I'm going camping tomorrow. I've been waiting for this weekend for six months. Do you like to camp?

[cherokeeprogressive]

The camping spot...

A "group camp" in a secluded part of the San Bernardino National Forest in So. Cal. The nearest paved road is 7 miles away. No electricity, no water, just a septic tank toilet surrounded by four walls with a door. 7200 feet above sea level. Surrounded by pine trees. Lots of shade. Room for 40 people; tents only. No other campers, just us. After the longest monsoon season I can remember in my 7 years in the mountains, the dust has been rinsed off the trees, and everything is fresh...

Who's going?

A good part of the ol' High School Gang (I'm 52) and some other friends. About 35 people. Husbands, Wives, Brothers, Sisters, NO KIDS. We'll be graced this time by one two of our favorite friends... an Irishman married to a Jamaican woman. She teases him mercilessly about being the "whitest man she's ever known". Says he glows in the dark, he's so white (figuratively, not literally). She cooks like no one's business and makes the best jerk chicken I've ever tasted. Yeah, it's what's for dinner Saturday night. I could listen to the two of them talk for the rest of my life and not be bored...

I've taken the day off tomorrow and my Wife and I will be the first people there. We'll have things ready when people start showing up in the late afternoon. It's going to be one of those weekends where lifelong friends defile themselves with good tequila, whiskey, cerveza, cannabis, and the flesh of dead beasts.

Many a toast will be raised. We will spend lots of time telling each other how much we've missed and been missed. We'll honor those who are no longer with us (4). Nary a bad word will be spoken. One of the very best things is that there will be NO POLITICS of any kind. There never are. There never have been. There is no cell phone reception where we're going, so no text messages either. I cannot think of a better way to spend a weekend.

Special bonus...

My Sister's BFF's Son just finished his Bachelor's at UCLA; a music degree. Hearing him play the acoustic guitar brings tears to my eyes. He played (and sang) Wish You Were Here at my 40th birthday party when he was 13. I cried. It wasn't better than the original, but it was more special. Now he's into The Blues. He's bringing his Fiancé. They're leaving for a 6 month trip to Europe next week. I don't know Her, but am told the two of them make the most beautiful music together and will soon be self-producing.

Yeah, I'm thinking my weekend is going to suck, and I'll be wishing I could be here insulting and being insulted... um...

I'll miss you guys!

I should add that for US, it's only a 15 mile drive. Life is good this weekend.

[bluesbassman]

1. Hey Bud, sounds like a great time.

Love primitive camping and with the group you have going it sounds like it'll be a blast! Enjoy yourself!

[cherokeeprogressive]

3. I've known five of the people who will be there this weekend since Kindergarten.

I'm going to get to hear some acoustic blues next to a campfire with lifelong friends.

Wish you could be there!

[HarveyDarkey]

2. Sounds like my dream weekend...

or week, or month, or life. We'll still be here when you get back, if you come back.

[cherokeeprogressive]

5. Oh, I'll be back. We all have a life I guess... Gotta feed the Dragon.

Hard to believe, but outside of DU, there are actually people who not only like me, but love me LOL.

That's okay, I still have PowerBall tickets for tomorrow night, so who knows?

I WILL, at some point, raise a toast in silent acknowledgement to my friends at DU. I'll even raise one to those who believe I'm not who I think I am, just to piss them off in a cosmic kind of way.

[FairVote]

4. I went camping for 8 weeks

In the Appalachian Mountains in northern Georgia. It was not by choice.

[cherokeeprogressive]

8. Do tell?

[PoliticAverse]

6. The best part of camping is the first night back at home in your own bed... n/t

[cherokeeprogressive]

7. When I was young, the part I hated about camping was the long trip home...

The best part about this weekend? I LIVE in the San Bernardino National Forest. This camping spot is less than 15 miles away from the keyboard I'm banging away on at this moment.

