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What I know now

  • Camping is just like being home, but also completely not – same arguments, laughs, food, shelter, clothing, annoyances, everything is dirty vs. percolator coffee, long walks to the bathroom, no house to keep picked up, everything is supposed to be dirty.
  • Tasks need to be qualified — Query: “Is this plate/towel/bottle/pot/fork clean?” Response: “Well, it’s ‘camping’ clean.’ “
  • Get to know your tent neighbors immediately – you don’t want to realize you were camping next to your new, good friends during the last days of your stay.
  • Take a nap. Every day.
  • Be considerate both ways: I’m not going to bitch at you for staying up til early in the morning with loud music, swearing and raucousness if you don’t complain about my child whining for food/toy/drink/potty early in the morning. Frankly, I could care less about either.
  • When newly introduced to outdoor living, children take some adaptation. Loving his new found freedom of peeing in the outdoors Quade decides since he is on grass that he can get down from his nice VIP lunch, drop his drawers and relieve himself right there.
  • Children can charm you into giving them just about anything (as stated in a prior post). A couple grew so enamored with our daughter on the first night that when they had to shorten their stay they gave The Hub and I their partially used lunch/dinner/drink punch cards. Two days of free lunch and dinner and about 5 beers (at festival prices) free. Thanks Katie and Arik!
  • Karma and balance. The reason our 2 cars, microwave, toaster oven, and air conditioning broke down is because we were about to have one ton of generosity dumped on us during the fest. Good and bad, can’t be one without the other.
  • You have to go for that swim in the lake at least once no matter what you are wearing. Why? Because it is there.
  • Dave Matthews Band really is pretty cool (“Burning Down the House” cover was over the top), Cloud Cult is one of the most amazing and moving phenomena one can witness, Wookiefoot is an absolute spectacle, in the best sense and everyone should see at least once (Harvest Fest next, in Geneva Minn.)
  • Always tent in the shade. As morning came over the horizon it was quite a site to see dozens of half-melted, groggy people hatching out of their tents.
  • Hot dogs and brats taste their best at 2 am.
  • Always go “see where that music is coming from.”
  • Bring a bike, that way when you reach the entrance and realize you forgot your pass it will be a 2 min. bike ride and not a 15 min. walk. Remember a lock.
  • If you are co-parenting a trip, allow the other to wonder around and experience a bit of festival by themselves.
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July 26th, 2009 | Category: Bands, Children, Festivals, Marriage, camping, friends

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