As the title of this post suggests, we have just had an experience living outside with our children. Now, I know what you’re thinking- they live in Hawaii, so it can’t be that bad. You would be right in some respects, but there have been some rather in’tents’ moments…
Both kids have had the 24hr stomach flu that just made its way through many of my students. Nothing like a 2AM projectile vomit session with a toddler, followed by practically water boarding him via cold bottles of water (amidst his screams at the top of his lungs), to start things off just right. Had that been the end we would not have been too put out- but, alas, Ariel also got sick (twice) and we spent another night getting hosed, followed by another night in which he threw up all in my hair. Kyle got sick too, and all the while I have just held my breath in hopes I am spared. Being ill is one thing- not having access during such an event to running water is another story. I’ll never forget my husband naked and bolting out into tall grass to crap his brains out- dignity be damned.
The truly comical part of all this is that we still have to get to work and -look- clean. I taught 10 classes last week and Kyle had 3 MC gigs. I like to believe we did a rather decent job fooling people into thinking we had access to modern amenities. The original plan would have been to camp on the beach, which I think would have made everything that much more awful to be honest. Sand + diapers + vomit would have been the worlds most disgusting sugar cookie of all time. Instead a strange twist of fate occurred.
On our way to Montana to visit family we lost one of our debit cards. When we got back the other one ran away and we found ourselves on a Saturday afternoon with no access to funds, and decidedly in need of camping gear. Several phone calls later, we borrowed an air mattress from a friend, a second mosquito net from our old neighbor, and had secured an offer for the use of a tent and an upper campsite at the property down in Captain Cook where we last lived.
Upon arrival there was a sad discovery that the tent originally promised was water logged and half eaten by fire ants, but Captain John (our old landlord) took pity on us and offered a spare one of his own. I had never been up to the campsites and was pleasantly surprised with this one- It’s a nicely lifted platform (that you have to watch the kids like a hawk on cuz it’s a sheer drop off) with a cover and everything. There’s a perfect amount of room for our suitcase, a small desk with chairs and a wooden dresser, and the 2 sleeping arrangements. Most of the time we all ended up piled on the mattress by morning though. I would usually be irritated, but this time of year it’s actually quite cold at night in Hawaii and I have been grateful for the extra snuggles.
It is “winter” after all… but only sorta.
Every day we could leave our camp set up and THAT is the best part about it. Setting up and tearing down days on end would have been exhausting. With kids it was worth its weight in gold to come to camp late some nights and just go straight to bed without much fuss. I think if we camp while traveling I would prefer to have a small trailer of some kind to ensure the same luxury, but with some actual walls.
The commute was a little long to town, but it’s only a temporary thing (and we were accustomed to it after living there almost a year). It is such a blessing to live just 5min away from the dance studio, and only 25 or so from Kyle’s current gym. The MC stuff rotates locations so there’s no fixing that, but he may start coffee farm tour guiding soon which would also be pretty close to where we are living. Minimizing our time in the car has been a long time in coming. I know it’s common to commute in this day and age, but I honestly struggle to stay awake in the car, so it leaves me feeling zonked all the time. That, and it has become complicated with nap schedules to not have a refuge to return to within a sensible distance to what we are doing throughout the day. Some afternoons as just too hot for a toddler car nap.
We got along rather well with people we once couldn’t stand and might even do Thanksgiving with them… strange how life plays out sometimes.
The sunsets were incredible from camp, and I can’t help but wonder if all the hassle was just to remind us that we live in a gorgeous place and are super blessed to have access to such things as clean water and fresh food on top of it. Next time some hardship floats your way, just remember, there’s a natural need for contrast in life or you would take it all for granted.
Mind you, I’m pretty stoked to be living indoors again.
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