Thanks, but I'll pass....

Confession: I am not a camper.

I don't know why, but i just can not camp, aka "rough it". I can't! Its just not fun for me. Packing everything to bring only to have to unpack and set up once there only to have to tear down and repack only to have to unpack and put away once home. It seems like a lot of work for very little return. And then there is "nature". Yeah, nope. I don't need to be surrounded by trees and leaves and wildlife, to be cold when it rains and be sticky and uncomfortable when its hot. Its not fun for me to live in fear of having a snake encounter the entire trip.(i am mildly fear obsessed with those devil creatures) I am not really a hoodie and jeans kind of gal. I love to dress up and do my hair and makeup and camping, doesnt really lend much to that, it thrives for the casual, the laidback, the nature-lovers, the hikers, the lets-nibble-on-bark-while-hiking-up-the-mountain-and-then-pee-in-the-bushes kind of people. I am pretty much the opposite. I could care less about nature, loathe hiking, and am more of a go-er than a laidback-er (not a word...lol). I like to be near things and do things. I wanna be able to go to the beach in the morning and then walk along a boardwalk at night. I love the nightlife and the beach and the relaxation they provide. To me a nice pool, sun, tanning, and a good book are my nirvana, add a nice bed and hot shower into the mix and that is perfection. In campings defense, I will try to not 100% rush judge. A ton of people LOVE doing it, so it can't be all bad, right? So in the spirit of adventure, I would be willing to give it another try. I will say it was 100xs better when we stayed in a house, than a camper (snakes can't get in campers right?) and I love the cost effectiveness of camping, but I just find myself turning into Negative Nancy when it comes to thinking about camping. Anyone with me on this?!?! Have I just not had the "right" camping experience? Or am I pretty much dead on (well i know I am, but it would be nice to have other confirm it :) ) I don't get all the hoopla of campers and why people love it so much... there.is.nothing.to.do. Sure its probably a blast when its sunny (maybe) but what about when its cold? or rainy? or like 104 out?? What does one do then?? I don't know... Feel free to share your Yays or Nays on this, cause MAYBE i could be swayed (with the right argument)....

The search for the perfect vacation...

Confession: i am a picky vacationer. Now you ask me that in person and i am sure i would deny it and exclaim how flexible i am in vacationing, but the honest truth is that i am not. I like sun, beaches and warm weather! I want to be out doing something i wouldnt normally be doing at home. Dont get me wrong, i can be haaaapppy on most vacations but my ideal vacationing is the beachy, sunny, warm spot! Having said that, alfie and i went to the Adirondaks this past weekend with his family. Overall i'd give it a B+. It was fun and relaxing, but after mannnny years of vacationing, i have trained myself into a routine that when tampered with equates to grumpiness. The routine is: wake up early, grab a quick breakfast then hit the pool by 9 or 10am. layout and enjoy swimming and reading or relaxing until lunch. Then shower and change for shopping or sightseeing til dinner, then after dinner going out somewhere to people watch or just walk around. As you can see its pretty relaxed and filled with things (other than shopping) that i wouldnt normally get to do at home. But on this trip we did a lot of staying in doors, and watching NASCAR, (Yes, Christy, NASCAR) which was kinda bumming because we had lake front property so the water was right out front! I, along with Harry, Hermoine and Ron, took our Half Blood Prince adventure to the chairs on the dock by the water and enjoyed some wonderful reading,sun, breezes and a view like this:

I was amazed at how far i got in my book!! We also went into town one night for gelato (which i can not have, so i settled on a guava sorbet which was yummy). And the day we left we finally went into Old Forge and did some walking around and go-karting and bumperboating. If it was my vacation planning, i would have spent zero time inside and all the time outside because the weather was nice, but to each his own i guess....We did enjoy lots of time with our neice and nephews! Uncle Alfie was thrilled with the unlimited Annah time:

Overall, this was MUCH better than camping but not quite a great vacation :) but still fun with family!