Lessons learned/verified: undeep

undeep_thoughts

Aug 04, 2012 10:55

Lessons I learned/verified on my recent camping trip.

Lessons verified:

Always pack like it's going to be winter (hee, "California winter") because it will be cold at some point.
Bring all the extra t-shirts, jackets, socks, undies you can possibly squeeze in the suitcase. They will get used.
Go ahead and bring every stupid cord for all the various electronics. You never know which you'll end up actually using.
Ha! Who needs a cell phone?
Always stay at a campground with a shower. It might be hairy/muddy or whatever, but that's why you shower without glasses and with flip flops.

Lessons I need to burn into my head:

Just make that stupid list! And be complete about it. While you're at it, do it before you get "vacation brain."
Shop before you get "vacation brain" too!
Only taking one of something essential but easily lost? Think again!! (Ugh, the day without chapstick will never happen again!)
I know you hate cash, but just bring more. Apparently, some people/institutions just can't let go of their crippling addiction to it.
Don't be shy about looking at an actual map of where you're going. And be sure to do that before "vacation brain" sets in.
Do not toy with or antagonize the Amtrak station volunteer "host" (who, I swear, whined to me "You're going to make the train laate!" when I wouldn't show him my ticket or move to the "right" spot for coach riders [20 minutes before the train was due to arrive]). The karmic bitch slap seems to result in crappy seatmate selection (I had to sit next to a smoke-lunged hacker who blared heavy metal and had a mountain lion rawring ring tone... all the way to SLC. Thanks karma!).
Really? You're going to pack brand new white socks for a camping trip? What, you were wishing you'd brought brown?
Gee, if I'd had a smart phone with a data plan I could have been making a shitload of innane social network updates on the whole trip (before I forgot all the good ones!). [I don't think I'm ready to learn this lesson.]
Yes, you have a lot to do before a vacation! Get to it!!