LOVE camping (keep in mind that "camping" these days includes taking my mom and dad's Hilton on wheels with refrigerator, oven/stove, A/C, real beds, and nicer countertops (corian) than the ones in my house.)
Mindee...Can I come camping with you?? I like lakes. I'm real good at water sports. Well I'm entertaining to watch anyway. :-D
As far as camping in our house - Mom and I send away the men (Dad, husband, and bro) while she and I have spa weekends!
have you seen motor homes these days? a friend of the family sells them and they are nicer than my house! fireplaces, washer/dryer, two stories, big screen tv's, full size bathtubs, the list goes on and on. i would LOVE one of those!!! live on the fly...
what about setting up a tent in your yard for the "willing" kids to camp out in? at least they get a taste and if they don't like it all they have to do is come inside the lake house. by the way...you + lake house = envy!
Mindee,
Love your blog! We have a fifth wheel camper and I can honestly say that it is a tremendous amount of work to "get ready" to go. I would not say that it is a true "vacation" but, where else could you get a lake side spot and not have to mortage your life away? I definitley would not want to travel this way every time we went somewhere but, every now and again is nice.
Those of you with campers may sway me a little bit. The thought of taking my own bed with me to new locations does have some appeal. Especially when you think about what goes on in hotel beds (shudder).
Unfortunately they still entail cleaning and laundry!
I was not a camper either. Until I realized that people camp with their horses. I became a camper because it gave me a chance to go on long rides, with my to-do list miles away. My in-laws have a beautiful park-like setting just a few miles from their house, and only 30 minutes from ours, complete with electricity & rural water. We have two trailers - a full living-quarters for us, a weekender for our three girls. Is it a lot of work to get ready to go? Yes, but keeping the trailers fully stocked with supplies helps. Is it a lot of work when we get home? Yes, but the memories we make while sitting around the fire with our children & their grandparents makes it worth it many times over!
You have listed every single reason my mother-in-law dislikes camping; however, I love camping in a travel trailer. My version requires set up, cooking, planning but with the added bonus of A/C, bathroom with shower, and knowing who has slept in it. Besides, somehow being at the beach, kinda make doing the dishes ok...weird, but true(especially when you are staying at the beach for $13 a night, I'm cheap). Besides, I just found a campground that combines two of my favorite things--camping and a SPA...