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.

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.

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.

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.

Let’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!

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 . . .