Are we crazy?

As we are about to embark on a two-day road trip followed by seven days of camping (in a tent), followed by yet another two-day road trip, all with a 3 month old baby, I am wondering whether to call it vacation or cray-cation.  I will settle with ‘adventure’.  I am  eager to see how Skyler will do with a little change of pace.  Being the remarkably well behaved baby she is, I am sure she will do great, but I still get scared that she’ll decide she doesn't like being in the car and this ‘adventure’ will turn into a nightmare sooner than you can say “when’s the next rest stop?”.  

We considered several options this year ranging from not going to Family Camp at all to renting a motor home and livin’ it up.  We decided the most rational thing to do would be to drive there.  In case you are wondering where ‘there’ is, it is Eagle Lake in northern California.  A quick 17 hour 9 minute drive, according to Google.  The destination for the Shippendom Family Reunions for longer than James has been alive.  My first time was the year after James and I were married and this year will be my third, Skyler’s first, and James’ I don’t know what.  If this isn't a tradition, I don’t know what is.

I am as prepared as I think I can be.  Surely there are things I have not thought of, but I have made list after list of food, supplies, random things that I think will be nice to have while out in the middle of nowhere, and super-secret, creative camping tricks you wouldn't have thought of but thanks to Pinterest you now know about.  But still, the thought of forgetting something necessary and having a trip to the closest Safeway (if you can even find it there) taking at least an hour, is messing with me.  And I think I might lose my mind. 

This always happens.  Especially with camping.  I fret and stress over every little thing so much that I’m sure it is going to be the worst trip ever. But, inevitably, we get where we’re going, unpack, and wouldn't you know, we have a good time.  There is something about sitting in the woods having literally nothing to do but maybe chat it up with a long lost cousin-in-law, that is seriously relaxing.  Although I’m sure with a baby this year, there will be a little bit less of that.  It’s always fun, and I keep having to remind myself of that.  We get to spend time with so many family members whose appearance is a serious rarity in our normal lives and that makes up for all the worry and planning and hard work it takes to actually get there. 

So in short, I am hoping I survive the next week so that I can blog about how much fun it was when we get back.