What activities do you enjoy when you're camping?

On solo trips, I don't do much at all. I walk around a bit, but it's mostly about catching up on sleep, listening to music and playing with the fire. When I'm with "The Gang" it's a different story. First of all, I have to come up with the Gimmick du Jour - something MacGyvered or just plain weird. Next trip is probably going to be street signs along the entrance to the site. One Way Do Not Enter. Pedestrians and Motorized Vehicles Prohibited, etc. The music will be on all day and half the night. (The sites are far enough apart that we're not bothering anybody.) The alcohol won't stop flowing and there will always be someone cooking up something good. We'll play a lot of cornhole and what we call Full Contact Uno - meaning we cheat whenever and however we can to gang up on someone. If the site is big enough, we'll break out the Frisbee to play KanJam. And, with everybody bringing loads of wood, the fires will be huge. All in all, just a party in the woods.

I went out a couple weeks ago for the first time in probably 15 yrs. Got camp setup, dinner done and cleaned. Then it was 9:30 and I was like........NOW WHAT? For a guy that wanted to just go out by himself in the woods........I was thinking it would be nice to at least have one person with you to swap stories and what not with. I don't particularly like reading, so that's tough. Plus with my anxiety every drop of water off a tree, or falling twig......I'm thinking it's a bear, Sasquatch, etc. So took a shot of bourbon and a xanax and went to be at 10 (1.5 hrs earlier than I normally do). But I did sleep in until almost 9 (granted it wasn't a solid nights sleep).


It's odd that I've basically lived in the country for 40 yrs of my 46 yrs on this earth and nature noise still get me.



So yeah, that's my question. What to do? I can find things to do during the day.

Eating and snacking is good; feeding the Jays, squirrils and chipmunks can be entertaining.
BSing after/while consuming a few brews around the fire with friends is usually entertaining.
Figuring out improvements to the gear for next trip is good (and gives something to do between trips).
Cooking is a favorite occupation (if not, bringing sandwhiches/cold chicken and fixins and picnicking, when in a cold camp).
A walk to check out the neighborhood for wild life and get exercise is usually good.
Collecting fire wood or cutting up a downed or standing dead snag to burn is worthwhile.
If alone or rained/snowed in; reading a good book works. Movies and media except for pictures of previous trips are left at home, as are video games and couputers. (there is no cell or wifi connectivity usually) .
Music is optional, nature is not (and basically the whole purpose, after all).
Watching the animals come out after "civilization" leaves is always good!
Watching bears run through camp and deer/elk come to the edge for a look-a-round. gives something to talk about (won't happen if there are tourists, dogs or music about).

Taking a few PICs to post, or not, later is a good idea....


Enjoy!