Sunday, I'll be in the lucky position of being able to leisurely help everyone else wrap up their stuff... knowing I'll be home in time to watch the late afternoon football game.

The bed isn't the thing though... My Wife and I will be sleeping on a VERY comfortable blow-up mattress... we know how to rough it without roughing it LOL.

[fizzgig]

9. sounds like a wonderful time

i love camping, only been twice in the last five years. my husband and i found a little spot of a forest service road. not that pretty and kinda close to the road, but it's not assholes to elbows like most of the camping spots around here are. first time we were the only ones, but the spot was invaded by a family with four kids and a couple with the LOUDEST WOMAN I'VE EVER HEARD. we found the place when we couldn't get to my favorite childhood camping spot.

when we were kids we'd go camping with other families and mom's friends and i loved it.

wish we could do it more.

[Jamaal510]

10. I went camping

for the 1st time just a couple of weeks ago, on Labor Day weekend. At Humboldt State, they allow 1st-year transfer students and freshmen to go on summer outdoor trips as a way to get acquainted with the area and to meet new people. So I went on a trip with 10 other people to Marble Mountains for about 3 days. The hike was refreshing, and it was fun chatting with everyone and swapping stories and such. I was surprised that we didn't see any bears or mountain lions, or any other wild animals. The only parts I didn't like about the trip were getting blisters on both of my feet (the hike was 5 miles both ways), and having no pillow or anything to support my back when I slept in a tent. Right now, I am still recovering from a blister on my right heel, but at least it has stopped hurting.

Overall, it was nice to get away from all my concerns and from technology for a few days. It definitely made me appreciate taking a nice, warm shower, and sleeping in my own bed once I got back to my apartment, though! I didn't smell that bad, but my clothes were filthy and my socks and shoes were covered in mud.

[cherokeeprogressive]

11. I'm sorry you had a bad experience...

I'm guessing you're a lot younger than I am. I'm 52. I don't need a pillow, or a support for my back when I sleep. My backpack can suffice as my pillow, and I sleep on my side so I don't need a support. If I'm gone for three days, I take underwear and socks for five. Walking five miles in three days doesn't sound like much of a problem.

On the other side, the hot shower and sleeping in your own soft bed at the end are definite rewards that make the "sacrifice" of camping almost worth it!

[HeiressofBickworth]

12. My idea of roughing it

is when room service quits at midnight.

And yes, I've been camping -- wilderness camping. I went to please my husband. He left me anyway.

[Art_from_Ark]

13. For some reason, your post reminds me of this song:

[snappyturtle]

14. Happy camping! I like to camp but not for long periods....

creature of comfort here. Be sure to give us a report when
you get back.

[Earth_First]

15. I'm more of a backpacker than a camper...

I do enjoy the camping portion of the journey...however I love the backpacking aspect more particularly.

[B Calm]

16. When I was younger I would take my son to Northern Ontario Canada as

far as the road would take us. We would load up all the camping supplies in my boat and go another 25 miles on water to a remote island and set up camp. Breathtaking scenery and the best Walleye fishing in the world!

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

17. If God had intended us to camp out, he never would have given us the luxury hotel

No, I do not like camping

[pinboy3niner]

18. Have a GREAT fucking time!

Though it sounds like you need no good wishes in that department--your setup, with the location and the people you'll be with, sounds magical.

Just enjoy it, and when you're ready to come back here and brag, please do so. You're a great storyteller, and I suspect you'll have a great story to tell.

In any case, just have a lot of fun, okay? I know this one will be special for you and you'll have memories to last a lifetime. More power to you!

[hobbit709]

19. Not any more.

If I got down on the ground it would take two men and a boy to get me back up.

[cliffordu]

20. Have a GREAT time (Sounds like you already will...heh...)

I LOVE to camp - spent a couple months off and on riding my bicycle down the west coast and stayed indoors mebbe 5 or 6 nights.

Campfires are in my genes somehow.