What Do You Do On A Rainy Day?

After leaving Austin, I went to Sommerville State Park, about an hour away. I decided to spend a few days there catching up on my writing and housekeeping chores. I had a nice site with a view of the lake. Other than a group of cub scouts and their parents, there were very few campers. The first night I saw cranes, javelinas and deer down by the lake and around my site.

Then, the rain began.

First, the cub scouts left. A few of the die-hard families tried to stay, but by late afternoon, they packed up their soaking tents and left. Next, the young couple with the canoe left. Finally, the family reunion gave up, packed up their little kids and grandparents, and drove away. The only campers left in the park were the campground hosts and me.

If you're not a camper, you might ask, "What does one do on a rainy day"? The answer depends on three things: 1.your method of camping, 2. the people you are camping with, and 3. your personality and the personalities of your fellow campers.

If you are camping in a large trailer or motorhome you are generally in a good situation. You can play cards or board games. You can write to friends or read. You can listen to music. You can watch tv or a movie. You can try out a new recipe.

If you are tenting, your choices are limited. You can still read or write or play games as long as the light or your batteries hold out. If you had planned to cook over an open fire you're probably out of luck. The sames goes for cooking on a camp stove unless you have some kind of shelter to cook under. Chances are, if you're tenting, as long as it's raining you'll be eating snacks and sandwiches or whatever you can find in your cooler.

The people you are camping with are a huge factor, maybe even more important than your type of camping. If you are by yourself and don't mind your own company, or are with like-minded, laid back friends, you should be fine. If you're camping with tense, high energy, claustrophobic people, or with boaters or kids or long-haired dogs, you're probably in trouble. All of the above can only be entertained for so long, then they're going to want to be "out-a-here"! Long haired dogs also present the question, "How long can you stay in a confined area before the smell of wet dog drives you mad?

What did I do during the rain? I read, I wrote, I sent text messages, I listened to music, I invented a spicy southwestern pasta soup, I washed clothes, I organized drawers and cabinets, I took naps, I recorded all my expenses, I plucked my eyebrows, then, in desperation, I went outside for a long walk in the rain.