Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for July 18, 2019

Mom and Calvin probably bond during these “vacations.”

First rule of swimming, Mom and Calvin: go with a buddy. Some buddies you turned out to be for Dad there.

Dad, it builds character.

You’d think because of the intense heat, they would like to swim in that cold, cold lake.

the parents should skinny dip,just to frighten Calvin

One time me & the family were on a vacation over by Westport, WA and thought we would find a spot to sleep for the night in the camper. Unknowingly, we parked by this tower made up of a bunch of telephone poles. Later that evening the fog rolled in and this very loud fog horn went off while we were asleep. Pie eyed, we had to quickly pack up everything and find someplace else to bed down.

I think what I like best about vacations is the family togetherness.

Well, Calvin and Mom are together in complaining about the vacation.

Calvin is stumped by the simplest of math problems, but knows words like “hypothermia.”

Watch out for flesh eating bacteria.

I love this side of Dad. The outdoorsman, the bicyclist, the fitness and fresh air fiend. It’s what humanizes him.

“Start the week”??? It’s Thursday!

I can’t believe Mom didn’t put her foot down and put the kibosh on this stupid trip.

Hey Dad; it’s even better when the family is actually together!

My wife measures the pool temperature in degrees Fahrenheit, I measure it in minutes of useful conscienceless before hypothermia sets in. Although lately, I’ve been taking colder showers.

At least the water’s too cold for the piranhas and alligators which Calvin would otherwise imagine are in the lake.

Dad needs to take vacations the rest of the family will like sometimes.

He’s going to find that the lake isn’t only freezing he’ll get on this trip…

Mom should take Calvin and the car and leave Dad to it

nothing like the feeling of squishing your toes through mud

Isn’t Dad freezing his hind end off?

I kinda get his point. Works 50 weeks a year driving in traffic to work every single day just to provide food and a roof for a kid who doesn’t understand what he goes through every day and to have a wife he loved enough to marry turn out to be a condescending tart who refuses to allow him the pleasure of the great outdoors.

Is he going to slip into sackcloth and ashes after the swim?

On our “family” vacations at the lake we’d all be doing our own thing within 15 minutes: I’d be in Lake Erie freezing, my brother would be scouting the beach for girls, my sister would be working on her drawings, my dad would be fishing and my mom would be cleaning the rented cottage ‘cuz she didn’t trust whoever cleaned it last.

Dad should go camping by himself.

The only togetherness Dad is feeling is with nature. The family is together against being with nature. Each camping trip is beset by some kind of ‘natural’ disaster.

Family togetherness… It’s becoming less and less of a thing in this day and age.

But first, check the water for that flesh-eating bacteria going around. Oops, too late.

Calvin’s dad is not a wimp – something for Calvin to remember when he gets older

I grew up swimming in the warm lakes of the North East and the equally warm ocean off the coast of Maine and New Hampshire. :-)

Calvin and his mother practicing togetherness a good ways away from dad. Bliss.

Where’s Hobbes

How old is Calvin

Seems like the family is together except for Dad. Those polls are going to look mighty poor for Dad.

He’s got his vocabulary down cold.

I love the sarcastic comment by Calvin in the 3 panel. In 4 panel daddy looks gloomy. This happens at all times. Differrent members of same family have different interests.

Best vacations are agreed upon by all parties involved…cramming camping down everyone’s throat does not make for togetherness.

Hey, the REST of the family is together, you’re the one off by yourself, pops!