Birthday Camping Retreat

Earlier this month I turned 70 and what I wanted most for my birthday, besides amazing cards from my friends, was a week in our RV at our favorite camping spot…by myself. I don’t normally have a need to be alone for more than just a few hours but since my mom died in May, I had been thinking about being alone for a week to just do what I want, when I want and why I want. My husband was totally agreeable so I packed our 5th wheel travel trailer with card making supplies, yarn, old DVDs (there is no cell service or internet at this campground), notebooks, books to read, and lots of food! I had no idea what I might want to do on this retreat but wanted to be prepared.

The first night I was camping, I made a list of all the things I would like to do during my retreat! Then I laughed at myself for being so silly…making a plan to relax and have fun??? Well, some of us are just a littler more odd than others! LOL I do know that I accomplished four of those things…walking every day, crocheting, watching some DVDs and polishing my toenails:)

Interesting to note here is that where we go camping is only an hour and a half away from our house but the surroundings are vastly different. We live in high desert/dryland wheat country but as you can see, the campground is wooded. A couple of friends came up to visit me one afternoon and were impressed with how peaceful the setting is.

I rarely do things by myself. I will go with someone…join a club, take a trip, take a class…but not by myself. I love that I could stretch myself and still reinvent myself at the ripe old age of 70!!!

I was not totally alone. My friend Liz is the camp host so I had “coffee” with her every morning. The couple camped in the space above me I had met the year before and she and I spent time together. In the valley below, Tammy and her friend Ann were camped for two months and had quite the set-up to piece quilts. I wish I had taken pictures of their operation…WOW! Tammy has a long-arm quilting business in Amity, OR called Country Quilting Haven. Now to give you a little perspective, I live on 20 acres in the middle of nowhere…no close neighbors and my nearest friend lives about 20 minutes away. So, socializing played a big part in my retreat.

My campsite! Home away from home!

I made ONE card which I gifted to Sue who was camped above me. I truly believed I would make a lot of cards but didn’t. So, what did I do??? I walked, visited, crocheted while watching old DVDs. I ate very little except when my husband and son came overnight on the weekend. It felt so good to just BE! I had nowhere to go, nothing I had to do, no responsibilities at all.

Unfortunately, my week was cut short with an evacuation notice on Day 6…the Lonerock Fire was threatening the park. I called my husband in the morning to let him know we were at a Level 1 and by the time he arrived, we were at a Level 2 (Get Ready). However, we stayed until 6:00 pm when we got the Level 3 (evacuate now).

I am already planning my 2nd Annual Birthday Camping Retreat for next July! I loved every minute of it! Tammy, Sue and I exchanged information so we can coordinate our visit next summer…I might even take a quilting lesson from Tammy; who knows! And next year I will try to take more pictures!

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Thank you for stopping by!