A Camping Trip and the News
Camping has always been a delight for me. I relish the chance to live close to the earth, to be more directly a part of nature’s interactions, and to unplug from daily schedules and news. I have gone camping for over 60 years. Each trip connects me to a lifetime of memories and a longing to keep on camping for as many remaining years as I am able.
Ann making waffles, a luxury of car camping
President Biden’s announcement
This year, 48 hours before we left for a three-day sojourn, President Biden announced his decision to withdraw his campaign for a second term. There is “a time and a place for long years of experience in public life,” Biden said. “There’s also a time and a place for new voices, fresh voices, yes, younger voices. And that time and place is now.”
The president had let go. He admitted to himself and to the nation that he had done all he could. He stood with his accomplishments and endorsed his Vice-President to carry on. All Sunday afternoon we worked to absorb this news— rooted like the trees in our neighborhood, letting our branches flutter in the winds of change. The questions his decision raised about aging followed me throughout this camping trip.
A favorite camp spot
We camped at Bowman Bay State Park; a beautiful little, forested campground located on a scenic bay just north of our island. All three days of hikes, games of Tile Rummy and Quiddler, eating well, and watching children at neighboring sites playing ball were completely joyful.
Our tent in the background. Christina, Jane, and Beth playing tile rummy.
View from the shore of Bowman Bay
Over the years we have upgraded our camping scene—still sleeping in a tent on the ground in our mid-70s, but the tent is larger, and the mattress is definitely comfortable. However, it is still a tent. It enables us to delight in the dawn chorus of birds and look up at the stars in our inevitable midnight forays outdoors.
Inside our “granny” tent
The rhythm of putting up the tent, firing up the Coleman stove, and covering the picnic table with our red and white-checked oil cloth, makes us feel competent, organized, and connected to our youthful selves.
Summer weather in the Pacific Northwest
The weather by the shores of Puget Sound at mid-day in the sun warmed to 72 degrees F. (22 C.). In the evening it dropped down to 55 degrees F. (13 C.). These temperatures require many layers of clothing for me to stay warm.
Heading down to the campground restroom one evening dressed in my long underwear and long pants, a vest and outer jacket, and fingerless wool gloves, I felt comfortable. However, looking around at kids still wearing shorts and t-shirts, I also felt old. It helped to be walking an adorable Corgi that people were eager to pet.
Christina in her many layers of clothing holding Vivi and attended by Vivi’s friend, Libbie
Moving more slowly has its attributes
One of the delights of aging is spending more time in observation. Sitting still is the best way to view wildlife. Our campsite was surrounded by towering Douglas firs, Sitka Spruce, Western Red cedars, and one very tall, elderberry “shrub”. Sitting around the picnic table for meals or evening games, we spent a lot of time watching a young family of Swainson’s thrushes eating those berries and murmuring their soft call note to one another.
At this point in the summer the beautiful, haunting, rising flute-like call of the Swainson’s is mostly silent. No need for territorial defense anymore. The focus is for young thrushes to feed themselves, strengthen their flight muscles, and complete the journey of growing up before their migration to Central America. Their sometimes-clumsy flight was a source of great entertainment and an important touchstone to the slowly changing season.
The reckoning of aging
There is a reckoning and honesty to aging that informs all of us on a near daily basis. We adjust and adapt and keep finding ways to do the things we love—like switching from a small tent to one we can stand up in or wearing more clothes to stay warm. The ultimate decision: to camp in a tent or not, is happening slowly over the years. Biden’s decision was not abrupt. It was informed by years of dealing with his own aging. And then, finally, there was a moment of truth, “Can I really continue to govern one of the largest, most powerful countries on earth?” His decision has spurred a national dialogue on aging in a culture that is youthcentric. And that is a gift to all of us.
On a much smaller scale of service, I have been an outdoor adventurer/leader for over 50 years. And I, too, am passing the baton. No longer leading wilderness trips, I decided this year to let my National Outdoor Leadership wilderness first responder certification expire. Instead, I joined my fellow land trust hike leaders and certified at the local fire station. It was a big, symbolic decision.
