packing list

Once upon a time, Mr. Kenobi and I were bright-eyed college kids in Bozeman, Montana. There I learned to camp, mountain bike, hike and downhill ski. What makes those memories especially sweet was the company of my best friend and favorite guy in the whole world. Living so close to the trails and rivers allowed us to head outside on nearly a moments' notice. I remember throwing some gear and a couple packets of Lipton noodles into his SUV one Labor Day weekend. We spent most of the day biking and hiking, and finally got around to setting up camp as the sun set.

Only then did we realize we had brought a cooking pot, but no utensils or plates. After scrounging around through the car, we found a couple dixie cups and a packet of plastic silverware from a fast-food place. It'd have to do. We whittled off piece of kindling to stir the boiling pot, then dipped the cups into the pan, trying to avoid any major burns, and ate in with laughter while the stars came out over head. We ended the evening in our crazy-creek chairs by the campfire, eating marshmallows (the one camping essential I never forget!) and dreaming out loud. It's an amazing memory, one of many times we went somewhat under-prepared for modern conveniences. We were always ready for survival, but rarely planned for comfort.

Fast-forward to now, and our impending camp trip with our church. I have an excel spreadsheet of lists for packing. Our minivan will be loaded, all for a 2 1/2-day camp out with about 100 friends. Here's just a sample of our list...
camp stove, fuel, coffee pot, cooking utensils, cups,
dish soap + sponge, dishes bucket, little broom (for cleaning out the tent),
mattress foam (for under boy's sleeping bags), sleeping bags, sleeping pads,
spare rug/mat (for holding muddy shoes), tarp, tent(s), towel/rag, towels,
plates, pots/pans, utensils, wet wipes, utility knife, mallet (for hammering in tent stakes),
camp chairs, swimming suits, baseball bat, bikes, buckets, water guns, sunscreen,ice cream ball...

Our plans for meals include chicken kabobs with red peppers, fresh guacamole, omelets, and gourmet sandwiches. One look at my list, and I realized a lot has changed...

Lately, I have felt homesick for the lifestyle and landscape we enjoyed in Montana. As my list shows, I've gotten much more domesticated in my camping plans. I'm sure some would say it shows I've learned from the non-utensil days.

Perhaps that's not the only lesson. My family never camped; my mom hated the stress of trying to replicate our life outside, and she never slept well in a tent. Mr. Kenobi's family, like us, stayed at hotels when they traveled. Our mothers didn't enjoy the enormous task of planning, packing, setting up, cleaning, and everything else they saw as part of camping.

We have dreamed of taking our children into nature. We hope they'll love the physical and mental challenge of life in the wild, and grow to appreciate and care for the marvels of creation. As I pondered this list today, I wondered if I might be trying to turn the outdoors into a mini-version of our home, rather than just being at home outdoors. That pressure could quickly take the joy out of the experience for everyone, and we could end up like our parents: giving up on camping because the work leaves little time for fun.

So, I'm re-thinking my list and priorities. I'll keep you posted on the stars and marshmallows.