It’s now 6:00 PM and the day of work may be done but the weekend of fun is just starting. The traffic is heavy and the work clothes we wear do way too much to remind us of the city prison we so desperately wish to escape from. The noise of the radio is on, quite ineffective at drowning out the sounds of the masses leaving town. Not quite believing it, our brains are still trying to acquire the nature signal. Think of it as a Bat signal. Trying is the key, at this point in this journey the signal is still in the shape of a red light.
As the miles go by, and the buildings start looking smaller and less like gigantic shrines, muscles and mind begin to relax. The music on the radio becomes part of the background noise as thoughts of the outdoors begin to overtake your mind. And for the first time after an hour of sitting in traffic, a thin smile can be seen glancing across your face. Thoughts are easily swayed from anger to eagerness as we come to the realization that the time to sleep on the dirt and wander the earth like a caveman is upon us.
I’ve always felt a unique correlation between being a city bumpkin that escapes the city more then he stays. If I’m in the city whatever I do will always seem to gravitate towards nature or just being outside in general. I’m the type of human that would rather spend half the day in wet pants and enjoy my coffee outside in the snow rather than sit inside the protected stronghold that is Starbucks.
It doesn’t seem to matter if it’s a 5 mile drive or a 1500 mile epic crusade, when you finally step out of that car and you are greeted by the sights and smells of a campsite snuggled up against nature in all its ravenous glory. A deep breath naturally seems to occur. It feels dang wonderful taking it all in, almost like the rich guy thinking “I have arrived” and smirking at the world. Except you are not rich, and you will be sleeping on a pad with a blanket hoping that no scorpions decide to pay your big toe a visit over the weekend. Doesn’t matter, went camping.
Your home away from home is only a home if you choose to treat it that way. Your camp can be as luxurious as a 45 Foot RV with a sauna, fireplace and a butler named Jeeves. Or it can be a blanket, some dirt and the gentle sounds of bear growls. It’s your choice and one that is really fun to make, every single time. Camping is not camping; its life the way our brains seem to enjoy most.
You’ll have a ton of chores that need to be done. You’ll need a little bit more focus to make sure the tents, and chairs and dinner and bedding, collecting kindling, chopping wood, preparing lighting all gets setup before we can truly start to relax. But that moment, that moment camp is fully set up, you’re dead tired and you’re in your chair. Some type of drink in hand and eyes locked on the dancing fire. You indeed…have arrived and every mile and every minute preparing and getting here was worth it. Tomorrow is another day, and you get to wake up in paradise.
Everyone on earth needs these types of days. I have way too many days dreaming about them then I do actually attending. But in the meantime, I’m busy shopping, comparing, charting and creating anything I can to improve both my enjoyment and preparation for the next destination. So adding to my list of random projects to take up my time on the off days is showing the world what makes camping and spending time outdoors a crucial part of our mental and physical health.