Sunday, June 21, 2009

It’s all about compromise

First I’d like to say thank you to all who welcomed me home after my week-long absence. Your comments surprised me and your support means so much to me.

When taking a road trip of any magnitude, the first rule of thumb is to have fellow travelers you enjoy spending time with. George was coming, and I enjoy him. Check one. And then there’s my husband who I mostly enjoy but we have differences of opinion as to when to stop and how many times. Our biggest bone of contention is in “the stopping for the night”.

This could be a problem, I thought.

Before our journey, we discussed options and I was beginning to notice my husband’s all involved camping of some sort. (He even packed the tent and the supplies, “just in case”). Camping was not an option for me and I stuck to my guns in this regard. I wanted a bed, I told him. A bed in something that doesn’t have zippers. And a bathroom with a shower. End of discussion.

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So imagine my surprise when my husband found this very nice compromise! We booked it the day before we left. It’s camping ~ which fit into his tastes ~ but it’s a dwelling, with a bed ~ which fit my requirements. And I didn’t really mind that the bathroom wasn’t inside the cabin. It was such a short walk down a nice little path.

My husband found a KOA campground only a mile off the interstate just east of the Georgia border in Anderson, South Carolina. The campground borders Lake Hartwell but you actually have to drive to get to the lake.

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We’d driven for 12 hours and I was surprised at how well George was handling the fact that he was cooped up in the back seat with no frisbees to catch or toys being tossed. We did stop a few times at rest areas to take him for short walks, however.

So while my husband took George for a real walk, I headed out to get something for dinner in the nearby town. I took a drive by the lake too, but couldn’t get a picture.

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Inside the cabin was a double bed along one wall and a set of bunks opposite. There was also a small table and chair, cable tv and air conditioning (another of my requirements). It was already hot in the south and I was glad to have the AC blasting.

DSC_0022 copy 2Let’s take a closer look at that curtain fabric, shall we?

Everything in this area is about nearby Clemson University. The gift shop at the campground was stock full of fun items, people in the nearby town sported apparel with the trademark paw logo, vehicles sported Clemson stickers but the curtains at the campground were a little much, I thought!

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My husband woke me at 4:30 the next morning. I like the fact that he’s an early riser but thought this was a bit overboard. I kept my thoughts to myself, however because it’s all about compromise. We were showered, dressed and on the road again by 5. Here’s George in the back seat, being good.

I’m sorry to report that on the way home, my husband did not compromise. We drove straight through and there was no changing his mind. I will not go into the argument we had, but I will say that the only thing that kept me awake and driving during my turn was my intense anger at him. Lord help me, it was not a good feeling and I realized one of my biggest pet peeves is people who camp out in the hammer lane. Ok. Enough.

It’s a beautiful morning back East as I write this post. We’ve got a gorgeous breeze blowing under partly cloudy skies with a temperature of a 70 degrees. Through the window, I can see my husband hanging laundry on the clothesline. And I am in heaven.

Until tomorrow, my friends . . .

31 comments:

Donalyn said...

So glad to see you back and it sounds like you overall had a good time. And call me crazy, but for people our age, who have been married as long as we have, I will take a good, hot fight over indifference any day of the week!

Jill of All Trades said...

This looks like a great place to stay. When I was a kiddo we, the family, traveled a lot with a camper and stayed in lots of KOA campgrounds but never had anything like this. Looks great. Glad you're back, we are too.

Unknown said...

what a cute little cabin and it sounds like it had all the things a girl could need!

Hilary said...

Sounds perfect.. well except for that drive home. :)

Bren Haas said...

What a wonderful trip you shared with us. Love having you back on the blog circle - GEORGE is just TOOO CUTE!!!

Happy Summer Dear friend - stop by the BGgarden sometime!

T said...

That cabin is my kind of camping! KOA, huh. I've never seen such a nice one!

Sandy@American Way Farm said...

I hear you on the stopping thing. I've informed DH that I will never, ever again go on a long trip with him unless he agrees, before we leave, and I may make him guarantee this is writing, that we stop for the night and several breaks during the day. And I've also learned to take my own pillow with me.

Leenie said...

Been there with being peeved with the spouse in a car on a road trip. That kind of togetherness tests true love. I liked the compromise cabin. Very homey. I've been in motels that were supposed to be better and WEREN'T. Thanks for sharing your adventures.

A Scattering said...

I'm soooo thankful that my husband's idea of "roughing it" is a hotel that doesn't have HBO on the TV. The stopping is an issue though. Years ago we drove through the New England States on our way to Ontario from eastern Canada. I have zero photos of that trip - these days I'd be shooting drive-by, be damned that he won't stop except for a pee!

