Oh, my aching back
Day trips and short getaways for vacation 2020
I’m probably going to survive the pandemic, but I fear my back won’t.
Why? Because I’m going to be spending a good chunk of my summer sleeping on the ground. As it turns out, I’m married to someone who enjoys camping, a trait since passed on to our three children.
I like camping as well, if by “camping” you mean having a few cocktails and then going to bed in my own room.
I am not a camper. But due to the coronavirus almost certainly sinking summer, I will be doing more camping than my doctor recommends. (Can I get a doctor’s note? Worth investigating.)
Already, my wife has ordered a second, bigger tent. Already, the four of them (and the dog) have camped out twice in the backyard while I slept in the house. Already, there’s talk of hitting up campgrounds once we’re allowed to.
See, our usual summer consists of hanging out at the pool club and then hopping a flight at the end of the summer to destinations unknown.
Pool probably won’t be opening, and the next time I get on an airplane will be post-vaccination.
So what to do this summer?
Welp, for us, it’s going to be camping, be it in our backyard or heaven knows where. We also bought two inflatable kiddie pools. Yes, one is for the adults.
I need to place a very, very, very large Joe Canal’s delivery order.
Jeff Edelstein is a columnist for The Trentonian. He can be reached at jedelstein@ trentonian.com, facebook. com/jeffreyedelstein and @ jeffedelstein on Twitter.
Plan. Wait. Postpone again. (Repeat).
Still hoping for a Costa Rica getaway although the two-week vacation’s gone through the aforementioned cycle. The excursion rode high in April then got shot down in May.
Frankie, please. “But I know, it’s going to change that tune, when I’m back on top in June.”
This new life in the age of CoVid-19 delivers daily challenges for simple chores like doing laundry at the local laundromat to producing anything resembling a vacation.
By the way, Costa Rica (population: 5 million), which hosted the first coronavirus case in Latin America, had counted under 800 infections and just six deaths as of May 6.
Costa Rica closed its borders on March 19 and they will remain shut until at least May 15. More on what Costa Rica got right about CoVid-19 in my Sunday column.
Back to the beach and vacation plans. In two words — day trips. In fact, extremely early getaways expected to Asbury Park as an itinerary will show a sunrise arrival then stay four or five hours and leave before crowds arrive.
Then home for a couple hours work in the garden; an afternoon round of golf or practice; followed by a return visit to the backyard for BBQ. That’s a pretty full day, especially when reading a good book, magazines, daily newspaper and listening to music enhances the life script.
Summer activities will include a weekend or two of camping and fishing, once regular enjoyments in my life . A good campsite in Bass River or Wharton state forests can make a three-day visit feel like a week getaway.
We moved the Costa Rica trip to October with a waitand-see-what-happens mindset.
CoVid-19 has taught many people about adjusting — building the airplane while we fly.
Love traveling and look forward to the airport boarding call to San José. Until then? Just roll with the ebbs and flow of time and circumstances.
That’s life.
L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at LAParker@ Trentonian.com.