It's a constant balancing act for everyone to try and juggle family, work, and climbing. I always feel like I come up short in at least one area.

Summitpost & the internet are awesome but they are just a tool. You can have a great climbing life without them. Good luck.

It's a hobby.

Fletch wrote:

Guyzo wrote:I feel sorry for a lot of the people I meet.

Folks who think a big weekend is hitting the beach and a fish restaurant afterwords.

Im going to play devil's advocate here, but so what? Not everyone was meant to be in the mountains. Big effin' deal. Hitting the beach and a fish restaurant is a nice weekend. Doesn't matter if you're a climber or not. The mountains are great, but so are fish restaurants. It's all in your perspective. The folks in the restaurant feel sorry for you.

I enjoy the mountains and love them very much, but im not going to consider myself "better" because I have figured out what I like. Life is full of experiences and you can have a rich, full, and wonderful life without ever stepping foot in the mountains. We shouldn't look down our nose at people we think "don't get it."

In fact we shouldn't look down our noses at anyone.

Nah, fck those fiskbudin guys. More like 'render unto Ceasar..' than 'to each his own..'. Not to be hateful, but they are the weak. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

zodis wrote:It's a hobby.

respectfully disagree. knitting is a hobby.

Opinions are like.......

This is funny!

First off I think y'all didn't get Guy's post. Knowing him as I do I totally see his meaning. He didn't say "Folks who enjoy a day at the beach and a fish restaurant..."

Speaking for myself I don't see anything I have traded off for a lifetime of great times climbing as "giving up" anything. Other will feel differently. The things I did not do out of choice included having kids, a totally demanding career, achieving social status, buying lots of new cars, being lazy. All of these choices were good ones for me. Of course it is all individual, for example I cannot see why one would choose climbing - with it's risk and discomfort - as a hobby. To each their own.

Cheers!

I gave up my soul............*evil laughter ensues*

welle wrote:

zodis wrote:It's a hobby.

respectfully disagree. knitting is a hobby.

Don´t knock knitting. Try boarding a plane and telling the security "But that´s just my knitting!!".

mvs,

I don't know anything about the second part of your post, with regard to what's been happening on SP. I've made myself scarce over the last few months, but not because of SP itself--just life.

But the first part of your post resonated with me. I've often had similar thoughts. Usually they have been the opposite direction though: what kind of adventure have I given up by choosing a slightly more comfortable job? Or by going back to school? Or by settling down with my girlfriend? I sometimes wonder about what I've given up in favor of climbing, but less now because the pendulum has swung far away from climbing and adventure to the other side....

It's obvious from the responses that a lot of people don't think this way. I've written posts eerily similar to your's in the past, both here and elsewhere. It's not as common a viewpoint as I always thought. But for people who think in the way I do (and the way I think you do), it's hard not to second-guess decisions, to look back and wonder "what if?" I know it's not healthy for me, and I wish I wouldn't do it and I know I'd be happier if I didn't, but it's me. It was my Dad too, and I see him in the mirror more and more each day. I don't say that in a good way.

But, in any event, just wanted to say that some people out there hear you--or at least hear what they want to hear from you. Hopefully it's a passing phase, but sometimes a reevaluation is a good thing. I also think listening to some of the "grab life and don't look back" folks here sometimes is good. It's gotten me out into the mountains in the past, and that's always been good for me. I'm sure the same is true for you.

Good luck.

knoback wrote:

Fletch wrote:

Guyzo wrote:I feel sorry for a lot of the people I meet.

Folks who think a big weekend is hitting the beach and a fish restaurant afterwords.

Im going to play devil's advocate here, but so what? Not everyone was meant to be in the mountains. Big effin' deal. Hitting the beach and a fish restaurant is a nice weekend. Doesn't matter if you're a climber or not. The mountains are great, but so are fish restaurants. It's all in your perspective. The folks in the restaurant feel sorry for you.

I enjoy the mountains and love them very much, but im not going to consider myself "better" because I have figured out what I like. Life is full of experiences and you can have a rich, full, and wonderful life without ever stepping foot in the mountains. We shouldn't look down our nose at people we think "don't get it."

In fact we shouldn't look down our noses at anyone.

Nah, fck those fiskbudin guys. More like 'render unto Ceasar..' than 'to each his own..'. Not to be hateful, but they are the weak. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Yes. I'm good with this. They've never felt the exhilaration of standing in the night at 6000 meters watching the Space Station tumble across the sky. They'd just feel cold. Or clinging to a vertical wall in the rain with your future literally in your hands. They'd just be scared.

There is absolutely nothing to indicate that climbers are a superior lot. In fact, evolution, millenia of observation, and mile high stacks of research indicate the opposite and, as a result, risky, individualistic behavior is generally bred out of a population. Chicks hate that shit, and most dudes are threatened by it.

Tell people at your next holiday party that you're a climber, and watch the crowds slowly, politely, look for the onion dip. Tell your boss you're a climber (in front of the other employees) and watch your responsibilities dwindle until you're in charge of the copy machine. Tell your parents your a climber and them erase your name from their will.

There's a reason for that. Climbers are social deviants. Celebrate it.....

Ya'll are thinking faaaaaaaaaaaaar toooooooooooo much!

I say STFU and go climb something would ya.

I am out the door to do just that..... Ha Ha Ha Ha.

FORT...

My Boss's all know my life revolves around my climbing. They even ask me what days I need off to go climb ice.

That is one reason they hired me (along with my military career) and two other gents that have been there for over 20 years....

Commitment, Perseverance and Focus.

So again, I say STFU, go push yourself and climb something hard today.




Stop worrying about the who, what, where and why of it all.....

knoback wrote:Nah, fck those fiskbudin guys. More like 'render unto Ceasar..' than 'to each his own..'. Not to be hateful, but they are the weak. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Ceasar had an army...

The internet is a awfully convenient place to have this view as you don't have to look anybody in the eye and tell them they are weak. Better show up with an army when you do...

I think it's the middle age knocking...my view of time & life has changed a lot lately. Maybe it's age, maybe it's those 2 fucking miserable hours of mental boredom each day that is bike commuting, esp thru. the dark misery of winter months. Lots of time to think. I now realize that the time before you were born is like being in a dark box. Then life begins & they let you out of the box for a short while. You do what you can. Make choices, fuck up, try your best. Then it's over & time to go back into that dark box again...forever. Do what you enjoy I guess. Don't mess things up for others. It'll be over shortly. Cheers.

I've given up sitting on the couch watching TV, getting fat, and eating junk food. Not a bad trade off in my eyes. Now my kids are starting to show interest and that makes it even better. Now if I could find a way to give up work and climb more that would be way better.