How much do I love camping? Let me count the ways...
With all the pictures I share online about our camping adventures, one could easily go into the erroneous conclusion that I love camping. Well, if I had to count all the ways I love camping, the list would be very very short.
I don't like camping.
Not really.
Someone asked me this year and I started thinking about why I would continue planning these family camping trips when I naturally dislike the trips. Believe me. I did not get a straightforward answer but let me share what I've concluded.
Let me count what I DISLIKE about camping:
1/ It requires a lot of planning, packing and cleaning
2/ It is not comfortable, no matter how much I try to make it so
3/ There are bugs!
4/ The washrooms do not smell great
5/ I am scared of going to the washroom in the middle of the night
6/ I am scared of the dark
7/ I am at the mercy of mother nature - heat waves, fire bans, thunderstorms, etc.
8/ There is a lot to clean up afterwards
9/ I hate the smoke around the bonfire
10/You never feel 100% clean
So why go? I thought hard about this and before I could come to a conclusion, I counted what I have LEARNED TO LIKE about camping:
1/ I gain a sense of satisfaction after "working" on setting up our 'accommodations'
2/ Stephen and I have to learn to work together to plan, pack and clean up
3/ I am placed in a vulnerable situation, and have opportunities to face my fears. When I face them, I experience the relieve and surprise of having met the challenge (no matter how big or small they are)
4/ We get to 'go back to basics' and enjoy 'entertainment' while 'working'. We find out some of these 'inconveniences' aren't inconveniences after all.
5/ I re-learn to hear the sounds of nature I so easily forget once I go back to the city. I love experiencing the morning dew; the fresh air is amazing. I love napping in the beach, hearing the waves.
6/ I learn to connect with my family without relying on electronics and electricity
7/ I learn to unplan and to enjoy every moment
8/ I get to remind myself of how God made me ...without creams, hairblowdryers and accessories. And to see the beauty of it.
9/ I get to remember what it feels like to go to bed early
10/I learn to enjoy the good, even if there is bad
What is my conclusion? I don't love camping, and I don't think I will ever love camping. But I want to do what makes other people I care for love; and some of them love camping. So I will learn to see camping the way they see it. I enjoy so much seeing them in their element. I love seeing them enjoy it and relax. And in the process, I learn to turn something uncomfortable and unnatural to me, into something somewhat comfortable and natural. I am not there yet, but I guess one of the reasons I continue going is a type of stubbornness in me. I want to learn not to be afraid of the dark, of the sounds of animals, and of the bugs. I want to learn to laugh at obstacles to my comfort and to see the bright side of all circumstances. And if God made nature, why wouldn't I want to at least experience it?
Yes, it is not my cup of tea...but not everything I do for leisure has to be based on my own interests, desires and tastes. If so, I know I would miss out on so many unique experiences and the lack of those experiences will mean less memories.
So please, don't get me wrong. I am not brave. I am not rough. And I am definitely not fit for any camping trips. But I know I can at least try Car Camping. It is the least I can do....and let me tell you, I have no regrets. My world is a better world when I willingly try new things. When I see the world the way others see it. When I don't jump to conclusions but instead embrace the role of a STUDENT and listen and follow others.
I don't like camping.
Not really.
Someone asked me this year and I started thinking about why I would continue planning these family camping trips when I naturally dislike the trips. Believe me. I did not get a straightforward answer but let me share what I've concluded.
Let me count what I DISLIKE about camping:
1/ It requires a lot of planning, packing and cleaning
2/ It is not comfortable, no matter how much I try to make it so
3/ There are bugs!
4/ The washrooms do not smell great
5/ I am scared of going to the washroom in the middle of the night
6/ I am scared of the dark
7/ I am at the mercy of mother nature - heat waves, fire bans, thunderstorms, etc.
8/ There is a lot to clean up afterwards
9/ I hate the smoke around the bonfire
10/You never feel 100% clean
So why go? I thought hard about this and before I could come to a conclusion, I counted what I have LEARNED TO LIKE about camping:
1/ I gain a sense of satisfaction after "working" on setting up our 'accommodations'
2/ Stephen and I have to learn to work together to plan, pack and clean up
3/ I am placed in a vulnerable situation, and have opportunities to face my fears. When I face them, I experience the relieve and surprise of having met the challenge (no matter how big or small they are)
4/ We get to 'go back to basics' and enjoy 'entertainment' while 'working'. We find out some of these 'inconveniences' aren't inconveniences after all.
5/ I re-learn to hear the sounds of nature I so easily forget once I go back to the city. I love experiencing the morning dew; the fresh air is amazing. I love napping in the beach, hearing the waves.
6/ I learn to connect with my family without relying on electronics and electricity
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| Sibbald Point PP, 2015 |
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| Awenda PP, 2016 |
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| Emily PP, 2016 |
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| Sandbanks PP, 2017 |
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| Sandbanks PP, 2018 |
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| Sandbanks PP, 2019 |
7/ I learn to unplan and to enjoy every moment
8/ I get to remind myself of how God made me ...without creams, hairblowdryers and accessories. And to see the beauty of it.
9/ I get to remember what it feels like to go to bed early
10/I learn to enjoy the good, even if there is bad
What is my conclusion? I don't love camping, and I don't think I will ever love camping. But I want to do what makes other people I care for love; and some of them love camping. So I will learn to see camping the way they see it. I enjoy so much seeing them in their element. I love seeing them enjoy it and relax. And in the process, I learn to turn something uncomfortable and unnatural to me, into something somewhat comfortable and natural. I am not there yet, but I guess one of the reasons I continue going is a type of stubbornness in me. I want to learn not to be afraid of the dark, of the sounds of animals, and of the bugs. I want to learn to laugh at obstacles to my comfort and to see the bright side of all circumstances. And if God made nature, why wouldn't I want to at least experience it?
Yes, it is not my cup of tea...but not everything I do for leisure has to be based on my own interests, desires and tastes. If so, I know I would miss out on so many unique experiences and the lack of those experiences will mean less memories.
So please, don't get me wrong. I am not brave. I am not rough. And I am definitely not fit for any camping trips. But I know I can at least try Car Camping. It is the least I can do....and let me tell you, I have no regrets. My world is a better world when I willingly try new things. When I see the world the way others see it. When I don't jump to conclusions but instead embrace the role of a STUDENT and listen and follow others.
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