Watch the Huskies lose every Apple cup........

Mf

"You have not lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you." -unknown

Saw this quote on a sign this week at our local hardware store.

It stung when I read it.

I have a few things that you can do for me so you can start feeling better about yourself.

My life goals are pretty simple. In regards to the outdoors, I really don't have any big aspirations. I just want to take it as it comes, and would really like it if at least one of my 3 girls enjoys doing that stuff with me.

Other than that I want them to be successful in their lives, and get along with each other after they move out.

For me, my blood runs with muddy, weedy, cow-sh!t laden Chehalis river water. I hope that in my time I can make a positive difference on the watershed in some way, because most of my greatest outdoor memories have happened somewhere in that valley between the beach break at north jetty and Rainbow Falls campground.

Go to Nevada and pick the one out.

Yeah or do business with FASTFISH from that "other" board.

"What were some of the things that you have done that have helped you to discover who you really are inside?"

As a teen graduating from high school I had no plans, no ambition, and almost as little direction in my life. I attended a community college for a year because I didn't know what else to do before joining the Navy to see the world. That spring I attended a campaign speech by Bobby Kennedy at UW and decided to attend the U, scrap joining the Navy, become part of the anti-war movement, and major in archetecture or engineering. When the purple haze of the 60s and early 70s lifted, I had a degree in Fisheries, a wife, and had discovered fly fishing.

Life soon revolved around raising two daughters, working, remodeling and renovating an old house, and being a weekend angler on the Skagit. I moved and changed jobs, put both kids through private universities, in part by driving a beater soccer mom van well beyond its useful life, etc. I turned 50 and reflected that for a guy who had no plans or ambitions, life was pretty good in that I had a rewarding career, raised outstanding kids, had a great wife, and a nice home. Of course my marriage was over, but I wouldn't know that for several more months.

I learned that making it from 40 to 50 without having a mid-life crisis doesn't mean you won't have a mid-life crisis. If your spouse has a mid-life crisis, you automatically have it too. I learned more about surprise, shock, disappointment, and betrayal than I ever wanted to know as I became separated and divorced. In the process I learned more about myself, and some others, than I ever thought I could know. Then I set about rebuilding the part of me that was broken.

I lived on my own for the first time in my life. I highly recommend it, and should have done it myself 30-some years sooner. I was almost paranoid about spending any money because I thought I was always broke. (My ex did our household bookkeeping.) I learned I wasn't broke and had money to spare now that my kids graduated from college. So I made my bucket list:

1. I went fishing in Kamchatka, one of the last best unspoiled places.
2. I went fishing in Alaska, for similar reasons & 1/3 the cost.
3. I went on a cycling tour in Italy because Italy is a cornerstone of western civilization and because the Italian Leonardo da Vinci invented the bicycle, and Italy is one of the best places in the world to ride.
4. I went bonefishing in Mexico. I liked it and intend to try it again there or in Belize or the Bahamas.
5. I want to travel to Greece because it's another part of the foundation of western civilization. Iraq and Iran would have been on this travel list for being the roots of human civilization, but world events caused me to change my mind. I might go fishing in Chile instead since fishing is at the root of my civilization.

I've wanted to build a house from scratch since I was 12. I've remodeled and renovated, but never built up from the bare ground. I'll soon turn 60 and am doing that now, but given my age, job, and the bank's financing schedule, I'm hiring contractors to do most of the work. But I'm going to do enough to satisfy my need to have an active hand in its completion. Along the way I met a wonderful woman who makes me feel more appreciated than I've ever felt in my life. So I intend to live out my days with her in the new house. This is a thumbnail sketch of who I am and how I got here, inside and out.

Sg

Mine are pretty much all fishing related except for one.
1. Catch a tarpon on a fly.
2. Spend a week or two on the east coast chasing stripers, blues and albies.
3. Catch a grande Roosterfish on a fly. I've only caught small ones so far.
4. Catch a 20 lb coho and winterrun steelie.
5. Flyfish in New Zealand
6. Never get married again.

Jesus Salmo--- what a life.

I think that I am discovering what the reality of a mid life crisis is. My wife being ten years older, actually 9 1/2 yrs., is going through one right now as I speak. Some days are the best we have ever had and the rest, well, they suck. Hopefully she doesn't go down the same way as yours Salmo. One can hope. But I have a lot in common thus far with your story. Except I satyed in the service, did not get my BA (yet, in progress) and my kids are too young to put through College yet. We'll see what happens.

NICE. I'll see if I can squeeze you onto my short list.

I'll send you a few ideas.

I've had a pretty interesting life, some tell me I should write a book, but with four ex-wives, they would probably want all the royalties.

I'd like to climb Mt. Rainier.
Have waterfront property again on Lake Chelan.(3rd divorce took that).
Coach varsity highschool basketball, currently coaching both select and freshman teams.
Have vacation property "off the grid", real Dick Proenekke stuff.
Own a small vineyard.
Be a good grandfather someday.
Never get married again.
Continue to break my personal record for Xmas lights up, this year probably 22,000. Hey, my community expects them!
Do things for people they never expect. The other day I noticed that an elderly widow down the street from me had a huge overgrown ditch full of weeds in front of her house. I stopped by, knocked on her door and asked her if I could use my weedeater and remove the weeds for her just because I wanted to. No $, no cookies in return, just because I could. She had tears in her eyes when I left.

Or maybe, I might be selfish and try this.........go to 1:48 of the clip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vj1SyWntdo4

Snake

Dick is the MAN! I watch that every time it somes on KCTS, and I own the video. I tell my wife that if I ever win the lottery, she is free to come and visit me any time she wants at my own Twin Lakes. I'd also buy a backhoe and 40 acres somewhere warm. Always something to do, and the tool to do it with.

Hey Dogfish, I own the video and the book, too. I think in the heart of most men is the thirst to be a "pioneer", a man on his own. I spent 23 nights one summer (most of the time alone) on Lake Chelan seven miles by boat to the nearest road or cabin eating packed in foods, trout, etc. Did all of my cooking on a wood-burning antique stove, read books by candle light at night, awesome memories. I slept many nights outside and the stars were absolutely amazing, northern lights, too. Hope to do it again someday.