Torn between two loves

“Camping, Backpacking, Motorcycling, and all those other things we like to do can sure wreak havoc on the psyche... I'm all over the map on some things I love to do, and find there's never enough time to do all the backpacking I want, and still enjoy a relaxing campout by the river, a canoe trip with close friends, a ride through the twisties which nature sees fit to provide without end... there are so many things I love to do, many of them opportunities to share with someone special - friend, or someone closer - and yet, it requires a strong sense of balance to truly appreciate what each has to offer.

I'm reasonably certain my friends in here are not one-dimensional, and, like me, have other interests which beg time from a long trek in the wilderness. Therefore...

What else do you balance your time with? What other interests steal precious moments from the wilderness, only to provide more precious memories themselves? I do not ask what you'd RATHER do, I ask what else you DO do...”

“Landscaping the backyard to look like a nice place along the AT.”

“I masterbate.”

“Graduate school (material's science)
Hang out at the bar and pick up cowboys”

“Thanks for the visual, bacpac...

Now, if only I could SEE it...”

“It helps to have two hobbies you can combine. Anyone for a group hike?”

“I'm sure your dog would be happy to join you”

“I play the drums,disc golf,hang out with friends,post messages on TT,go after girls.Work on my from lawn and most of all BACKPACK!!!!

8)”

“Church activites-(mostly with the kids) and fishing and woking on the trails with my maintence club.”

“Snowboard, photography/webpage.

If I had more time I would still run, lift weights, bike...”

“i windsurf with my pack on.”

“Playing rugby (Division II), coaching high school boys' and girls' rugby, as well as Senior Women's, fly fishing, hunting (duck, goose, deer - next Christmas caribou), winter mountaineering (AT ski-ing, snowshoeing), oh yes, teaching high school English.”

“family, church, work, bicycle, photography and waste too much time here.”

“I like to fight with my kids about housework.

Playing guitar.....practice, practice.....driving my kids crazy with repeatative rockabilly rhythms and scales......"make it talk!"......"now make it shut up!"

Now that the weather is warmer, I can build more guitars in the garage.......screaming router and bandsaw......sanding, sanding......

.......letting the lawn go to hell so the old lady next door can pester me about it.”

“Taking care of my kids is my big activity. My oldest really wants to start canoeing and horseback riding. She is an artist, so I am always trying to find different lessons for her to add to her training. The interest in backpacking and camping started out as something to do with my kids, but now I do it because I really like it. I just hope the kids grow to like it too. I also like gardening/landscaping, and am getting the kids involved in it more each year. They each have their own garden.”

“I'm a Scoutmaster of a Boy Scout Troop, that fills the rest of my time pretty well but when I get more time...
Building hotrods ('48 Ford F1 panel truck), painting, webdesign, reading and eventually I'll learn how to use that flyrod my wife got me over a year ago.”

“using a flyrod on open salt water for redfish and specs....

it's cutting into my backpacking time.”

“Running, fishing, playing around with my keyboards and sequencers to make annoying electronic music, and even though I'm nearing 30, I'm still a big video game geek, especially with multiplayer games through my PC and its high speed connection. It's fun!”

“Scuba, Paintball, Inline hockey, marine aquariums (55 and 20 gallons), online comp games, and chasing wild women take time and money away from backpacking”

“of course the emergency room bills that you incur when Michelle reads your post will take some bucks away from backpacking also.”

“I like to do short triathlons (nothing too serious; I just enjoy cycling and jogging).

Lesser hobbies include fishing, sailing, hunting and cooking.

Chili, where do you flyfish for specs and reds-don't you live in Tenn.?”

“Family, church, Boy Scouts ( Ass't Scoutmaster after 5 years as Scoutmaster). Every once in a while I get to go fishing.”

“gearjunkie, I am originally from Baldwin County. My brother still lives in Silverhill. I make it to the coast several times a year. Usually fish the sand bars off of Ft Morgan for redfish and catch the specs off the grass flats in the Bay.

I still call LA home.”

“Chili,
Go figure.
I live in Fairhope, and fish the same waters. Dixie Bar is a great fun when the reds are popping.”

“Holy Crap! I used to live in Fairhope.

It wasn't very long though. My Dad was Navy and his ship spent a good part of a year ('80)in the Mobile drydock. When the ship moved so did we. Loved walking in woods out there.”

“Goal for this summer is to get our canoes back in the water. Have enjoyed bicycling in the past, but my wrists are a problem. Balance for me comes in ways other than outdoors, since I live in the midst of the Northwoods every day is somewhat outdoorsy. So I like to travel to cities for art museums and galleries, ethnic restaurants, literary events, and used book stores. At home, finding time to read, and when possible write poetry.”

