Planning for the Great Outdoors

I'm currently in the throes of pulling it together enough for the family to go camping this weekend. It's the annual neighborhood camping trip where eleven families take off on a long weekend adventure together and come back still being friends. That, in and of itself, is probably a minor miracle. This whole adventure is probably the best microcosm I can think of for a world where "we can all just get along". It's a hellacious amount of work, but always worth it in the end.

The adventure starts with a summit meeting about a week before the trip. The summit always involves a LOT of wine, grand gestures and ann/pro-nouncements, shouting, giggling and some serious negotiations. For example, the question of who brings the bagels and in what format is an issue of utmost importance. Or who's bringing steak and who's bringing chicken for the fajitas on Saturday night. Or whether the eggs should be cooked in bacon grease or not. The fact that the NSA or CIA or TSA or some other $%A is not involved in the resolution of these issues is remarkable. It just goes to show that warrior states can resolve their issues without bloodshed. Or at least without more than a minor flesh wound. And I'd go so far as to say that none of the members of this group are Switzerland.

Once the major issues of the summit are resolved, we all go our separate ways for a week or so, to prepare our families in our own way. For me, it's the perfect opportunity for my inner OCD to come out. I'm the one who makes a new Excel Spreadsheet every year to list the categories, packing receptacle and transportation position (in or on top of the car) of each and every item we're going to take with. Right down to the goggles, hand soap and camera batteries. This year, my spreadsheet is color-coded. And there are multiple sheets in the workbook. Food and Food Related Items, Gear, and Personal Use. I'm blushing a little while I'm typing this, but the truth is, I'm also a little proud of my spreadsheets. Do you think the R. family has ever left home without the one thing we need, but don't have? The camping trip motto is: Better to be looking at it than looking for it. Seriously.

That being said, we are really trying to pare down this year. Last year, when we packed up the minivan, there was barely enough room left for the children. In fact, they whined so much on the way up due to the squooshy conditions, that we sent Sporty back in a friend's car (which had more space). So this year, we are taking the bare minimum. At last count: 164 individual items. This is us taking less. It seriously actually takes us longer to pack it all then we spend at the bloody campsite. But our car couldn't possibly handle the burden of what we'd have to pack for a longer trip. We'd have to leave one or more of the carpet monkeys on the carpet at home.

Anyone who knows me has already realized where this is going. The following is being said in stage whisper: I don't like the great outdoors. There's a reason why this trip always happens on Father's Day weekend (other than the fact that it's when the trip always happens, due to reasons beyond my own control). In my case, it's because my hubby loves the great outdoors, and it's more or less the only time in the year that he gets to be out in it. Happy Father's Day, honey!

Now, don't get me wrong... the trip is always fun (even for Great-Indoorsy-and-Room-Servicy me). I love being with my family and friends... the (cheesball alert) camaraderie that is fostered on this trip is amazing. And we've never NOT had fun. But the part I love for my own selfish reasons is the planning. Not so much the packing, set-up or takedown. Happy Father's Day, again, honey. But I love the planning. I should join the UN. Lots of planning but not so much action. I wonder if they could use my spreadsheets to help with the next UN peacekeeping mission. Probably not. Oh well.

But I digress... I know I'm the one who can take the fun out of getting ready for any big event like this one. But at least we'll have everything we need while we're on the trip... and hopefully actually USE every single item we take with us. I know you can't plan for everything, but there's nothing to stop me from trying, right?