The Wilderness Medicine Institute logo on Ann’s large first aid kit
Grief is an important part of acceptance
Getting up early the second morning of our trip, our little corgi Vivi and I scrambled up to a lookout bench. Surrounded by sinuous, bending madrone trees and ancient, thick barked Doug firs, we stared out over the cliff at the rugged waters of Deception Pass. The spot provides a near iconic view of the best of the Pacific Northwest. It was not difficult for me to hike to that bench, but it required some tricky foot work and a bit of stamina. I don’t take those hikes for granted anymore.
Vivi and I sat quietly for quite some time, her ears twitching and rotating to bird song and waves far below, my heart filled with awe at the beauty before us. “I will not always be able to make that walk,” I said aloud to little Vivi resting comfortably on my lap. The thought brought tears to the corners of my eyes. I love life so. And life is changing.
Vivi sitting on Ann’s lap overlooking Deception Pass
My invitation to each of us, regardless of age, is to celebrate who we are and what matters most to us. May we pour our life force into those things. And may we be wise enough to recognize the time when those efforts no longer serve ourselves or those around us.
Thank you for being a role model, President Biden.
Oh, bless you, Ann. I say yes, yes, and yes! to your beautiful comments about camping, honoring Joe Biden for stepping aside, and graciously accepting aging. Thank you. We too had a beautiful camping trip to the Santiam River in the Oregon Cascades in early July, complete with Swainson Thrush songs (sooo beautiful), cold plunges in the beautiful clear Santiam pools. And soon we will leave for a camping adventure on Orcas Island. Always in deep gratitude for you and Christina, and your gifts which grace our lives daily….
Hello my fellow camper and lover of wild places. May we journey gently and joyfully all the days of our lives. Ann
Yes! All of this. (With one addition to my own camping, along with bigger tent and thicker mattress: a Luggable Loo.) You aren’t done yet, my friend. We aren’t done yet. I read a story this week in my local paper about a woman who hiked 800+ miles on 80 trails between her 79th and 80th birthdays! And there is a Rainier meadow rover who is 87. I don’t know if that will be me, but it’s not over til it’s over! Waffles in a campground! Now that’s something. xoxo
Sure plan to keep exploring, camping, and kayaking as long as I am able. And, you, my friend are quite an inspiration in the miles trekked department! Ann
Dearest Ann, thank you so much for sharing your wisdom and the gifts of aging. As a Canadian neighbor we keep a close eye on what happening in the US. When I heard the news of Biden stepping away I was at 90th birthday celebration for my good friend who has returned to Ontario from Victoria to be closer to her daughters and granddaughters. We sang, cried ate cake and laughed with joy as people shared stories of their time spent with my good friend over the years. It was a precious moment. Thank you again Ann.
Singing, stories, laughter, eating cake— a celebration does not get any better. I remember my family clan gathering for mom’s 90th birthday. What joy! Being a humble person, she said she wasn’t sure what the fuss was all about, but my sisters and I knew she was very pleased. Precious, cherished moments are ours to create and enjoy. Thank you for your story, Sharon!
How utterly beautiful… Ann, the place, and the commentary. I’m 74 and I am finding that I must take greater care as I navigate my world. May you continue to find delight wherever the future leads you!
May you also find delight wherever the future leads you! We are nearly the same age. Ann
I recently embarked on a hike to the three Bertha Lakes outside of Mount Rainier national Park with my son and grandson, a hike I have done many many times /this time I only made it halfway and some of that was with the help of my son going over some pretty rocky areas. Feeling my age, I opted for safety and not overstressing my body rather than the joy of accomplishing the hike. And I too thought of President Biden. We are all in this together. Thank you for sharing your story.
Really appreciate your teaching tale, too, Molly. Yes, we are all in this together! Ann
Aww. Here I am in hot humid Thailand, missing camping, but happy that’s not our plan at the moment! Thanks for bringing me back to one of our favorite camping sites and for the reminder to appreciate the moments, activities, and places that will not always be possible for us.
You are welcome, Deb. Always fun to have readers who have experienced the place or activity I am writing about! Ann
This brings tears to my eyes. So many emotions experienced while reading your post. Love to you; you have been my greatest inspiration for nearly half my life.
