This Summer's Maiden Voyage

We’re going camping this weekend.

I. Can’t. Wait.

We camp in a tent. The sister-in-law has a pop-up and is already jonesing for a pull-trailer. We use a tent, because it’s the one thing that convinces us we’re still camping. Let’s just say we don’t rough it.

On that note, don’t let people tell you that camping is relaxing. That’s a lie straight from the devil, People. I cook more at camp than I do at home. Here’s the list of shit we pack with us when we go. For a two night stay. Yes it’s ridiculous. We realize that. We embrace our stupidity.

Four room tent with screen room
Three air mattresses-One queen and two singles
The air pump for the air mattresses (plugs into the cigarette lighter)
Three sleeping bags and adequate amount of pillows
Four duffels of clothes
The swim bag with towels, suits and various and sundry other items
The boom box and bag of CD’s-all carefully selected (I would graduate to just taking my iPod, but I need one of those docking thingies)
The coffee pot and two packets of Kona (If we have an electric site, I take the percolator. If not, we use the camp pot)
Two camp stoves-top of the line from Coleman, thank you very much
Two dutch ovens and the bean pot (You can’t camp without cast iron)
Two plastic totes filled with paper plates, plastic silverware, napkins, paper towel, dish soap, aloe vera, hand soap, pots, pans, flyswatter, bug spray, citronella candles, etc.
One tote of groceries and spices
Two coolers filled with beer, water, and pop, plus the rest of the groceries-which includes half and half for my coffee.
The white trash chili pepper lights-if we have electricity
3 Lanterns
Playing cards
The Dog

We do this four or five times over the summer. I’m so worn out at work on Monday I can barely get through the 75 blogs I like to read. Why do this? Is it fun-really?

Saturday evening on the lake, sitting at a concrete picnic table, the music twanging low, cicadas screeching in your ear, the water lapping on the shore, the murmur of voices from the next site over, the fire crackling in the ring, the rustle of critters in the underbrush, the smell of the water, the sweetness of the beer on your tongue, and the kiss on your lips.

Is it really worth it to us? Sigh…Yeah, it is.