Anyone else a wannabe nature lover?

[mamatojon]

I took down our tent today, it was really nice out for the last few days so I figured it had dried out enough to pack it away. We had a campout in our backyard a couple of weeks ago since Jon REALLY wanted to go camping but it just never quite fit in our schedule.

OMG- I about died when I was pulling the poles out of the little sleeves. Hundreds of little pincer bugs were living in there. I screamed and started hitting the tent with a broom, which made them start falling out (the tent was still kind of upright) - they were just pouring out, it was like a horror movie or something. I'm getting all squigly just sitting here thinking about it.

Something tickled my leg and I turned quickly but it was just a loose tie, then I felt something in my head which turned out to be the tree branch. I swear I wanted to crawl out of my skin.

I really want to be a nature lover, I really want to go camping and enjoy the outdoors, hiking, all that good stuff. I just can't get over the fact that things *live* out there, LOL. Jon has joined cub scouts and they go family camping 4 times per year, I can't go screaming hitting tents with brooms and jumping up and down everytime we go. I am going to look like such a dork. Please tell me I'm not alone, share your most horrible outdoorsy experience with me. My idea of camping is a sofa bed in a cheap hotel room, LOL.

 

[RNMOM]

You do better than I do. My idea of roughing it is the Holiday Inn.

My worst experience happened often. We used to camp before kids. Often. When I had to make the middle of the night pit stops I always woke DH up to go with me. There are the biggest, ugliest, scariest bugs in state park campground bathrooms you could ever imagine. You never see them during the day but the second you get in there a 3" spider will be in a web scanning the ceiling above all the toilets. Something will scurry around the back of the stool, man it is frightening.

Give me a 4 star hotel anytime or leave me at home! Luckily, I used to have to work every other weekend and I conveniently usually had to work. Someone had to stay home to care for the dog too, ya know.

 

[AKLRULZ]

My idea of roughing it is Port Orleans!

I love the outdoors, but not sleeping in it. I've been tent camping once (2002) and it was miserable - it would have been an amazing experience if we could have gone back to someplace like the Yacht Club or AKL after spending an entire day hiking or tooling around outside - showers are a great thing!

 

[Tazicket]

I'm so with you!!! I usually wind up quoting Melman from Madagascar anytime we try to do something outdoorsy...."ARRRGGHH!!! NATURE!!! It's all over me! Getitoff Getitoff Getitoff!!!!!!" I also would love to love nature. I think I love the idea of nature, but fail miserably in the application.

The last time I went camping, it was about 6 years ago in August in the Florida Keys. Never go camping in August in the Florida Keys. It was so dadgum hot and there were bugs everywhere and my air mattress kept deflating (what?! like I was supposed to sleep on the ground or something?!). Ick.

 

[mamatojon]

I'm so with you!!! I usually wind up quoting Melman from Madagascar anytime we try to do something outdoorsy...."ARRRGGHH!!! NATURE!!! It's all over me! Getitoff Getitoff Getitoff!!!!!!" I also would love to love nature. I think I love the idea of nature, but fail miserably in the application.

The last time I went camping, it was about 6 years ago in August in the Florida Keys. Never go camping in August in the Florida Keys. It was so dadgum hot and there were bugs everywhere and my air mattress kept deflating (what?! like I was supposed to sleep on the ground or something?!). Ick.

I think I'm going to have to actually watch that movie instead of just have it on for the kids!

My SIL went camping a while back with her son's troop and she made some comment about "should have took the air mattress" I was dumbfounded, LOL. You mean you slept on the GROUND? I strive to be they type of person who can sleep on the ground with such nonchalance.

 

[Tazicket]

My SIL went camping a while back with her son's troop and she made some comment about "should have took the air mattress" I was dumbfounded, LOL. You mean you slept on the GROUND? I strive to be they type of person who can sleep on the ground with such nonchalance.

::gasp:: You mean that there are really people who sleep on the ground when they camp? I'm flabbergasted! Why would you sleep on the hard dirty ground when you can sleep on an air mattress? Or better yet, a bed in a hotel?