So, it's official, plans are in place.  We're going camping on Thursday, through Sunday.  It's funny, because camping is the done thing, usually twice during the fall.  It's funny, because I can't make concrete plans, or mention it too much, or beg, or be decisive, because it drives Irv against a wall, and he becomes reactionary.  So, there's this dance that we do, every year. About a month before, I say "camping" a lot. I bring it up in casual conversation.  I reminisce, I find recipes, and say things like "I can't wait to try this, when we're camping", or "today is totally camping weather".  Then, I bring up how bad I want to go.  That makes it a bit less nebulous.  Then I say "It's September (or October) can we firm up a weekend?".  Then, I start to tell people "no, I don't want to make plans for that weekend, I want to keep it open for camping maybe"  Then, maybe a week, or four days in advance, Irv goes "let's go camping this weekend".  Any other process makes him feel pushed into it, and there's negativity.  If we do go, and he feels pushed, then fights are more likely to break out over petty stuff.  It's also, I think, because he's extra difficult during October. All these years, and it's still a sore month.  He's way better than when we got married, but we're still careful. As long as I know how to help him through these few rough weeks, than we do well.

Anyway, we're going. Now I get to have fun and make menus, and plan.  Luiz opted to go, which was a surprise   He typically enjoys his alone time when we're out of the house, and till this morning, I thought he kinda hated camping. Last year, he had a hard time reconciling "vacation" with "still gotta do some kinda work" and strained at the idea of camping chores.  We all look forward to the camp life, the little things, like cooking outdoors, and heating up water to wash dishes, chop wood, carry water. Luiz, last year, was having a tough time getting in line with that. He envisioned camping as a week long reading fest, he brought volumes of books, and sat around all day reading.  Which is fun, and a large part of it, but there's things that we all do, together.  I suppose it was partially our fault, too, because when Irv and I camp, after long years of learning a system, we work together like a well oiled machine.  Alden is now part of it, and we expected Luiz just to pick up and learn.  He's looking forward to it this time, and he said outright "I go without ego, I want to be a part of the family and help out as much as possible."  It'll be a lot of fun.  It's my therapy.

Since I'm in the boot, Irv was like "we're going to keep everything super easy, and just quick food for dinners" I was like "WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT TO ME"  Cooking while camping is as much a part of the experience as the fire, or sleeping on the ground. I need to cook at least a little.  I've got plans for making beef stew, with dark beer, and barley, and serving it in bread bowls.  That's my one new recipe for the weekend. Then burgers, grilled chicken or steak, Italian roast beef, and a few delicious breakfasts.