That is one of my generic sayings; “Stuff & Things”. When I am not quite sure what to call something, it gets lumped into the category of Stuff & Things. That is what I am feeling this morning; a general happiness and contentment. It is not directed at anything specific, just, well, you know, at stuff & things. Catchy, isn’t it.

My original intention was to blog about various facets of the canoe trip this week. To isolate parts of the trip that I felt very grateful for. This morning it would have felt a bit forced, as I have this very warm sense of contentment with everything around me. I had three board game evenings this week which provided a great cerebral counterpoint to the physicality of the canoe trip. My life feels like it is in a wonderful balance. I am quite happy.

I am sitting here this morning, enjoying a cup of coffee pondering all of the goodness and abundance of joy. My work is going well with some challenging and fun projects on the docket, Kathy & I are in a very good place in our lives, There is a purring cat sitting next to me, the air outside has a crisp hint of cool fresh autumn, (my favourite season), life is good.

I am looking forward to Guinness Breakfast tomorrow, followed by an afternoon cooking Lobster and having a beer or two by the fire. There is absolutely nothing I can think of to complain about. Conscious gratitude has its own rewards I guess. Happiness comes when we resolve to be happy. Seems simple enough. Wow. Anyways, enough of this hallmark moment, I think I will head into the office and work on some projects before I pronounce the work week at a close.

Here is to the stuff & things in our lives. That “Je ne c’est pas” collection of goodness that surrounds us like a womb of awesome.

Namaste,
Matt

An open mind sees the world reflected within them, but a closed mind looks for the world to be their reflection. ~ Brian Winkler

“How could I possibly get lost, when everyone tells me where to go?” Well, my Garmin certainly tells me where to go. I have been a fan of GPS Technology and handheld units for a number of years now. My first GPS was a Garmin 76s. I currently have two other Garmin handheld units; a 60Cx and a Colorado 300.

Growing up, I was always fascinated with maps and cartography. The topographic lines, the symbols, I found it to be very captivating. I remember looking at various World Atlas’ or globes and being amazed at the diversity of geography. Guess I am a bit of a map geek. So, it was not much of a stretch for me to want to own a GPS (or two). On our recent canoe trip, we used the GPS to navigate around the maze of islands, we tracked our distance and captured the route we had paddled. It was a handy device to have along. Kathy made sure we had proper paper maps and compass; it is always wise to have an analog backup.

I started Geocaching about 8 years ago and have found a little over 300 hidden caches over that period. I run hot and cold on Geocaching, but it certainly is a fun way to explore outdoors. The newest GPS units have geocaching capabilities built right into the unit. Very handy as now the caching experience can be paperless and spontaneous.

Kathy and I also have a Garmin Nuvi for driving navigation and the features contained in those units are quite amazing. Just outside of Portland Oregon, our Nuvi directed us to take another route into the city to avoid heavy traffic so we could save 10 minutes of driving time. I was quite amazed. Additionally, the alerts for Red light cameras is kind of cool too.

Not sure where all of this is going with new developments, but I continue to be amazed at the capabilities. The next big area of feature development and exploration is bound to be in the arena of smartphones. The sky is the limit. It will be very exciting to follow this over the next few years. Today, I am thankful that my childhood fascination with maps is alive and gets some cool technology to augment the enjoyment of exploring.

I have an existential map. It has ‘You are here’ written all over it. ~ Steven Wright

The water up North was just too inviting to pass up. I simply had to go swimming. I probably went swimming more in the week while on this canoe trip than I had in the previous ten years combined. I enjoy swimming, but I cannot stand chlorinated pools. Give me the ocean, a nice swimming hole in a river, or a peaceful lake.

It felt good to stretch out the back in the water after a day of paddling. The swim was a good way to re-invigorate and clean up. Kathy was in the water much more than I was and was a good inspiration for me to go. Once I established a pattern of swimming, I needed no coaching to hit the water. Very enjoyable, very relaxing, and much appreciated.

The water is your friend.  You don’t have to fight with water, just share the same spirit as the water, and it will help you move.  ~ Aleksandr Popov

There are these astronauts and… wait a minute, that is the wrong right stuff.

OK, I have discovered another underlying truth in the universe. The older a person gets, the more they will appreciate and require decent gear for enjoying the outdoors. Well, it is a truth for me, and extrapolating that to the universe is not that big of leap, right?

These last 6 years or more have seen Kathy & I get much more active outside. I remember seeing people wearing all sorts of high-end outdoor wear and gear and recall thinking that this was a by-product of companies marketing to trendy outdoor yuppies. I used to think the gear was more for show than any real benefit. I was wrong. It has not been until recent years that I have engaged in the caliber of outdoor activity where decent gear is required. Times change, I change, and so have my perspectives. I guess this realization started when I cycled the Golden Triangle. Before that, I have never cycled 110kms in a day, let alone in the mountains. I have to consider tire tread to reduce friction, hydration, energy management, managing body temperature through light and efficient clothing layers, form fitting clothing to prevent chaffing, traffic visibility, and more. I bought a number of items, and still remained a bit skeptical, until I used them. Little things can make a big difference. Since that time, I have slowly become a big fan of proper gear and clothing. Gone are the days when I go hiking with denim or cotton. There are more efficient clothes that work well to retain or dissipate heat, will dry quickly if you get wet, and offer protection from the sun and wind.