“HPM,
I'm sitting in my office looking down at the Mobile drydock as we speak.
Small world.”

“I am planning on spending 5 days on the coast Memorial day weekend. Plans are to use the fly rod every day.

When I last lived there (two years ago), I would go down to the coast (from Daphne) early on Saturday mornings, catch Spanish Mackrel for a couple hours and my brother would pick me up in the boat and we would fish for the snappers off the coast with cut bait (the mornings mackrel catch). What a hard way to spend a Saturday.”

“Get on your motorcycle with your pack on your back and your canoe dragging behind. Haul all of it up to a nice lake with a meadow, spin some donuts and throw beer cans in the lake. You CAN have it all!”

“Build hotrods my a$$, HPM. That thing's been sitting in your parent's backyard for 5 years without you working on it more than a weekend total!”

“Like I said, when I get more time.”

“Did you two vow not to argue face to face?”

“Yes.

Actually we don't really argue at all.”

“Gearjunkie - I have a conference at the Grand Hotel in Fairhope this Thurs-Sat. I'm bringing the wife and kids. Any advice on can't miss spots for us to see. Any special restaurants we have to hit? Thanks a bunch. PS. I'll try my best to keep her away from Foley.

Interests - I have a 8" Dobsonian home built telescope, I read a good bit, am involved with church, Kiwanis, and Habitat for Humanity. I love playing in the yard/park with the kids. My oldest is two. Everynight when I get home, he brings me my basketball and we play on his 3' goal.”

“LOL, I think he will get better advice from you Gearjunkie,, I would be sending them to Manci's Antique Club; Judge Roy Bean's; and to the Pelican Point Restaurant.”

“Oh, and I would make a trip to the Fly Creek Cafe in the afternoon/evening to see if I could pick up some music. Great place to drink a beer, grab a sandwich and pass the time away. Then again, I tend to migrate toward the out of the way places.”

“dayhiker - I have an Orion 6" Dobsonian. I used to be hardcore into astronomy, but put it on the back shelf after moving near NYC (dark skys are non-existant, I'm surprised I can still see the moon with all the light pollution).”

“i've started kayaking alot. since i got it, i've actually spent MORE time camping. just some of those times are on little islands, now.

kayaks can carry lots of rum!”

“Rummy!”

“chili - Are these restaurants where a 2 year old would be ok, or does the little man need a fistful of one dollar bills? Thanks for the names.

Artex - I decided I needed a hobby before my son was born(pre-backpacking, I'm still a newbie). I had always had an interest and just started reading stuff on the net. Finally decided I'd jump in and decided to build the scope. Lots of fun. I don't get out near as much as I should. The good thing about it, is my wife will go sit on a mountain and look through a scope.”

“ahhh!
righty or lefty??”

“dayhiker, Manci's would be ok for children at lunch. Many a day I have grabbed an oyster po boy there.

Pelican Pointe would be no problem for children, not overly pricy.

Lots of sailboats at Fly Creek; food is fair. It is a relaxed laid back kind of place at the boat dock.

Roy Beans is a rockin place at nights on the weekend. Wouldn't take the kids there.

Gearjunkie can probably expound on this. I tend to take the road less traveled.”

“dayhiker,
Chili's suggestions are excellant for the causual restaurants, which are also my favorites. Manci's has the best Cheeseburger in So. Alabama. Another fun casual place on the water is Lulu's. It is similar to Pelican Point (live music on the water).

If you are looking for fancier fare, I would suggest the Fairhope Inn, Vernado's, and LeBeau's, all of which are in downtown Fairhope.

I hope the weather cooperates for you. I'd offer to show you around but, ironically, I will be in Birmingham on business the same dates you will be in Fairhope.”

“good choice gearjunkie, I second Lulu's. dayhiker, for a casual lunch/early dinner, you should enjoy it.”

“as in waves not pages. I just started last summer, but have been out at least once a week pretty much since then.

It has cut into my backpacking time...but for a kid who grew up in the midwest, it's always been a dream...”

“I gave it some thought, but I still don`t know what to say
one demands much of me, the other wants different in a way
just pushing and shoving, it can break a fellow when it bends
one love wants this, the other that, they pull against the ends
of the different hats and different gloves
seems like I`m always torn between two loves”

“Well put!

8)”

“Thanks Mike!”

“Dude you have such a great way with words you should right songs!

Trust me you have talent!

I have been in music for a long time and you do have alot of cool words and I think its neat how you string them togeather.

8)”

“That`s funny,..LOL,.. but nice of you Mike,.. I was just playing:)”