The Great Outdoors

Living in the Northeast is like living in the great outdoors.  There are many opportunities to hike, fish, water ski, snow ski, swim and many other outdoorsy sports.  I like to be outside, enjoying nature like everyone.  I grew up snow and water skiing with my family.  What drew my husband and I to the Northeast was the ability to still participate in these sporting events.  Living in the Midwest there is not as much opportunity and what is consider a mountain for snow skiing can only really be a very tiny hill but snow ski on this tiny hill they do. 

 Amy and her Sunshine recently went on an all day hike where they hiked to a lake with small cabins.  Amy was telling me about the hike and the cute cabins.  "It is a first come, first serve type of cabin", she said.  I was a little perplexed by this so I began to ask a few question.  "Do the cabins have someone who cleans them?"  "Clean them, oh no!"Amy stated.  I began to think: cabins in the woods, people can stay at the cabins for free and they are not cleaned.   Hm mm I asked more questions "Is there running water?"  Then it came "Mother, these are not luxury condos.  There is no running water or cleaning lady way out in the woods.  There is an outhouse for bathroom facilities and a lake for bathing but wouldn't it be great for all of us to go on the hike and stay in the cabins?"

Hm mm, no it wouldn't be great for me I told her.  We took you camping when you were little.  We slept in an uncomfortable tent, used crummy bathrooms but had lots of fun camping with our children.  I would love to go on the hike for the day but I do not want to stay in the cabins that are never cleaned, have an outhouse and no running water.  I like a few amenities and I have no desire to do without those amenities anymore.  I guess that is what age does to a person---makes you want to have running water.  Now it's not that I am fussy but I am not even sure my 8 year old granddaughter would want to stay in the cabins. 

Amy and her Sunshine are planning on taking her nieces, one is eight and one is eleven, on the hike and staying in the cabin.  I am sure the girls will love the hike but I can almost hear the nightly conversation.  "The mosquitoes are bothering me.  I can't use the bathroom because it stinks.  We can't watch T.V."  Maybe I'll be wrong and the girls will love the hike and the overnight stay in the cabins without running water and a cleaning lady.  As for myself, I will be at home enjoying the lake from my backyard and going into my house with running water and a cleaning lady--myself.  That is my idea of a great summer evening in the great outdoors.