Love right back to you, Laura. We have shared some wonderful adventures. Here’s hoping for more though we live so very far apart. Ann
Dear Ann,
although I am only in my mid-fifties, I watch my parents age and age. Figuring out where to put your energy and what to focus on for me seems to be one of the biggest luxurious challenges in life. And sometimes it’s overwhelming and sometimes it doesn’t feel good, when you know how few have the luxury to even think this way.
Yes, Stefan, it is a luxury to be able to think about where to put your energy and what to focus on. And with that energy comes huge responsibility for figuring out how to be of service to the world around us. Ann
Well said and well lived. Leaning into and accepting are two ways I am approaching aging. Joy comes with each day☺️. President Joe has served us well and his patriotism is unmatched as of late. May the unexpected energy he has brought lead us into a more hopeful future.
“Leaning into and accepting” are good mottos for aging. Finding joy is my north star. Ann
Ann, you continue to embody intentionality and keen awareness. Thank you for taking the time to weave President Biden’s momentous letting go into your own life, into mine.
It is important to me to internalize in my own life the wisdom of others around me. This is not a blog about politics, but it is a blog about making real and personal the world we live in. Ann
Both you and President Biden are role models. Such a poignant telling, Ann. I remember when you helped me disengage from a role for which I had cords of attachment. Your words, “have an exit strategy” inspired me in the same way that your final paragraph does today. Much gratitude for your wisdom over the years…
Your words are a strong reflection of the leader you have always been. Blessings on your journey, Ann
Thank you Ann. For wise reflections and insights. For good questions. For waffles!
Appreciate how well you speak so eloquently with such few words. It has always been one of your many skills! Ann
Thank you, Ann, for sharing your wisdom, and yes, the grief, too, of recognizing and acknowledging the reality of aging, its gifts and benefits as well as its losses. Thanks to you and Christina for inspiring us in so many ways, including still sleeping in a tent! much love to you both, Sukie
You are welcome, Sukie. Since Christina is three years older than me, she is an ongoing inspiration—always setting the bar high. Blessings, Ann
I’m celebrating your camping trip with dogs and friends. Doesn’t get much better! One of your comments to a comment, joy as your north star … I’m with you on that one. So blessed to be reading your words. Soaking them all in (and savoring every posted comment, too).
One of the joys of sharing this column is, of course, the comments from readers. We all keep teaching one another via a marvelous circular dialogue! Ann
Anne, thank you for the wisdom of your words. Your discussion of aging and the changes we are experiencing is so relevant to so many of us. I am currently facilitating a course I call “Reflections on Aging“ and I am wondering if I may have your permission to use this lovely quote (giving you credit, of course) from your writing: “My invitation to each of us, regardless of age, is to celebrate who we are and what matters most to us. May we pour our life force into those things” – it would be such an appropriate way to draw our class to a close.
Of course, Sharon, please feel free to share it. And thank you for offering that course, which I am sure is helpful to many! Ann
Anne, thank you. I do appreciate your generosity.
You are welcome. Ann
I so enjoy reading your posts. Aging is interesting. I thought I would fight tooth and nail, but I’ve adjusted my lifestyle and exercise regiment as I reached 75. I can still do certain things at a high level and I appreciate everyday.
