the nature drug
Last weekend we did our first camping trip since having kids…
let me repeat that.
Last weekend we did our first camping trip since having kids!
Yeah. I am excited about it.
We are planning on camping pretty much all of July. (I will save you the repetition… but that statement could use some emphasis as well.) I am really excited about that too.
I have a vision of myself that I use in times of stress. It helps me feel grounded and capable. I am standing, in bare feet on hard wood floors, with a bathing suit on. The suit is just damp enough to keep me cool in hot summer air. The door is open. I am at the counter in a kitchen that I feel at home in (somewhere we will visit this summer… you’ll see what I mean…) I am making a sandwich that has avocado and pesto in it. Shoulders broad, feet planted, in this space I can do anything and nothing, and I am comfortable with either.
The husband and I were discussing how strange it is that I love camping so much. I hate being cold, and am one of those people with a sweater on in the middle of summer. I hate dirt in my nails, bug bites, and feeling physically uncomfortable. I am not sporty or athletic and have an aversion to things where I have to risk my personal safety – like mountain climbing, or skiing. But, like a junkie I cant get enough of being outdoors. I think I must have had some sort of mind-blowingly amazing experience camping as a kid that I am desperate to replicate. The smell of campfire, fresh air at night, bare feet, cold water to swim in on hot days, deep conversations with friends, watching bugs with the kids for hours, the sun on my face…yeah, its intoxicating.
So we plan on doing more trips this summer. I plan on sharing the how, the where, the what and the why with you all, to inspire you and give you some tips on getting out yourself. I feel this type of post is in line with the objectives of my blog. The foundations of creative sustainable neighbourhoods are found in the bits of knowledge we gain from nature. We could all use a little more of that drug.