Leif: A Voyage said...

LLLLLLLLLOL....Kate!

Just a random unconnected (um, not!) thought: stubbornness in our partner and their refusal to compromise or see our point of view I am pretty sure causes 97% of all couples fights in the world.

Maybe 99%.

The second thing is THANK you for a new word:

Hammer lane??!!!! Fabulous!
Kt

Leif: A Voyage said...

Ps...Happy Solstice Day!

SuzieQ said...

What a beautiful little spot to "camp" for the night. Real camping is only nice in cold weather when there are no bugs to deal with!

Kathy's Klothesline said...

Love the cabin. We are thinking about building a few rustic cabins here with a similar layout. No curtains, though. I want screened holes in the walls (windows) with shutters that close and ceiling fans. No air, as my park always has a nice breeze and the nighttime temp here is usually on the cool side. There is an old KOA a few miles from our location. They have cabins.... with no bedding. Just a plywood platform to put your sleeping bag on! I find that to be a little too rustic.

Mental P Mama said...

Ahhhh. Compromise. Or not;) George looks like he loved the KOA digs. If that was your only squabble for the whole road trip, then I'd call it a success!

Laura ~Peach~ said...

did you come interstate 20 or 85 to atlanta?

Deb said...

70 degrees and a cool breeze! Oh, you are making me jealous!
As soon as I saw the cabin, I knew you stayed at a KOA. They are great...and I miss the travelling. I wondered how George would do, but George being George, he did exactly what I expected.
There were times when my husband drove straight through...not anymore.
Where you surprised to see Lake Hartwell so low? Theya are still hoping for every drop of water available in the sky.
I promise that when I come up to visit my sister, we all of us girls will get together...mabye in NYC.

Anonymous said...

That camping hut looks really lovely and I love the swinging seat outside. I think there always has to be a compromise but we can never get everything how we want! I know if it was me and my husband, one of us would probably have slept under the stars!

CJ xx

Unknown said...

Now, THAT'S my kinda camping!!! I love that little cabin..how friggin cute is that. Even the Clemson curtains have a certain appeal...well, you know how I feel about fabric.

We do the same thing about trips and life ingeneral and I have learned I need to pick my battles...but driving straight through is not what I call fun.

Daryl said...

Gotta say Dlyn is on the right track there ... and sometimes its all about getting there already ... xox

Anonymous said...

George looks as though he has heard the arguing before and is just saying, "whut-evah".

Di
The Blue Ridge Gal

imom said...

I'm with you on the whole bed and bathroom issue! Definitely a requirement on a road trip. It seems like once every trip there is an argument between me and my husband too. Ours are usually over going out vs. staying in the hotel on the last night... He always wins, I always pout.

Char said...

oh, husbands and wives - I remember this same argument between my parents when we drove from Montgomery to Philadelphia.

the KOA place looks cute - who knew?

Woman in a Window said...

70 degrees and laundry on the line. My idea of heaven, too.

Pony Girl said...

I love that cabin! It's perfect for a comprising situation. I am staying someplace like that his summer when my family camps with our horses.
I'm glad you got to take a little family vaca! Did George find any interesting critters to chase?

Anonymous said...

I'm with you. I've had any number of discussions with 'the old goat' over stopping... whether it's for the night or just stopping so that I can take medication.
I've learned to be very clear. I will not sleep sitting upright in a rest area or a truck stop. Stopping for the night means sheets and being horizontal and it needs to happen before 2 am even if we're "making good time".

PS~ Welcome back!

Anonymous said...

Your dog is still the cutest.

GailO said...

Love the cute cabin you found!...including the curtains:)

Arguments while driving in the car...what would life be without them?...Although I have to say I am definitely with you on this one...I once fell asleep driving while trying to drive from FL to RI without a stop...I was lucky to get only a dented fender...

abb said...

You and I are the same kind of "campers". That's as close as I'll ever get as well. Glad you're back home and back posting! Now that school's (FINALLY) over, I'll have a little more time to poke around your and all the blogs I love to visit.

Lori said...

My husband is the same kind of guy - take his time getting there but when you turn him around towards home - it's like a horse on a dead run for the barn.
Cute little cabin but for me I do prefer the zippers. :)

Pat - Arkansas said...

Cute KOA cabin, even with the Clemson decor. If my hubby had had his way, we would have slept on picnic tables in roadside parks rather than find any sort of reasonable accommodation. Good for you for standing your ground! Sorry about the trip back; been there, done that!

Terri said...

That cabin is ohhh so cute!

Just love your pictures

Hugs
Terri