Thanks, Larry, for your comment. Lucky are any of us at 75 that adjust things and still feel like we are doing some things at a high level. It’s a good goal and I join you in that good luck in some arenas. It takes work and it is rewarding! Ann
Dear Ann…I resonated so much with the way you expressed your poignant love of all the layers of being in nature. Much like dog loving, its ache and fulfilment and wonder heightened by finite time. Delicious to be reminded to savour it all in the here and now. Your care in how you move through and with nature always makes me smile. Kindred. Much love, Julia
With appreciation always for the mutuality of respect for the natural world that we both carry joyfully. Ann
Thank you for this, Ann. It came to me at a time when I was slipping from that “I love life perspective” into the anxiety that change can bring. I keep listening to others speak about transformation and I’m grateful for all that is shared. It isn’t just about age for me. It’s about a tightening of the circle and knowing that while the volume of energy is changing, the intensity of what remains has grown. The trick for me is defining the differences for myself between want and need. Thanks for your thoughts on this
And thank you for your always thoughtful perspective on things. To quote your words back to you: “It isn’t just about age for me. It’s about a tightening of the circle and knowing that while the volume of energy is changing, the intensity of what remains has grown.” I totally agree—the intensity of the world around us and the situations we need to respond to are growing. And that is as much a factor as our own aging. Be well, remain strong. Ask the good questions. ann
Dear Ann, I finally encountered those magnificent taller than tall Douglas Firs this past week visiting friends on Vancouver Island (the topic of today’s blog). Our conversations centred around this same theme, aging – its gifts and recalibrations. What you know I have come to call the eldering landscape. Here’s to loving life and more camping expeditions. Much love…
Thank you, Katharine. Your blog about visiting Cathedral Grove enroute to Tofino was exquisite. Yes, the eldering landscape is one we continue to navigate in good conversations and careful writing. Ann
Thank you Ann dear for this beautiful entry. I sooo relate to everything you have shared. I am just back from a week of camping by the Wallowa River in Eastern Oregon where moving slowly was my M.O. Our treat was watching young Robins learn how to hop, stop, and “listen” for worms. I yearned to hike further and higher, but felt gratitude that I could do the hiking that I did. Like you, I don’t take any of it for granted. I often wonder when the last time I do something will be the last time I will get to do that thing. I marveled at the paradox that my life is so beautiful while the Eastern Oregon fires devastate the lives of so many Beings out there in the wild. A mixture of deep grief and deep gratitude. Sending love to you my nature-loving friend. xo
Thank you for this exquisite response, Glenda. It’s hard not to have the thought, “I wonder if this will be my last time,” when out there adventuring. And it’s also impossible not to have the thought, “I am so grateful for this moment.” Love, Ann
Thank you for this lovely post, Ann. I believe that some things get easier when you age, especially mindfulness. This morning I read a poem by Emily Dickinson about a hummingbird, and as if on cue one appeared at my feeder. It seemed like one of life’s little miracles! Your encounter with the Swainson reminded me of this.
Yes, I do believe mindfulness gets easier when we age. What a wonderful story about Emily Dickinson’s poem and the hummingbird! Thank you for sharing. Looking forward to our camping trip and sharing some mindful moments, my dear sister! Ann
Dear Ann: I savored each word of your post. I could “smell”the air through it. I am noticing my limitations these days too. I recently hiked the Billy Frank Nisqually Reserve and upon reaching the end cupola, I did a tribute to my friend, Doug Myers, a water biologist that had a role in creating the refuge that I was enjoying. He passed suddenly at the age of 59. I knew he loved this place. He camped nearby almost every summer while he worked to save Chesapeake Bay. A few strangers listened to my tribute. I was happy that Biden made the wise choice. I envisioned him having some quality time with his family and grandchildren after serving his country for so long. He is a grand statesman. Much love to you and Christina for your intrepid love of the land.
Hello Diane! Terrific to hear from you and to hear some story about another earth loving man: Doug Myers. Here is a tribute to all of us doing our best to serve our communities and the earth surrounding them. Blessings, Ann
Thank you Ann – just now catching up with your beautifully expressed reflections about ageing, and the process of accepting new limitations on how we can experience ‘interactions with nature’ and still be joyful about our experience. I too love camping, and have just returned from Kakadu National Park (Australia), which I had longed all my life to visit – but had to accept we couldn’t camp as remotely as we wished because of physical limitations. We will go camping again in summer in southern Australia, and I know that both grief in what I’ve lost, capacity-wise, will be there, along with even more intense appreciation of what I can still do and see and experience – such as hearing that Superb Lyrebird calling near my tent at dawn, even though when it comes to hiking, it’ll have to be a shorter trail these days.
Hello Diana! What a thoughtful reflection about your years of camping in the Australian outback! Thank you for taking the time to write. I remember so many conversations we had about hiking and camping. And now, we continue, but with some new moderation, yet deep appreciation. Ann