cozy

A vignette from our visit to the North Island of New Zealand in August 2012.

We’re in a camper parked at Lake Tikitapu.

It’s raining softly and the drops patter softly on the roof of our tiny dwelling on wheels.

Even though it’s winter here, we are cozy and warm, as the camper has a lovely heater and we are equipped with piles of blankets.

Our children (11 and 13) are reading in their bunks. My husband and I are drinking coffee and talking softly. We are unhurried and at peace.

Eventually, we make breakfast: eggs, bacon, toast, fruit, and yogurt. More coffee, plus hot cocoa for the young ‘uns.

I said we were camping, but some would argue that we were glamping. Does it really matter?

The rain stops. We start getting ready for the day.

We have tasks to complete every morning. As a family, we have divvied everything up so that everyone is involved. My younger offspring carefully wrote out a checklist on our first day of this adventure and checks off each chore as it is completed. Everything is put away, with nothing loose that might roll around. The cabinets are shut and locked. The floor is swept and the broom is stowed.

We finish and then spend a few moments on the shore of the lake enjoying the view one last time before we set off on the day’s adventures.