With an oppressive heat wave bearing down on the area, we adjusted our schedule and arrived at the campground late Friday morning, hoping to get settled before the worst of the afternoon temperatures arrived. It proved to be a wise decision. Our new air-conditioner quickly justified its purchase, bringing the cabin to a comfortable temperature in about 90 minutes. What could have been a sweltering weekend instead became a welcome retreat.

The afternoon was spent putting the finishing touches on a few work projects before transitioning into one of our favorite camping traditions: Date Night. This week’s menu featured strip steak, grilled asparagus, steak fries, and a bottle of Beaujolais. We enjoyed dinner while watching the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The evening had plenty of memorable moments, but the standout was mentalist and magician Oz Pearlman. His ability to read people and seemingly predict the unpredictable was genuinely mesmerizing and easily one of the night’s highlights.

President Trump’s speech, which lasted just over an hour, took a very different tone. He directed a steady stream of barbs at a range of people, including Bruce Springsteen, former President Barack Obama, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, CNN journalist Kaitlan Collins, late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel, Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzger, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Early on, the audience responded with polite laughter, but as the jokes increasingly became personal attacks, the room grew noticeably quieter. By the end, the atmosphere felt more uncomfortable than entertaining.

The president only briefly touched on the conflict with Iran and mentioned the ballroom being built at the White House. He also revisited the idea of serving a third term, despite the Constitution’s 22nd Amendment limiting presidents to two elected terms.

He quickly said he was “only kidding.” But then, as he wrapped up, he put on a red “Trump 2028” hat and jokingly announced he would be running again.

For us, Trump’s so-called “joke” landed quite differently. Given his repeated public comments about serving beyond a second term, we failed to see the idea as entirely humorous. While any attempt to remain in office beyond the constitutional limit would face significant legal and constitutional obstacles, we find his continued references to a third term unsettling rather than amusing.

Later, as darkness settled over the campground, we traded-air conditioning for open air and ended the evening around a crackling campfire. There is something timeless about sitting beside dancing flames, listening to the sounds of nature, and letting the pace of the week finally slow down.

Saturday unfolded much as our camping Saturdays often do. We lingered over The New York Times, watched CBS Saturday Morning, enjoyed breakfast cocktails, and eased our way into brunch. Reading gave way to napping, and napping gave way to more reading. In other words, it was practically perfect.

After feeding Ginger her supper, we set out for a long walk around the camping loop. The stroll eventually led us to a visit with our friends Mel and Scott, and as often happens, a brief visit turned into a longer conversation. By the time we made our way back to our campsite, the sun was dropping toward the horizon and dinner was running later than planned.

Fortunately, some meals are worth waiting for.

That evening’s menu featured grilled pork chops, cob corn, and ranch beans. The meal tasted every bit as good as we had hoped while waiting for it. Once again, the day concluded beside a campfire, where the conversation drifted toward shared experiences, memorable travels, and the many interesting people we have encountered along the way. Those conversations have become one of the unexpected gifts of camping. Away from distractions, there is more time to remember, reflect, and appreciate.

Sunday was deliberately unhurried.

Much of the day was devoted to reading, relaxing, and resting. Jon spent part of the afternoon redesigning our Hampshire@100 logo and putting the finishing touches on an infographic describing the Creative Services team he oversees at work. Meanwhile, Cliff settled in with a collection of cooking magazines, gathering inspiration for future meals and future camping menus.

The heat outside continued its relentless march, but inside the cabin, the air-conditioner hummed along faithfully while we enjoyed another long afternoon nap.

Eventually, as all camping weekends do, this one came to an end. We packed up our gear, secured the cabin, said goodbye to the campground, and headed home.

It wasn’t a weekend filled with adventure. Instead, it was a weekend of good food, good conversation, restorative rest, and gratitude for simple comforts, including one remarkably effective air-conditioner.

Sometimes that’s more than enough. In fact, sometimes it’s exactly what you need.