This is Deputy Digby Pancake. There are a lot of things we hear at camp. “Where’s the trash?” “Where’s the bathroom?” “Where’s the wine?” Ok. That’s just Girl Person that asks that.

As we were taking our walk around this particular campground this morning for the last time, a new camper was walking around looking at all the other RV’s and tents.

That’s what people do at camp. They look at everything. And then they ask more questions. “How does that thing drive?” “Are you full-timers?”

This new camper that was walking around happened upon another new camper. It was about 9 in the morning. And not too early for a dirty martini. Oh no. It’s never too early for a dirty martini at camp. You might as well. Everything is dirty anyways.

This new camper walking around was thrilled to see a dirty martini and another new camper enjoying the morning. That coffee mud in a cup for these folks was just not in the schedule.

And as the camper saw that it was happy hour at 9 a.m. at this campground, he said loudly, “How long are you here for?!” Yes. The most often asked question at camp. But never before had it been said with so much enthusiasm. He liked this camp.

Girl Person began to wonder if her usual mud in a cup was going to do the trick this morning after seeing such a display. Here this other camper was with her fancy tablecloth on a fancy tray table with a fancy glass and fancy olives. Her campsite was just like ours with dirt. Her campsite was just like ours but extra dirty. It was very. Extra. And she was very happy to answer this other camper’s question. You see, she was just here till the weekend. But she was going to make it count. Even if she couldn’t count right then.

Do any of us really know how long we are here for…no matter where that is? Do any of us know how long we can enjoy any one spot we land in?

Sometimes you have to forget about what is expected of you, what your schedule says and what other people’s schedule say. Time is short for us all. Sit. Stay awhile. But if you want to dance, have that martini. Be you. It’s no fun being fake.

That may not mean more time but more attention. When you show others that you can enjoy life, they won’t feel so guilty about enjoying theirs!

So sit down. Stay awhile. Or dance. It’s up to you. And ask yourself, “how long are you here for?”

-Deputy Digby Pancake

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