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Posted by Bill S on April 18, 2008 at 12:37:26 pm EDT
In reply to Into the Wild posted by Trailspace on April 7, 2008 at 12:48:00 pm EDT

Ron B said

Quote:

I feel sorry for all you monday morning quarterbacks who still have no idea why he wanted and did what he did. Not one of you has the guts to do what he did. Of course none of you would want to because you're all so happy with the perfect life and have to many commitments,...

I don't see much Monday Morning Quarterbacking here on Trailspace. Pretty much everyone has said that he chose what he did for his own reasons, and that was his right to do so. Some comments were to the effect that he made mistakes (we all do, all the time), some quite avoidable, and one with the ultimate price.

When you say "not one ... has the guts", I'm not sure that's quite the right term. Some of us have done things during our lives that were quite similar, had our share of "learning experiences", and survived, though in some cases paying a price (thankfully less than McCandless did - according to some counts, I have used up 6 of my 9 lives at this point).

"perfect lives" - hunnh?? I do not know anyone who has a perfect life, in the stereotype, traditional sense of a "perfect life". On the other hand, a large majority of the people I know and spend time in the woods and hills with would not have their lives any other way, with all the problems, troubles, and imperfections. Having those tales to tell around the campfire or sitting in a tent for a week waiting out a blizzard adds to the spice of life.

Commitments? Those are what you make them. Some people (perhaps you, from your comments) believe that when you have a spouse and kids, you give up all adventure and excitement with your "responsibilities" to your family. But if you read the many posts here on Trailspace, you will encounter a group with very different viewpoints. I was brought up in the middle of the Sonora Desert in a family that spent lots of time in the outdoors, and Barb's and my son was being taken into the woods and hills from virtually the day he was born (his first snow camping and backpacking was when he was about 3). Dave and Alicia, owners of Trailspace, are getting their offspring into the woods and hills, as well. A couple of other regular contributors are taking care of spouses or parents who need fairly constant care, including getting them out and not just sitting or lying around in a darkened room waiting to die. Is "responsibility" sitting around passively, protecting children from all possible harm (an impossibility), or sitting around passively waiting for an infirm spouse or parent to die? Or is it involving them in the enjoyment of this universe?

LIfe without risk is pretty boring (and besides which, there is risk in everything - as Indianans found out this morning, it isn't just California that has earthquakes). You can't avoid all risks, but you can choose them to keep life interesting and fun.

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