Vacation

Summer vacation with family….at the lake….a tradition. For close to 35 years my whole family, mom and dad, sisters and spouses, children with their spouses and grandkids have been going to the same resort. We started with one cabin and now require three. Everyone looks forward to it. After 35 years you’d think we would know exactly what to take such as; how much food will be required, type of clothes to pack, what fishing gear will be needed, etc. Do we??? Nope!

Every year my wife gets out the “LIST”. This list has evolved over the years and it contains all the items that each cabin should bring in terms of supplies and food that will be shared. Everyone is on the list so everyone will know what their responsibly is. Pretty simple you’d think. Actually after all these years you would think the LIST would be memorized……it would be automatic….everyone just shows up and would know they have brought exactly what they were suppose to bring. Well, every year you wouldn’t believe the phone calls and e-mails with questions about the LIST. The first problem is that no one seems to remember where they put the LIST after last year. Copies are then sent out but there are always questions….. “Is this LIST from last year or two years ago?”…..”Do we need that much cooking oil?” “I think everyone should bring their own trash bags!” “Should I bring sardines?”……..the LIST needs to be revised and re-sent to everyone. Then you start shopping for most of the items, months before you leave. It’s more important to buy Cheerios now, at $3.79 a box than to pay $3.89 a box when we get to the resort. Forget about the fact that the extra weight and space required in the van will decrease the mileage per gallon hence cost more money for gas which will outweigh the savings realized by buying the food and supplies ahead of time.

The other big item that needs to be planned for is fishing gear. As it stands right now, our 3 cabins can supply fishing gear for the entire resort, which are 28 cabins. The poles, reels, tackle boxes, landing nets and depth finder, take up most of the space in the van when we start to pack. And each year we always seem to find new special lures, poles or reels we absolutely have to have. Do we catch fish……yes. The amount is a different story. Years ago, we would go out every day; early in the morning, mid afternoon and early evening. We would then have a fish fry on Friday, with plenty of fish to go around. Now a cabin may go out in the morning and some cabins may go out in the evening but the amount of fish caught is limited. We barely catch enough for an appetizer for a few people. Most of the time, it’s not worth the effort of making the mess. I know what you are thinking…….there isn’t any fish in the lake. There are ….it’s just that when we are there it is a little too early for the fish to be active. If we were to go a few weeks later we’d fill the stringers.

Do we still have a good time?? With golf on premises (with tournaments), tennis, boat rides, bingo, water skiing, minnow races, sand castle building, kids fishing contest…. now could we not?? 3 more weeks and we’ll be there!