Life’s Hectic Pace

In my previous blog entry I wrote about TIME and how the outdoors is the perfect place to contemplate those important life decisions.   Taking a walk in the mountains, for instance, sort of cleanses the mind and helps to put everyday things in perspective so important decisions can be made that affect all aspects of life.

Today, over a month after that last blog entry, I am also writing about time.   This entry, however, is going to lament how time is so precious we need to squeeze everything we possibly can out of it.   Busy lives often result in outdoor activities taking a backseat to the other necessities of life.

Last spring I was privileged to sit in a fishing focus group with several other sportsmen.   As we started, each of us took a minute to tell about ourselves as an ice breaker, of sorts.   When it came to my turn I proudly proclaimed that I was a newlywed of about a month’s time and that this summer I was remodeling an old farmhouse for my family.
House1

One of the well-seasoned gentlemen piped in and exclaimed, “Well there goes your summer.   We won’t be seeing you out on the lake or doing much of anything for the next several months.”   Inside I thought…NO WAY!   After all, I was not personally doing the remodeling myself…I had hired a builder to accomplish most of the tasks.

WOW!   I couldn’t possibly have been more misguided in my thinking.   Obviously that experienced sportsman knew what he was talking about…probably because he had been through it a time or two during his vast years of life.

Previously in this blog I have commented about the activities of this past summer, so I won’t ruminate on those again in such detail.   But suffice it to say the summer and early fall of 2005 has not been conducive to this sportsman allowing “time” to participate in, nor shall I say, even write about the things that are dear to my heart.   More and more it appears I will be chalking this summer up as an investment in my family and preparing for the future.
House2

Selling and preparing houses for the market takes lots of time.   Totally gutting an old farmhouse and restoring it takes even more time.   Living and working 40 miles apart takes time, as well.   Am I complaining…ya sure!!   Is anybody listening?   Who knows.

The main point I am attempting to get at here is there are times in a sportsman’s life when “time” is such a limited commodity that living the sporting life often takes a backseat to the other grinds and responsibilities faced.   The danger here, of course, is when you stop living the sporting lifestyle…even for a year…making the time to get back into it can be a challenge.

I firmly believe that one of the biggest struggles the hunting community has, more so than the fishing fraternity, is keeping participants active and interested in the sport.   Life is not what it once was even 20 years ago.   I don’t know about you…but when I wake up each day I pretty much have my life planned out for me.   Looking ahead to the upcoming week, for that matter, I can almost tell you everything I must be doing just to keep pace with this busy life I live.   Time, particularly “spare time,” is not a commodity that I have banked up in my life right now.

And so it goes.   Right now I am in the heart of the hunting season here in Minnesota and here I am pondering my opportunity costs, as economists would put it.   Nope, I haven’t yet touched a gun…except to move them from one house to another recently.   But that will all change soon.

Deer hunting is but 16 days away and I am anticipating its arrival more than I ever have before.   No, I haven’t done my normal scouting to determine if there is a big buck working the area where I hunt.   This year…well, it really doesn’t matter.   You see, during the firearms deer season in Minnesota I will officially use that weekend to proclaim my life is once again gaining some normalcy now that I am settled in my new house.   It also confirms in my mind that I FINALLY have the time to enjoy the activities that has been so dear to my heart for oh so many years of my existence.

Here’s hoping that your life affords you the time and the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors to the fullest.   Once again, I slowly intend to get back into my blogging routine if for no other reason to let the world know I am still alive and thinking those outdoor thoughts.

© 2005 Jim Braaten.  All Rights Reserved.   No Reproduction without Prior Permission.