We went camping this weekend. That is what the kids and I are calling it. The girls and I decided that we could and will make up our own definition of camping. Their dad has one version of camping. It includes tents and no showers and eating food that somehow always has dirt in it. The kids like it, but hey, they are all under nine years old, so their judgment on that is a bit skewed. That is not what I call a good camping experience, personally.

Normally when asked I have said that my idea of camping is a hotel without room service. Part of me still believes this. Wikipedia says camping is where one leaves their urban home and goes and spends a few days in nature. I was in nature people. I swear I was. There was no Target for a hundred miles, nor a Starbucks. I did not have internet for three days. Nature.

However, I really like my new version of camping:

It includes a borrowed vacation home, in the boondocks. ‘Boondocks’ is a smallish town in the mountains, a ski town, where about 2,000 people live year round. Just, you know in case you were confused about the term boondocks. Like I said, I’m redefining things today people. Where was I? Oh yes. Home in the boondocks. Borrowed from a miscellaneous relative who loans it to everyone. I know this for a fact, because we had to share it with a, I believe third cousin of my moms, son and his wife and daughter? Something like that. However, the house was big enough for all of us. If they’d not had a daughter in between my girls ages, they could have easily avoided us all weekend.

Camping now includes a 360 view of the mountains. A deck to look at the stars at night. (Holy cow people, I’ve never seen that many stars.) A hot tub on said deck, is also amazing.

Camping includes a great little coffee shop that makes their own beans and has pastries that are better than anything one can find in Denver.

Camping includes restaurants in town, none of which are chains. All of which are family owned and had great food.

Camping includes a gas grill. It includes a porch fire pit. One that you can load real wood into and have the experience of a camp fire, while still getting to go inside to sleep in a real bed.

Camping includes too many s’mores, sugar crazed kids, a random keg party three blocks over that decides to light off a few fireworks and a Sonic on the road home. Because the drive home is just better when it includes a cherry limeade.

So, what is your definition of camping?