Camping
Last night i had a dream that I was getting ready to go on a week-long camping trip up in the U.P. It was something I had apparently signed up for, because I was in a room full of strangers. I didn’t know too many details about the trip; I think I just signed up on a whim, or wasn’t really supposed to be there.
The leaders were discussing all the “rules” because there were things we were allowed to bring, and things we couldn’t. It seemed kind of like a survival challenge for whimps, because they were recommending all kinds of things to bring like a fishing pole, and matches, etc. I asked if I could bring a gun and they said no. I asked if we would have to build our own shelter, or if we could bring a tent. They said, “if you want to build your own, you’ll have to bring a specialist with you. They’ll have the guard dogs.” “Guard dogs? What for?” I said. “Well, if you build your own, there’s a good chance you’ll get attacked by bears.” they said, as if bears only attack poorly constructed tents.
They told us that in the morning we would be paired up with our partner, and then we’d leave for the U.P. I don’t know where we were exactly, but it was somewhat close to home, because when they said that, I remember thinking “oh no, I don’t even have my camera!” So I decided to leave for home to get it that night and come back.
Then I realized I didn’t have anything at all. Nothing. All I had was a really cool looking backpack with nothing in it. Well, I might have brought a dresser full of junk, because before I left, I opened up this dresser which I knew was mine, and started rummaging through it to see what I could use.
I picked up a hotdog roaster, a pair of tongs, a spool of string, but started realizing there was so much in there that I didn’t have. A flashlight, a pie-iron, a chainsaw, a filet knife, a hunting knife, my cell phone (I was going to cheat- I have a gps in my phone, and they never said anything about not being able one), my bike, a fan, (I can’t sleep at night without a fan going for white noise), a lawn chair - it pretty much turned into a list of things I would take if I moved to another country for good. I started getting really nervous, like I would forget something.
Then I started thinking about logical stuff- that’s when I realized I didn’t even have any clothes, or a blanket, or food, or a tent. And I started to realize that I dont’ even know how to fillet a fish properly or skin a moose or anything like that. I was scared that I would die, so I decided that I would bring an entire bag of easy-to-prepare meals. I wasn’t sure if it was against the rules, but I didn’t care.
I guess I am the most unprepared camper in the entire world. Whoever would have gotten stuck as my partner would have been pissed, because I would be bumming their stuff from them the entire time. “Hey man, could I use that toothbrush when you’re done?”
