naked in the woods

I went hiking through the woods today without the dogs or clothes. This was my first visit to this park, and I'll likely return having endured the summer camp progression from dragging my feet to get out the door to dragging them harder to leave once I was there. The drive up almost spoiled the mood. Already leaving later than I'd meant, it wasn't until I got on the turnpike that I realized I forgot my wallet, and the next exit to turn around was almost 15 miles away. The stress of the moment made it feel longer, but then I thought that had traffic been backed up enough to add another 30 minutes of drive time then the outcome would have been no different from circling back for half an hour to correct a mistake. I'd driven farther for even less time down the shore. Through Jersey traffic. My reward for success today was that the limited quantity of time I did have felt multiplied in its quality. It's hard not to find that kind of transcendence when you're naked in the woods on the threshold of autumn.

I spent two hours sunbathing by the pool, then an hour walking, first on a trail around a pond then through the campgrounds admiring the decor of community and tradition flanked by weekenders in unassuming tents and bespeckled with even more transient attachments such as myself, new growth in an old forest. The drive back was lighter, having left behind the baggage I accumulated on the way. Even the span of exits I had to traverse twice earlier seemed shorter the third time. I made it home just before sunset then took the dogs to see some friends, their share of the reward.