Would You Rather...

If you were to ask someone close to me to describe me, they would never say "She loves the outdoors."

I just don't.  I have experienced the great outdoors probably more than the average person.  When I was a kid, my parents used to take us on these long camping vacations.  I have been to 49 of the United States (Alaska is the one I have never visited), and have camped in more than half of them. 

My resume of National Parks would include all the greats... Yellowstone (multiple occasions), Yosemite, Grand Canyon (of which I actually white water rafted through on a three day trip and then hiked out), Pikes Peak, the Redwood Forest, Glacier, and many others.  I have camped in the Rockies, the Appalachians, the Ozarks, the Everglades and more.  Props to my parents.

The thing is, I just don't really like being outside.  The dirt, the bugs, the heat or the cold, and I am not much for nature or animals.  It just doesn't do it for me. I even remember my mother having to make me play outside as a child. 

Thank God I married a man who feels the same way.  Our idea of a vacation is a good restaurant, a good book and a comfy chair (perhaps by a pool or on a beach, but not necessarily).  And that's ok.  The thought of hiking simply exhausts me.

This leads me to the end of this rather long Would You Rather post, but I would like to hear from you.  Would you rather be...

        
  Outside        or           Inside

Comments

[Kristen]

oh, be still me heart! your resume of national parks makes me jealous! I love being outside! its how i experience God, its how i relax... oh! I love it. I could stay on the beach all day and be happy.

[Jill Dunning]

OUTSIDE!!!! I am so a nature kind of girl. . . I am not like normal girls... I like to do crazy things like have a mud slide, jump off my roof to my trampoline, to even creating weird contraptions in my yard [ for example, i put a rope and a big giant tube together and made a seesaw ]. Yep i am pretty crazy.

[Patty]

I'd say both. I hate camping for sleeping outdoors and no formal bathrooms....that's what nice hotels are for! BUT I do love hiking/long walks and having a good time outside in fresh air from time to time. And the sun, oh the sun....would love to see more of that!! (I live in the NW, so this year - we haven't seen much of it!)

So depending on the occasion - specifically the weather, I'd do one or the other. But again, never would I consider sleeping outside, other than on a nice cozy bed and without access to a bathroom with a nice hot shower, a treat. Just not my thing!

[Kelly Brown]

Indoors has my vote...particularly at the Grove Park Inn! It is simply the closest place to heaven on earth. You can even go on a tight budget during the week. You hear music playing under the water of the indoor pools(my favorite thing!) When we do camp with friends, I take an inflatable queen size air mattress and my down pillows.

[whittakerwoman@yahoo.com]

Oh NOT ME! I feel so alive in the mountains! Now don't get me wrong... a good restaurant, a book and chair in the mountains are welcome! However Hiking is ME! :) H

[Terri]

Inside!!! But with a great view of the outside! I especially don't get people who like to eat outside. I really don't want to have to shoo bugs away before each bite and wonder what the wind just blew into my soda. Yuck!

[Nicole]

OUTSIDE - I love being outside and enjoying the sun! I get cranky and anxious if we sit inside all day!

[Misty]

indoors all the way, unless i could be sitting by the beach or swimming pool!! i have gone camping once when i was a teenager & that was enough for me... never again! its just not for me... germs, animals, being cold.

[Jen]

Definitely outside! There is NOTHING like breathing fresh air and taking in the beauty of God's creation... man is creative, but you know, it came from Somewhere! I appreciate a comfy couch and a hot shower, don't get me wrong, but there's just something about the discomfort of the outdoors that awakens my spirit and makes me even more thankful for the conveniences I often take for granted.

[Nathalia Sistiva]

I'm with you - IN!! I don't *totally* hate the outdoors but I much much rather go to a restaurant, watch a movie, or go to Starbucks and chat. That or scrapbook! :)
I do hate hiking and I'm grateful that my daughter (22 mo) is a great excuse for limiting those to "strolls in the park with shade and flat terrain". My idea of animals and nature is going to the zoo or aquarium. All the camping I needed/wanted to do, I did it when I was 10-15 while in Pathfinders (sorta like Boys' Scouts). LOL
We do love the beach and so whenever we can, we escape the valley and drive to Monterey/Carmel for some sun and sand :)

[Alicia]

Inside. I don't want to have to deal with any type of wildlife.

