Part of the fun being a camper and getting to camp before everyone else was setting up the bunk area. Finding the best bottom bunk with adequate shelving (or discovering the right board and hay rope to make a shelf), on the driest part of the cabin, and the best nooks and crannies was tops. And if you could secure enough extension cords, you were in business. That mean you could set up a lamp or even a small radio. The top bunks were equally important. Finding the bunk in the middle of the cabin mean you had the largest shelving capacity & could use the area as wall space for tacking posters, cards, and put nails up there to display whatever you wanted. Plus you wouldn't split your head open on the rafter; these bunks were usually left for the late comers.
Somehow back in the 70s and 80s, our family was able to get to Camp in two trips in the small car with trunks, duffle bags and extras. While many out of state campers sent their trunks ahead via UPS, some folks came in Suburbans, station wagons, and a U-Haul (Marie Bristow, my favorite). For living the simple life in the middle of the woods for 1-2 months, it sure is nice to have the little extras that somehow were omitted from Miss Dollie's packing list like fans, lights, candy, teen magazines, cocoa, popcorn, electric blanket, etc. What were your favorite things NOT on the packing list?
After 10 months of not seeing my friends regularly or walking the familiar paths at Camp Monterey, it was a cinch picking up like a day wasn't missed. My Camp friendships were the deepest, non-superficial friendships I'd ever made. Even 25+ years after my older year, growing up, changes physically, religiously and politically, I'd rather be at a Camp Monterey reunion than any other place on earth! All the walls are down and we're all on an equal playing field. It's glorious!
