Camping?

Gary and I love our home and have discovered that living here makes it very hard to go through all the prep work it takes to go camping. The searching, packing, dog kenneling, last minute trips to buy stuff we know we have but can't find and did I already mention packing? Once we leave and get there of course we have to run to the store to buy stuff we have but forgot. And let's not forget the unpacking and cleaning when we are back home. Camping used to be our way to get away from town and out into nature. Our current home is surrounded by nature. We have frogs, owls, birds, trees, a creek and the all important outside fire ring.

On our most recent trip a super muddy state park campground prompted a change of venue. As Gary and I were following everyones directions on how to get to our new location we joked that it was going to be one of those campsites we always spotted on our way to Chicago and questioned why you would ever stay there. Three hours later we pull up to a campground on the I80 corridor.

As I put Bella to sleep the first night she said, "Mom, what is that sound?"

"You mean the women cackling next door?" Our site was next to 8 women with a sign hanging that read "It's 5 O'clock somewhere."

"No, the other sound." I listened for a minute and promptly told her it was the interstate.

Gary told the kids they would probably learn some new words that night and he didn't want to hear them repeat any the next day. I am sure Bella sat with her eyes wide open and straining her ears to listen to the women. Although as loud as they were you really didn't have to strain.

As Gary and I went to bed (note, I didn't say sleep) we lay awake listening to the sound of drunk women, traffic and semi's jake breaking. What are we doing here? At home we are lulled to sleep by the sounds of 5 different species of frogs. The next night was more of the same with the addition of stock car racing near by.

As Andrew entertained himself by counting the planes flying overhead on their way to O'Hare airport Gary and I suddenly realized why we go camping now. It's purely social. It's to visit with friends and family and to let our kids play all weekend with other kids.

So, just a word to everyone we camp with. We really, really like you.