Counting the Nights That Mattered
We usually measure a year by how many nights we spend camping rather than by the calendar. This year, that number was lower than usual—not because we didn’t want to go, but because life took a serious turn. And let’s be honest, sometimes life doesn’t just knock on the door—it barges in with a full backpack and a flashlight.
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| Rainy views, cozy camper, and the quiet satisfaction of being outdoors again. |
After Cerinia’s heart surgery on December 17th of last year, we got to go home on the 23rd in time to spend Christmas and New Year’s with family. Everything seemed on the mend—until January 3rd, when she was emergency airlifted back to Baylor in Plano after her blood pressure dropped dangerously low and her kidneys and liver began to fail. We stayed at Baylor for about a week to get her fully stabilized and patched up. Even after returning home, we didn’t get back out camping for almost two months while staying close to specialized medical care.
Despite all of that, we’re weekend warriors at heart. Every time we parked Gravity, our trusty adventure-ready camper, it felt like a small victory. We would hang our tacky lights, build a fire, and then take a moment to enjoy the view. In total, we managed 57 days and 39 nights of camping across 18 trips this year—not record-breaking, but still plenty of adventure, especially considering how much time we lost after the unexpected Baylor detour.
What this year really reminded us of is that camping isn’t just about the number of nights or miles traveled. It’s about the little moments: watching the sun set over the lake, the quiet satisfaction of watching the stars, or enjoying a little extra sleep while the world wakes up. After everything that happened, the campsites were still there, and we appreciated them even more. Every trip became a little celebration of “we made it out here, and it’s good to be alive.” Slowing down isn’t a defeat—it’s part of the adventure, and sometimes the best part.
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| Sunset over the lake as the day comes to an end |
With all that said, here’s to the New Year—may your RV be parked level, your marshmallows never burn, your tacky lights glow bright, and your adventures be full of laughter, quiet moments, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting. Cheers to making more memories, even when life takes a detour!
