The Joy of Nature

Sleeping outdoors isn’t for everybody. I’ll admit, it’s not for me. My idea of romance comes closer to making eyes over a candlelit dinner. But I’m the type of author who listens to my characters. One charming scene-stealer has it in mind to take my heroine camping, despite her severe dislike for unhygienic surroundings. As he plotted his options, his inner monologue began to sway me into considering it as a suggestion for this series. The more I considered it, the more he changed my mind. As a bonus, I saw opportunities to practice earlier 52 Love tips in new surroundings.

A camping trip helps you and your partner fall away from the outside world and live in the moment, be that an adventuresome moment or one of peaceful stillness. As we’ve touched on many times, our regular lives keep us distracted and busy. When you try to relax at home, it often feels like you should be doing something else—preparing for the future, planning another task, or performing responsibilities. Whether you’re new to one another or have cherished each other for years, couples camping offers a chance to unwind together in a laid back environment.

Escaping from home helps you disconnect from constant bids for your attention and reconnect with your partner. Let the natural calm ease your day-to-day tension. Hike an interesting trail, climb trees, bird watch in comfortable silence, skip rocks in a nearby pond. Use the break to unplug from digital life and enjoy each other’s company, free from distractions and obligations.

Absorb the sounds and silence of nature. While strolling beside a riverbank hand in hand, enjoy meaningful conversations. Or don’t talk at all. Quiet and solitude work wonders to cleanse your soul. Whether you’re the type of couple to eat your daily stream catches or bring hobo dinners to cook over the campfire, prepping and cooking your meals together will serve as its own intimacy aid.

Outdoor adventures reinforce team mentality. Working together to set up camp—scouting a site, pitching a tent, preparing the fire—reminds couples they rely on each other for survival. Sitting across from each other in a restaurant doesn’t do that. Without the distraction of other patrons or interrupting waiters, engage over fireside chats. Share stories—fun frightening fiction, cherished childhood memories, hopes for your future, or naughty tales to inspire the evening’s climax.

And to that note, the great outdoors inspires primal urges. Being miles from civilization means there’s no need to mute your enjoyment of one another. Screaming sexual appreciation is more fun than muffling cries of joy in the bedroom and even more satisfying than shouting your love from the rooftop. It’s certainly more private.

Surrounded by the stillness in the air, slip into each other’s arms and sink into the setting: a slight breeze, invisible crickets chirping, and the kindle crackling before you. Succumb to the draw of staring into a campfire together. Feed each other s’mores. Snuggle under the stars. Embrace the romance of quiet seclusion.

If you try this intimacy tip or have a better recommendation, let me know in the comments. For weekly suggestions on how to show your partner love, sign up for my blog, 52 Love, in the sidebar.

1 Comment

  1. Tonya, you have done it again- I’m purely a City Girl but the idea of going camping as an intimacy builder is intriguing to me, now to find the right partner for me to try the several other tips you slipped into this piece-quite a thought!

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