Today it’s off to see the Nutcracker that my niece is preforming at down at SUNY then having a dinner with my parents at a local Mexican restaurant. It’s nice to spend family time together, as you never know how much longer this going to last.

In some ways, it’s nice to dream that these days will last forever, 👪 that your parents aren’t getting older and gray even faster then you are yourself. I do spend a fair amount of time with the parents, and while we all agree there will be a next time, you never really know if that will be the case. That’s why I am also planning to visit with them on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day — still deciding when I want to leave for my adventure for the week off.

I am considering going out to the Finger Lakes on Christmas Day through New Years Day 🎊 but I worry about the weather, and its a long trip out there. I also am thinking about a Central NY trip, but if it’s seven days and I can only camp in one location ⛺ for three so I’d be looking at different locations every few nights. I thought about doing Long Pond and then heading up to the Horse Camp for New Years Eve, 🐴 but that’s only six nights unless maybe I camp at Beaver Creek. Also, have to consider snow depth, and the issue of staying parked too long in one location and not being able to keep the battery charge up. 🔋 And just that winter nights are often cold and long — do I want to spend 6 or 7 nights alone in wilderness? 🐺 And the whole issue that next weekend might rain. 🌧 I need to decide by Monday so I can get propane and supplies as grocery stores are closed on Christmas, and to tell my folks when I plan to visit for Christmas. 🎅

It’s good to be back home,  🥶 it was so cold on Saturday morning at Rensselaerville State Forest. It’s was a beautiful night with the snow Friday night ❄️ but it was so frigid with the wind come the morning. That’s one of things that has me reconsidering camping on for a full seven days starting Christmas Day. 🎅 I am not saying I won’t go down to Long Pond and maybe the horse camp for a few days, but a full trip out to the Finger Lakes seems a bit much for this time of year, especially if we get that heavy rain next week.

Tomorrow I’d like to ride my bike to work, 🚲 but I haven’t had a chance to service the brakes, it’s going to be quite cold, and I’m concerned there will be a lot of ice on the bike trail. I might instead bus it to work. I have black beans soaking to cook up in the morning, and I’m thinking of baking bread. 🍞 We will see, it’s a cold night. Plus I should thinking about doing my wash.