Dropped out

Our four day weekend of camping, kayaking and engaging with younger families with children aged two-plus to about age seven turned out to be enjoyable, once I got accustomed to sleeping in the tent. Despite the high number of big and little people involved, twenty grown ups and sixteen young'n's, no one fell off a cliff or got swept away by the currents in the strait. The kids were up early, but they all conked out nicely at night after hours of vigorous play and the nightly "some mores run off." They were less disruptive than the dogs brought in by a different group, which pets barked very loudly at random late night hours. They at least kept the dogs under control physically.
The weather started out with wide swings, from overcast, then pouring rain, a dramatic sunset clearing, and proceeded to increasingly lovely calm days perfect for beach idling or kayaking up and down along the coast. At least a couple of the three local resident pods of orcas presented themselves to us, some people being out in their kayaks by good luck as several orcas passed by, including a mother and baby. There were porpoises, seals, and an assortment of birds. When I was lying in the tent in the early morning, it was entertaining to differentiate among the bird calls that started around dawn. The oystercatchers out on a little preserve island had the most distinctive vocalizations.
The people in our group were fun to talk to, and their kids were a great little bunch. This doesn't mean I'm ready to be a grandmother, however. And of course one would be tidier and have more peace in fancier lodgings, but it was good to be in the mix with these folks. They seemed to possess so much hope and positive energy, which I need a dose of now and then.