Camp Maine sits atop a small hill overlooking Seven Mile Stream, the outlet of Webber Pond. i am told the smallmouth fishing in the stream can be fantastic. i will return in future, warmer months and lazily cast poppers from a canoe with Pat. been a while since i chugged some poppers for smallies.
i have been to a handful of camps in Maine over the years and i am drawn to them. most of the ones i've been to are within eyeshot of fishy water, so maybe as i try to describe what "camp" means to me, i'll start there. camp is a place, away from home, to frolick in the outdoors. most often, at least in Maine, the prominent outdoor activities are fishing or hunting, but there's no reason why any camp-goer can do whatever they want - fish, hunt, hike, swim, sun bathe, or stay inside and read. i'll go ahead and add that to my definition: camp is a place where you can do whatever you want.
most camps, at least the ones i've been in, have a lot in common as far as their construction, contents and therefore their overall atmosphere. wood is the dominant construction material. there's a porch. there are bunks, a fireplace and comfortable chairs. there are also a lot of shelves and drawers where things are stored. a lot of these 'things' are pretty old. they've been around camp for a while - and not necessarily this camp, but a camp. the things in camp are there because they need to be. that is to say, they are used. there's not a lot of things that sit on shelves and collect dust, the main reason being there isn't a lot of shelf space, the underlying one being that camp is not about living superfluously. there are tools, cooking utensils, a deck of cards and a cribbage board, a radio, some books, fishing and hunting gear, a journal; simple things. because of the simplicity of the things you find in camp, it follows that what goes on at camp is pretty simple: sleep, recreation, consumption, conversation.
and what else do you really need?
well said my friend. you are welcome at camp maine anytime.
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