I Would Rather Go Camping Than....

I know, I know, it's been a WHILE since I last wrote. Life's been happening. Work, friends, relationships, trips, etc etc. But I knew after I went camping last weekend that I needed to get back in business. Here's the thing, I love camping. I've been going camping since before I was born - yep. Then, my family used to go every year, usually two times, and at least for sure on the 4th of July with my cousins... gosh do I miss those days. The waking up early in the morning to go fishing, the pancakes on the griddle, the lazy canoeing and the fresh donuts from the camp's store. Oh those donuts were unlike any I've ever had any where else - pure heaven. I loved the crickets' symphony at night, maybe not so much the loud toads who'd wake us up early early in the morning. But those were some pretty great days, even if it rained and our campsite was a muddy mess and my siblings and cousins and I would be forced to play monopoly under a picnic table tent for hours.

Last weekend I went on one of my first camping trips in several years and to a spot I had never camped at before. I'm used to camping in "wooded" areas, but this place put us right on the beach. Not used to the sandy mess that happens when it rains (my tent still has sand in it)... or using port-o-potties. The places I'm used to camping at usually have some form of actual toilet, you just have to walk a few minutes to the building and not be afraid of possible mosquito waiting for you. And a longer walk meant there were showers. A port-o-potty with no hand sanitizer and no showers, that a little too rustic for me but, and here's the but, I can handle it. Some people were not so inclined but oh well. Anyway, after realizing how much I missed the experience (I mean who does not NOT love s'mores over an open flame?), I came up with a list of things I would rather NOT do over going camping... these are pretty much things I dislike anyway.  

I'd Rather Go Camping Than....
1.) Go to Vegas
2.) Go to Atlantic City
3.) Go shoe shopping
4.) Get a manicure or pedicure
5.) Go to NYC for a night out
6.) Watch TLC, the Bachelorette, the Simpsons, Family Guy, MTV- basically any reality TV
7.) Go to Cancun
8.) Go on a cruise
9.) Go clubbing
10.) Read Harry Potter or 50 Shades of Grey
11.) See a psychic
12.) Work or live in NYC or Boston or Los Angeles, especially LA.
13.) Go to a fancy restaurant
14.) Walk around a mall
15.) Play mini golf*
16.) Go to a comedy club
17.) See a Broadway show
18.) See Britney Spears in concert
19.) Go to Disneyland, Disneyworld, Orlando, Miami, and basically the majority of Florida that caters to tourists.
20.) Stand in Times Square
21.) Walk down Newbury Street
22.) Walk into or shop or stand near Sephora
23.) Go to any form of resort in the Caribbean, I'd rather get away from all those people.  

*I do complain a lot about this item, partially because I am highly competitive and am horrendous at mini golf. However, if my arm was twisted enough, and may promised donuts or something, I might agree to play, but only 1 round.

Alpine Lake Campground, Corinth, NY 

Photo by moi, around Summer of 2005.