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<\/a><\/p>\nMy husband, Jonathan, and I are about to embark for a week in the eastern Sierra. The first three nights involve camping with a group of fanatical hikers who think nothing of day after day of 13+ mile hikes with 3,000+ foot elevation gains. But despite our aging knees, it\u2019s not the hiking that gives me pause. It\u2019s the camping.<\/p>\n
I loved backpacking in my youth, but I was never that keen on camping. With backpacking you know you\u2019ve abandoned all comfort at the trailhead, so you quickly stop dreaming about high thread count sheets. With camping, though, it\u2019s always in the back of your mind that you could just jump in the car and drive to a motel\u00a0for a good night’s sleep.\u00a0 We had a lot of fun when our kids were younger camping with the Girl Scouts. But that\u2019s because we stood around \u201cwatching the kids\u201d while our friends did all the work. Basically, I\u2019m like my friend Roberta, whose idea of acceptable camping is a hotel without room service.<\/p>\n
But it seemed like a good idea at the time when Jonathan asked if I\u2019d like to try camping again. Now that we\u2019re going, we\u2019re getting our gear ready. Trouble has set in even before we\u2019ve gotten to where the oxygen is thin.<\/p>\n
Like in our living room, as we try to remember how to set up our tent. As the scent of mildew permeates the house and we nearly knock over the lamp with the fully extended aluminum poles, we argue about whether or not we\u2019ll need the fly.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt might be cold,\u201d I point out, as Jonathan frowns.<\/p>\n
Then it\u2019s time to see if the air mattress has a slow leak. At least we are persuaded it doesn\u2019t have a fast leak, so we are happy. Until I propose getting a sheet to cover it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t need a sheet,\u201d Jonathan says. \u201cI am not bringing a bunch of blankets and sheets. You\u2019ll be in a sleeping bag.\u201d<\/p>\n
Did I mention how much I HATE being confined in a sleeping bag, and like to spread one out under me, one on top, my legs akimbo in a sensible sprawl?<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not lightweight backpacking,\u201d I counter. \u201cCan\u2019t we go for comfort?\u201d<\/p>\n
Apparently not. Meanwhile, Jonathan starts to talk about how nice it would be just to slip into his bivvy sack and sleep under the stars. He looks longingly at his one-person tent.<\/p>\n
Our last decision involves water shoes. You can guess who is pro and who is con, and who is welcome to bring them as long as she is willing to carry them.<\/p>\n
Luckily, the last three nights of our trip will involve sleeping inside on mattresses, so I think our marriage will survive.<\/p>\n
*<\/p>\n
Camping trials and joys? How compatible are you\u00a0and your sweetie’s\u00a0vacation and\/or packing preferences?<\/em><\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" My husband, Jonathan, and I are about to embark for a week in the eastern Sierra. The first three nights involve camping with a group of fanatical hikers who think nothing of day after day of 13+ mile hikes with … Continue reading