Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway?

Photo taken by Wikipedia User:Ruhrfisch





There are always people who want to poo-poo dreams and diminish plans. I chose to believe they are trying to be helpful and have my best interests at heart. We are not going into this willy-nilly.  In fact, that's why we are taking about six months to plan this trip.

Here are a list of my fears.

• BEARS! Yes, I know.  There are very few attacks on humans, they just want your food and they are more afraid of you than you are of them... blah blah blah.  
• Money.  It's going to cost a bundle. I am afraid of running out of money before the end of the trip. I thought of prepaying for reservations before going but what if something happens and our schedule get's messed up.
• Something happening.  What?  I don't know. Car breaks down. Someone gets sick or injured. We're robbed and car stolen. Aliens get us in Roswell.
• Not being able to get our work done.  Michael has two jobs that allow us to work from home. But we need cell reception and internet to do it.  If we don't work we don't get paid.  See?
• Pain and discomfort.  Michael and I are not young. We have aches and pains and are fat and out of shape. How are we going to feel sleeping in a tent and traveling in a car for a month? 
• BEARS!

“Be cautious of bears at all times, even when being mauled by a tiger.”
― Craig Benzine/WheezyWaiter

• Getting along.  At home my daughter and I have separate rooms.  But on the trip we will be in a tiny car for a month. Together. And Michael and I get along really well.  Except when we are under stress.  Then we bicker.  I want this to be a positive experience. 
• Being the mom... doing everything I have to do at home but on the road and in the dirt with no modern conveniences.  Whiny? Yes. But ask any mom.  She'll tell you.
• Not having the right equipment.  Which is why we are doing a trial weekend before we go.  Just to see what we actually need/use and what is unnecessary cargo.
• Bug bites.  This is more of a discomfort thing.  Pennsylvania bugs don't touch me.  Michael, however, is a frickin' smorgasbord for biting critters. Chiggers, however, love me. We don't have them in Pennsylvania but I know they are elsewhere and I know they love the taste of me.  And the itching... Oh, the itching! Not to mention the scabby bite marks that make you look like a meth addict.
• Keeping my family fed within a budget on this trip.  Over a campfire. In the rain. With BEARS! 
• Rain.*  This does fall under discomfort but it's a different kind of discomfort.
• Not wanting to come home. 
• Did I mention Bears?

*The last time we were camping was at World's End State Park, Forksville, PA, 1998.  Our daughter was about 6 months old and our son was three. The rain fell steady most of the weekend.  When it was not raining it was pouring. Everything got wet including the sleeping bags and bedding.  The fire kept going out. We saw no bears but that could have been my husband's snoring and did I mention the rain? We haven't camped since. Seventeen years later and planning a month long camping trip!

For the record. World's End is a fantastic place to camp and hike.  Just not for me in the early fall of 1998.