I'm home alone tonight. My family is sleeping under the stars without me. Getting ready went something like this:

• batteries charged and in headlamps - check
• sleeping bags, pads & groundsheet - check
• thermos of hot tea, bags of dried fruit - check
• long underwear, balaclavas, mittens, toques, fleece, wool socks - check
• cell phone & toilet paper - check

All packed and out the door at 9 pm to sleep outdoors at the farm in hopes of observing a meteor shower tonight. I am not joining my family on this adventure, for a couple reasons. Firstly, it's cold tonight, the predicted low is 30F. Bedding down with no tent in those temps doesn't really appeal to me. Secondly, I like my privacy and it's not just my little family headed to the farm to watch the stars, they will be joining upwards of 40-50 local college students.

You see Damien belongs to the student run Outdoor Club at the college he works at, the same club who offered the first aid course. Late last week the club announced a meteor shower and did "anyone know of a place out of the city to sleep under the stars to observe this phenomenon". Well yes actually, we knew of just the place; our csa farm.

What started out as 20 students has grown into numbers nearing 80, some of whom can chicken out and sleep on the football field to run back to their dorm rooms should the night prove too cold. Which I think it might be for those without down bags. Those still willing to brave the elements on this clear November night will be joining my family, sans me. Because that just sounds like too much chill, too many people and too little sleep for my liking.

I'll be cozy in my bed, with the cat for company. And I'll be up, well rested and warm, to prepare my family oatmeal for their arrival home for breakfast... if they last that long.