It's Always the Simple Ideas.

It's always the simplest ideas that are the most entertaining. Does that ever happen to you? You look at a new product and wonder to yourself why you didn't think of that sooner? I swear, I should be a millionaire by now. 

Anyway, working at camp in Maine for the summer is the best job in town. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world, trust me. But, the hours are long and the work can be hard so when a day off rolls around we take advantage. Typically we spend our days off with groups of friends and travel around New England looking for fun things to do. On one particular day off this summer we managed to entertain ourselves for nearly 30 hours with some of the simplest things around. 

I'll give you some examples.

1. The Swing Ring Game.

It all started with the ring swing game at dinner. If you have a porch then you need to build yourself this simple game. There is a small metal ring attached to the string and the object is to swing the ring and catch it on the hook at the bottom of the 2x4. Pretty simple, eh?

It's amazing how elusive that hook can be. Infuriating, even.

But man, when you hook it -- you feel like the world's biggest bad ass.

Case in point.

2. The Human Trash Can. 

We moved on to a baseball game where the Portland SeaDogs were playing. The SeaDogs, in case you didn't know, are the farm team to the Boston Red Sox. However, more exciting than the baseball was the poor guy dressed up as a trash monster. You could actually put your trash in his mouth! Throwing empty beer cups away has never been more exciting. Genius, I tell ya.

3. The Disco Ball.

The next morning we somehow acquired a disco ball that was promptly installed in our day off car. It's all about the atmosphere. Simple. Entertaining.

4. Diving for Rocks.

Eventually we made our way to North Conway, New Hampshire where we hiked up to Diana's Bath which is a beautiful rock quarry in the White Mountains. The best part about Diana's Bath is "the hole." 

Basically, you drop yourself into a 10 foot deep hole (that you wouldn't know was there unless someone told you or you were unfortunate enough to fall into) that opens up at the bottom. 

The goal is simple -- make it to the bottom and back...

And bring with you a rock as proof. 

Why does this provide so many hours of endless entertainment? I have no idea. But it does. 

 

5. Stacking Rocks.


Once plenty of rocks were accumulated from the hole someone decided to stack them all. This someone shall remain nameless (cough, cough...The Canadian). Did I mention that this was not a fast process? As in an hour or so.

Even more entertaining and simple than the art of stacking rocks is the art of kicking rocks over. Actually, the rocks weren't knocked over but the threat of knocking them over was enough to send someone over the edge. And that, my friends, was super simple and entertaining.

It's all about simplicity. Don't ever forget that.