I enjoy wordplay. I like word puzzles, enjoy writing, and always do well on the word-related categories on Jeopardy. Sometimes this also leads to me coming up with my own words or phrases for things.
“Lake Hopping” is a term I came up with to describe the act of visiting local lakes during the day and then stealth camping somewhere nearby at night. None of the lakes local to me have free overnight camping options, but many nearby parking lots do, if you catch my drift. I define this idea of visiting multiple lakes throughout the weekend not camping but sleeping nearby as Lake Hopping.
Another type of wordplay I enjoy are oxymorons — two seemingly contradictory words that take on a new meeting when combined, like “jumbo shrimp” or “original copy”. While I don’t have a term for them, there are also oxymoronic actions, like someone telling you about their vow of silence, or a librarian shouting “please whisper!” Oxymotions, maybe.
The reason this is on my mind is because the act of filming vanlife is at its core the antithesis of vanlife. Most people associate a day at the lake with relaxing. Filming yourself relaxing is not particularly relaxing. There are batteries to charge, microphones to hook up, and cameras and tripods to set up. There is nothing more relaxing than reading a book while sitting in a lounge chair and enjoying a gentle breeze. There is nothing less relaxing than worrying about whether or not the lighting was right. Vanlife is about being relaxed. YouTube Vanlife is about appearing to be relaxed.
Last weekend, most of the fun I had while lake hopping was not captured on camera. It’s a bit ironic. I had the most fun while just sitting and enjoying nature, reading a book, and daydreaming. None of that is on camera because it’s boring to watch. Instead you get to see me make Ramen noodles and break a stool, because that’s entertainment.
For what it’s worth, I had a great time lake hopping, or whatever you want to call it. We are right on the cusp between spring and summer, a time when we can have a high of 75F one day and 105F the next. I’m glad I was able to get out and enjoy some time at a few lakes before heading home and returning to the grind. The time between grinds is getting more and more enjoyable.
Oh, and one other thing. I got the idea of picking up trash at campsites from Eric Comp, who leaves every place he camps a little cleaner than when he arrived. It’s something I never thought about doing until seeing his videos. I already have a trash can in the van so I picked up one of those plastic pincher arms and started using it to pick up trash near where I park. It only takes a few minutes, is a good way to spend a few more minutes outdoors, and makes the spot a little cleaner for the next guy.