[Loren Webb]

I love the outdoors when the weather is perfect, but that doesn't happen much in Texas. We are moving to Denver in less than 3 months so that might change, but as of now - Inside is definitely for me.

[Mary Camp]

In, in, in! Preferably in a store that is having amazing sales on everything I want/need!

[Ainsley]

Normally, outside. But spending so many years pregnant and nursing, these days I'd say inside.=)

[Cynthia]

Outside! I spent most of my growing-up years in a place that has more cows than people. (he smell of manure is fresher than city smog!) Right now, I'm in school in a large city, and the thing I crave most (2nd to being back with my husband) is outside! There is nowhere to roam, nowhere to plant flowers (unless you want them growing in a box), and you have to be a pooper-scooper. Back on the farm, I can sit on my porch without worrying about diesel fumes from the city bus, and I can enjoy my tulips that are just starting to bloom, and you can even take the dog out for "business" w/o gloves and a baggie. (somehow I feel like singing the Green Acres theme song!)

[Erika]

Outside! But at the beach or pool not bugs or camping, ewww although hubby and the kids love that stuff, so I do find myself at the occasional camping trip...

[pam @ without fear]

I find myself conflicted. I love looking at the outdoors and sometimes enjoy venturing out into them . . . if it involves a peaceful stroll at the beach some evening.

Yet, if I'm real honest with myself, I am an indoor person who enjoys snuggling up with my current favorite hot drink and a great book while listening to pandora.com streaming in the background. : )

[Kristi D]

I like you had parents who love to travel and was blessed to also see a majority of our beautiful country by way of hotels.

I'm an outdoors girl!!! Would rather be playing in the sand, rafting, riding motorcycles or simply standing on top of a hill top!!! I was that child that my parents had to practically beat me to come into the house!!!

I'm waiting for a huge elevation service outside at Bank of America Stadium!!! :-)

[kendra haneline]

DEFINITELY inside! I like my share of the outdoors once in a while & love to sit on the beach, but overall, I would much rather be inside working on crafts, cards or scrapbooking. I'm at the stage now where Kensley wants to go outside & I just dread it everyday & love days that it rains b/c that means we have to stay inside! Hiking... camping... forget it!

[Angela Slaughter]

Outside during the day (as long as it's not too hot or too cold), and most definitely inside at night. (I've been camping ONCE on the Buffalo River with my husband, and I'm convinced we were almost abducted/killed by river pirates. Who else floats down the river at 3 am? River pirates, I tell you.)

So, I have no clear answer. Both. Sort of?

Angela

[Drea]

mmmm... well id rather SLEEP indoors :) if thats the question, hah... but if the weather was nice Id love to be outdoors... but Im not a camper so id want a nice hotel to go to at night or for a nap.

I just went to central america (panama) to visit family.. we stayed in a nice hotel.. but one day we spent the ENTIRE day out on the water... in this BOAT house (totally open, no ac, nothing).. and honestly I thought Id be to hot to enjoy anything.. but I LOVED IT...

Was so nice.. but def. not the place to go with your hair done or make up on :)

[dawn massey]

i am just like you in that i love the indoors! i am not an outside person at all. i am not a nature person and do not really care for animals. my idea of a vacation is not camping or hiking or sightseeing....it is relaxing somewhere comfy with a book and some sunshine. i do love being poolside or on the beach. that is my only outdoor exception!!! thankfully, i can send my kiddos outside and observe them from several windows on the inside and the comfort of my couch or kitchen!!

[Debby White]

Outside....but NOT in the let's do activities like biking or climbing....and NOT in the get dirty kind of way. But the lounging in a chair by the pool or beach sipping on fruity drinks while reading an amazing book and listening to relaxing tunes on the ipod (50 first dates soundtrack is a current fav for sun time). That kind of outside.

[Tricia Kaye]

I am totally with you. My husband and I enjoy being inside more, except when we go on cruises (our favorite type of vacations). I hate bugs and getting dirty!!!

My husband has been given a 2 month sabbatical and rented a place in Colorado Springs. So we are going to try the hiking thing ( no camping), but not sure how we will like it.

[Tiffany]

I do love to spend time outside...watch the kids play, clean up the yard (once in awhile:-)) boating, swimming, etc. But, I only like to be outside when I know a good shower is waiting for me afterwards---I really don't like to feel dirty.
Vacation wise...I would totally choose the nice indoor accommodations over camping 90% of the time. Herbert would choose indoors 100% of the time.