Welcome to Gaia! ::

rofl Yay! rofl
I've been waiting for a chance to blow a load of cash for quite some time. I think tickets to America for a bit under a week sounds a great way to do it. I'll have to enquire with my parents (STILL under-age, that and they don't trust me with a nickel) first. But if someone okays it, I'll be heading straight out.

No glatt kosher for me. Its impossible to stay kosher in my house anyway. If possible, no pork sausages though. lol

I can help schlep up the kitchen, no problem. Cars will be the downfall of all mankind lmao.

Is this proper pitch up a tent camping or campsite camping? Don't answer that, just my own stupidity kicking in.

Anyone fancy kayaking/canoeing? But then that's something else to lug up...

I'd love to camping, but I will say I'm a little uneasy with meeting a bunch of random people online in a secluded area in another state. Don't get me wrong- I'd love to meet all of you, but I'd rather do it in another guild meeting with supervision and parents/family. I'm officially an adult by then and all, but it's still a bit intimidating.

Camping sounds awesome, though! Anybody up for another guild meeting with more people besides Divash and me and take it from there?

Ehh... I'll ask, but still not so sure if my family would be too keen on that, as my dad and I are really the only outdoorsy people in my family, and I don't know if my twin brother could survive without the Internet for more than a day...

Also, just throwing it out there- my preference is the Midwest (preferably Missouri/Illinois) as compared to the coast, as it's highly, highly unlikely I'd go there. That's pretty awesome you're qualified in so many things, though; I cannot get a good mental picture of you!

Stickied because I can. blaugh

EDIT: It's a "we'll see" since my dad likes white-water rafting and hasn't been camping in a while.

Well, lets just go with John Belushi



Those who have seen my actual picture, can back me up on this.

4 Pots ranging in size from 4 quarts to 1 quart that nest inside one another. 2 cast iron fry pans, a 6 quart pressure cooker, ladle, mixing Spoon, spatula, cheese grater, Meat fork, slicing knife, 4 cutting boards, 6 plates, 6 bowls, 4 cups, 2 mugs, coffee maker, assorted spices, a potato peeler, a silver mug with my name on it... oh and a propane grill/single burner stove and 4 canisters of propane. And it all fits in one bag.

That's all I can think of at the moment.

I'm a wee bit interested, myself. I don't know for sure that I could come, but if I can, here are my considerations (and probably the considerations of the others who are strict about keeping strict about Shabbat and kashrut:

Since I do require kosher food, and the vacuum-sealed ones aren't able to be prepared and eaten on Shabbat, I'd rather schlep up a solar cooker and my own cooking supplies. I'd be willing to supply everyone with enough dishes and utensils for everyone, if I could be assured that everyone would reimburse me for the expense and help schlep them once we arrive jointly at the departure site. I'd also be willing to do the cooking, especially in the Shabbat preparations. I'm also willing to help teach anyone who doesn't know how to cook OR how to do Shabbat prep (general, or camping-specific).

I keep Shabbat, so I need to be sure that the group wouldn't be doing things that would require me specifically to break Shabbat or to depend on another Jew who's breaking Shabbat. I would need to set up an eiruv (a fence around the camp); make sure the cooking fire would be lit for all of Shabbat; make sure no cutting, tearing, tying/untying, fire/light lighting or extinguishing, or carrying things into or out of the camp would be done during Shabbat hours and other types of halachic 'work' would be avoided during Shabbat.

I'm sure I'm not the only person who keeps the laws of modesty. I'd need to make very sure that there was a private way to get clean (campgrounds sometimes have showers, but sometimes not), to relieve myself (ditto, toilets), to change clothes (tents in which one can stand up straight), and to swim. Women who do keep those laws might find it difficult to wear our normal attire when camping, because our normal attire isn't as durable as most camping clothes, and because it isn't quick-drying in case of rain or falling into lakes and rivers. Lucky for us, there's the Macabi Skirt -- which, interestingly enough, is not named for the Maccabee family who figure so prominently in the Chanukah story, but instead, is named for a South American fish! Also, let's not forget that camping often includes swimming. Modest girls, we're in luck here too.

LOL yes, Niagara Falls which has ONE Kosher restaurant!

I hate this place, it would be nice to get out of here.

I'm going to try to get to Israel in February so reading week might be out of the question.