I have certainly become best friends with my hiking boots. I got properly fitted a couple of years ago at MEC and they have been a wonderful addition to my gear. Additionally, I was properly fitted for a backpack and that has seen some use. I think in addition to buying good gear, it should be the “right” gear for your activity. There are so many people that are trained in this, that it would have been foolish for me to ignore their expertise. From those early days, I have really rounded out my gear list. I have a decent rain jacket, a backup rain jacket, goretex pants, hiking socks, river pants, cargo pants, PFD, bent shaft canoe paddle, bear banger, bear spray, dry bags for canoeing, streamlined cookware, a good sleeping pad, decent sleeping bag, and the list goes on. Every year, for the last number of years, Kathy and I pick up a few more items. We are gradually building our gear manifest over time. More economical and we understand our needs more over time. We have some canoe trips coming up and I feel like we are prepared for the trips and have what we need to be safe & comfortable.

Here’s to gear! It has enabled me to get outdoors more and enjoy it when I do.

I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life; living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartanlike as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms, and, if it proved to be mean, why then to get the whole and genuine meanness out of it, and publish its meanness to the world; or if it were sublime, to know it by experience. ~ Henry David Thoreau

When you open your eyes to the possibilities around you, there is no shortage of variety. This certainly rings true with leisure activities. I tend to be a jack-of-all-fun, master of none. A couple of days ago, I was contemplating the different ways to enjoy the outdoors and the huge variety of activities. I was surprised by how many I have participated in and how many I would still like to try. Just a brief list off the top of my head yields a very large smattering of variety and activities.

Hiking, Backpacking, Cycling, Mountain Biking, Canoeing, Kayaking, Swimming,Tubing, Fishing, Skydiving, Geocaching, Spelunking, Target Shooting, Archery, Skeet Shooting, Paintball, Orienteering, Camping, Star Gazing, Hunting, Snorkeling, Downhill Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Skating, Snowshoeing, Tennis, Softball, Baseball, Basketball, Golf, Soccer, Road Hockey, Pond Hockey, Touch Football, Ultimate Frisbee, Disc Golf, Birdwatching, Waterfall Seeking, Wildlife Photography, Scenic Photography, Air Soft, Scuba Diving, Rock Climbing, Rappelling, Water Skiing, Bungee Jumping, and more.

That is a large list and that was thought of in a couple minutes. There are plenty of things I am missing. With the exception of the last six items, I have tried all of the items on the list. Some of them were a fleeting experience, whereas others have been enjoyed for years. It is the variety I truly appreciate. There are so many ways to enjoy the outdoors and spend quality time engaged in a fun / exciting activity. I often shake my head when I hear people say there is nothing to do. This place where I live, <insert name here>, is boring and nothing fun ever happens. Really? Open your eyes and see the world anew. There is no shortage of ways to explore the world around you. Enjoy the variety. Try something you have not tried before.

I am thankful for the rich tapestry of experience I have had thus far. I was backpacking trip in the mountains just a couple of weeks ago and I have two canoe trips later on this summer. I am very thankful indeed. The world is an amazing place, and worthy of exploring.

I take it to be a principle rule of life, not to be too much addicted to any one thing. ~ Terence (195/185 BC-159 BC) Playwright of the Roman Republic.

Bob & Jo; our neighbours for the last fifteen years in Regina. Wonderful people.

Robert & Josephine Williams have been our neighbours ever since we moved to Regina. They are an elderly couple who have strong values and beliefs of independence and taking pride and care in their property and home. They are both 88 years old and more active than I would have thought possible or practical. They are amazing.

Bob just passed away 2 weeks ago. He turned ill a few weeks back but never let the illness slow him down. His illness took a turn and he went into the Hospital by ambulance on the 21st of July. He passed away four days later with Josephine and Scott (son) by his side. I am glad his son made it home in time to spend some time with his dad and be there for Josephine. She must feel tremendously lost right now; she and Bob had been together for many years. My heart breaks when I think of how poignant her loss must be during these past few weeks. I am welling up right now just thinking about it. I am glad we could help and comfort Jo during a rough period when Bob went into the hospital. This was before Scott came home and she really just needed someone to help her contact the hospital and get some information on Bob. Make a few calls, get in touch with her son and spend a bit of time with her in a dark hour. It was so alarming for her.

I am writing about this today because I find that everyday I am thinking about the dear old couple next door. A couple who would not accept help as they felt a certain sense of independence in carrying out their tasks. Their lawn and yard was kept in immaculate condition, you could always see the bare cement of their driveway in winter, and never a peep or complaint about anything. They would not even accept help sawing down a large tree in their front yard. They had a two-person bucksaw and figured they would remove the tree on their terms. I have so much respect for their approach to life. I want this blog post to be a celebration of their life together, a remembrance of Bob, and a reminder to check in on Josephine to offer her comfort and support as she makes sense of a world without Bob.

The world is full of wonderful people when you take the time to notice them. Goodbye Bob, you will be missed and remembered.

Friends gathering in a backyard need a coagulating agent; fire. A backyard fire seems to instantly draw people in to the magic of sitting around a fire sharing stories and relaxing. We recently had another gathering and it was a very enjoyable evening. We played some darts, played a bit of washer toss, drank some beer, shared tales of past exploits and dreams of tomorrow.

We have spent some time cleaning up the backyard, the fence is almost done and we decided that the yard needs to have a simpler, cleaner look; gave us something to do on Saturday. We had a few people over of Sunday evening where it was a long weekend, and it was quite a relaxing time. I enjoy playing darts, but there is something really awesome about playing outside by the fire. Having the wireless speakers hung up and working makes getting tunes to the backyard much easier as well. I love it when a plan comes together.

Here’s to the evocative magical nature of a firepit and friends.

One can enjoy a wood fire worthily only when he warms his thoughts by it as well as his hands and feet. ~ Odell Shepherd