So here’s the conundrum: I love exercising. I love health and fitness. I love breathing in the fresh air while hiking, kayaking, and biking.
But I hate camping.
This is a problem, because every couple years my extended family makes a date to pack up the car, head to upstate New York, and camp.
I’ll be honest. I just don’t like to poop in communal bathrooms. I don’t like to shower in public. I don’t like to be dirty, and I don’t like bugs. I like having the privacy that my bathroom affords me. I like to shut that bathroom door when it is appropriate to do so. (Okay, with two children under the age of 5 this rarely happens, but it is still my preference). I like to retire without the worry of waking up with legs that are riddled with mosquito bites. Oh, to sleep without bug spray slathered all over me: the scent of that stuff makes me sick.
But, here we are, getting ready for this trip once again. It is not enough that I have to pack the whole family and all of the paraphernalia that comes with having two toddlers. (Think diapers, wipes, bibs, backpack carriers, pacifiers, sippy cups, toddler flatware).
I also have to pack the whole house: rugs, table cloths, kitchen utensils, pots, pans, soap, towels, sheets, pillows, blankets, you name it. We are bringing it all. We have a Nissan Armada that is packed to the gills, which is quite a feat: the car is huge. But that’s not all. We have our Yakima skybox, the largest one they make, on top of the car. It is stuffed. (I’m hoping this year it doesn’t fly open as we race down the highway at 85 mph, the absolute slowest speed my husband seems to be able to drive).
The reality is that as much as I loathe this vacation, I love it as well. I am not a camper, but my extended family is an awesome one to be a part of. We will laugh, drink too much, and stay up all night talking, every night. We will have some great hikes and share some mornings in kayaks. I guess I’m looking forward to it a little. If I could just find a hotel nearby…
