Sunday, March 23, 2008

Playing House

When I was a kid, I used to love playing house. I loved pretending to be an adult with my own home. Now, as an adult, that whole playing house thing, it isn't as fun as I used to think it would be. I hate vacuuming, doing the dishes and cleaning. I am not so big on the whole cooking every meal, taking care of the whims and needs of every one else all the time. It gets old. "Playing" has become more like work. And Exercise. And the Lord knows that I don't like to do either of those.

So, that is why we go on vacation, right? This week we're camping somewhere between L.A. and San Fransisco. And by 'camping' I mean, we're living in our fifth wheel in a glorified parking lot that has cable and internet (because I would die without the internet. Seriously.), power, water, and sewage. I don't have to leave to pee. That's the kind of camping I like. Oh, and it has a heater too. So, no. It so totally is not camping. It is moving.

Here, I don't mind the whole housekeeping bit. I actually vacuumed today because I wanted to. I cooked dinner, and enjoyed myself. Not the Momma *GASP!* Did the dishes, so I didn't have to, but I wouldn't have minded. I would have done them without complaint and enjoyed doing them. Why is it that in our house, these menial tasks seem like some sort of medieval torture to me, but when I'm here in the RV, they are fun? I can only guess that when we're in the RV "camping" it feels like I'm 'pretending' just a little. It's more like 'playing house' than actually living house. It reminds me of those days when I was 8, 9 and 10, bossing around my little sisters who always had to play the role of children (because, DUH, the oldest should ALWAYS be the Mommy).

It also helps that right now, if I opened the window, I could smell the sea air, and hear the waves break on the beach. If I wanted to, I could go outside and have a bon fire, complete with smores and that oh-so yummy smell of burning wood. It is days when we can get up and escape all of the chores that go along with real life, like mowing grass, laundry, etc. When the baby is napping this week, you'll catch my husband doing his homework, but where will I be? I'm going to walk the 100 yards to the ocean with my chair, my book, and a beer. I'm going to spend at least one hour a day doing nothing. Absolutely nothing.

2 comments:

Ashlee said...

We didn't play house much, we played store/office. We made pretend money and set up different "stores" to shop at. My sister was in charge. She was the oldest. :0) But we had fun.

I know what you mean about hating the menial tasks. It's never ending, non stop and it gets old that I'm the only one doing it. The hubby does pitch in from time to time, but it mostly falls on my shoulders. Some days, I go on strike. :0)

Knick Knack Paddy Whack, Throw This Mom a Bone said...

Could I BE anymore jealous of that one hour? Think of me will you and I will imagine I am with you! Enjoy dear, you've earned it!!