Support Husband in his Hobbies

The project:
Support my husband in one of his hobbies by attending his soccer tournament.

Time:
One game = one hour

Why bother?
I think spouses should support each other in their hobbies, particularly those hobbies which are healthy and wholesome. Soccer is certainly one of those, sometimes even both.

Worth it?
Yes. Nice day out in the sun. Good game. Good sportsmanship. And fun to watch him enjoy himself.

Fire Assistance

The project:
Offer shelter to a friend, her family and pets as a wildfire approached her rural house.

Time:
Moments to offer, 20 minutes to hear the details about their fire preparations.

Why bother?
We have friends who live in a steep canyon east of Santa Maria. When a fire breaks out in the nearby forest or wilderness, their home (and those of some 150 other families) is always at risk. They have horses, dogs, cats, chickens, goats and ducks, not to mention the two children and three adults who would need housing should the area be evacuated or, even worse, actually burn. We don't have a lot of room, and horses and goats could be housed here, but we could make room for most everyone else if push came to shove.

Would we be comfortable? No. Would that matter? No.

Worth it?
Yes.

As of Tuesday, August 18, 2009, this fire has burned more than 88,000 acres.

Ask for an update

The project:
Ask for and listen to an update on someone else's news rather than share mine.

Time:
15 minutes

Why bother?
It's very easy to talk too much about ourselves and our families. Today while running errands on my own I ran into several friends, former swimmers and others I hadn't seen in months, some in years. With most, we shared a passing greeting, but in one case I asked for the family update and inquired about details I recalled from our past experiences.

Worth it?
Yes.

People, in general, do like to talk about their own issues and news. Don't believe me? Try it with just about anyone. Give them a chance, and don't interject your own stories. Just continue listening and asking the next logical question. And when you remember details, they know you're paying attention. With so much going on these days, too many of us don't take time to remember the details, so when we DO, folks are pleasantly surprised. Remembering their details helps them feel more valued.

Pick up Trash - again

The project:
Pick up trash on the school grounds where our kids play soccer.

Time:
Negligible.

Why bother?
See any of the previous notes about trash and recycling for more detail, but basically...because it looks terrible and it's easy to fix.

Worth it?
Yes.

Carry Out Backpackers' Trash

The project:
Carry out a rusty, worn out BBQ grill left behind in the wilderness.

Time:
2 hours, but we were going that way anyhow.

Why bother?
Trash sucks...no matter where folks leave it. Sometimes back country travelers will stash supplies like a grill or perhaps a fire sheltering tool, but this was trash left out in the elements, covered in pine needles and grown over with plants. It was rusty, and basically falling apart.

Worth it?
Yes - plus, we made use of it as a cooking tool for our last night in camp before folding, twisting and otherwise tweaking it small enough to fit a pack.

Set Aside My Personal Desire

The project:
Forgo my hope of climbing a peak in favor of sticking together as family.

Time:
Incalculable.

Why bother?
While I'd really wanted to hike to a certain peak significant to members of my extended family, my husband and children weren't game. Rather than make an issue of it, or urge them to suffer through it, or, let's just say it, whine, I opted to stick with family.

Worth it?
Absolutely. Perhaps there'll be another time to climb the peak. Perhaps the other family members will be interested then. Even if not, I can't replace the memories we made together.

From Backpackin

Practice Catch-And-Release Fishing

The project:
Release back into the wild any and all fish caught during family backpacking trip into the wilderness.

Time:
Hours to catch, moments to release.

From Backpackin

Why bother?
While I really love to eat fresh fish, super fresh fish, we'd packed plenty of food for us all. And the fish in this area are numbered. By leaving them behind, we hope they'll grow stronger, repopulate and make for more challenging fishing days in the future.

Worth it?
My mind says, "Yes."

My tastebuds say, "What, are you KIDDING me?!"