To backpack more, you need capital. I don't mean cash. I mean family capital. Let's call it "adventure equity." This doesn't mean tit for tat. No saying "I'll watch the kids tonight while you go to book club if I can backpack this weekend." Support your family members unconditionally in achieving their goals, and the capital will build on its own. Here's a simple test to see if you have built enough adventure equity to go backpacking for a long weekend: When you back out of the driveway with your loaded pack in the trunk, do you feel like you're getting away with something? If you do, you haven't built the equity, and you shouldn't go. I've learned this the hard way.
Build adventure equity by seizing opportunities to contribute time and effort to your family. If your spouse wants to arrange a weekly night out with friends, no problem, offer to watch the kids. If she's on business travel and wants to stay an extra day and see the sights, don't complain. Rearrange your schedule so she can. If she's going to be home late from work, have dinner ready. If there's a plumbing leak, fix it before any nagging starts. If your son's baseball team or daughter's swim team need volunteers, help out even if it requires a lot of weekends that (cringe) could be spent backpacking.
I've recently embarked on the biggest adventure equity builder yet. My wife has gone back to graduate school. So I've taken on much more of the responsibilities at home. But it took some effort for me to see this change in our family as an opportunity. At first, I thought, oh no, there goes all my backpacking trips. But then I thought, do what needs to be done, and you never know, next summer . . . maybe the JMT.
ARTICLE OUTLINE
- Earn Your Family's Support
- Plan So that Getting Outdoors Happens
- Include Your Family
- Stake Out Big Trips
- When Necessary, Bail Out Gracefully
- Take What You Can Get
- Plan Indoor Time
- Creating Backpacking Opportunities
- Live Where Backpacking is Easy
- Build a Career Conducive to Backpacking
- Limit Time-Intensive Activities that Intrude On Time that Could Be Spent Backpacking
- Practice Lightweight Living
- Convergence
- Conclusion
# WORDS: 2510
# PHOTOS: 7
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Discussion
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I was a Network Security Engineer by trade. I made great money. I left that for a career in Ministry. I took a 66% cut in pay to start (while in training) and will likely make 33% less than my career equivalent for the rest of my life. The benefit package is amazing. I can bring my 4 month old daughter to work while her mom sleeps (my wife works overnight as a nurse). I must make it clear that this is working for me because I have a call of Ministry on my life. I know this won't work for everyone, nor would I recommend it for everyone. I talk about it at my blog for those interested. wn7ant dot com
I'll second the comment on "good behavior". Brought my 11 year old daughter, only way I could have swung the trip, and she totally enjoyed herself. Everyone was great. I think I have found my new hiking partner!
I can whole heartily agree with the author on getting your family involved. I had a planned trip with some friends this weekend and was feeling like I was getting away with something . The last few weekends have been busy with work and chores around the house. At the last minute I cancelled the trip with friends and planned a day hike to scout a new area to backpack in the future. I made alot of memories yesterday and the kids had a ball !! I am so glad I didn't go on my trip I would have regretted it. Getting the kids involved more will lead to more trips in the future.
Video day hike
Tom: I love the backyard campout as a way to get away outdoors with young kids without going out of town.
When we had our landscaping redone I included an open hardscape space (crushed granite) shaped like a campsite in our front yard. (The landscape architect thought I was nuts. Maybe I am.) We now use the space to have front yard campfires, and make s'mores, etc. We live in a central location on a court, so having the space in the front yard has made campfire evenings inviting for neighbors as well. We get outdoor campfire time, plus a bit of local community wrapped together, without ever leaving home. It really adds to a weekend where other obligations prevent us going out of town to the wilderness.
Thanks Debbie!
I have posted on that site occasionally pre-kid. More so at backpacker.com.
Been lurking the kid's forums on both.
Thanks again,
Christo
Sometimes I get those guilty feelings but then I just hike harder.nice read.
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