[at-l] Hiking and Divorce

[Doug Mathews]

Yall will just have to pardon me if I repeat some of  what's already 
been said, but since I've been away for a week or so, there were just 
too many  post after a while to read regarding hiking and divorce.

When I left for my first "away from the spouse" adventure, my through 
hike on 2002, it was with one regret---I was not going to be with my 
wife for a long time, even though we'd see each other at least twice 
(it turned out to be 3 times) before I finished. I knew it would be 
hard on her, but this was one of the things I had on my list to do 
before I left this planet one way or another.  I met lots of nice and 
not so nice people on the trail and in towns, not unlike those I meet 
when I stay local. Granted, while I was away I was not afforded all 
the benefits of having a sweet and lovely wife to be with everyday, 
but that did not turn me into a primal animal looking to procreate 
the species. Life is full of temptations no matter where you are and 
that is one of the things that I think differentiates us from some of 
the other forms of life...we have free will and free choices. To use 
the excuse my spouse is not here and I have an urge, well it speaks 
more to the level of commitment to the relationship than anything 
else. My bet is for those that use the excuse that the spouse is not 
there so its not might fault, would find that excuse when at home if 
the spouse was away for a few days.  I've done other reasonably long 
adventures away from home and I thank the stars above (and those that 
put them there) that I have a wife that understands my need for 
adventures and is supportive of this in me.Do I wish she shared some 
of this adventurous spirit? You bet I do, but since she requires a 
porcelain toilet and hot/cold water shower every day, its not gonna 
happen!  If you make the case that since your spouse is not with you 
then you have to take care of your "urges" no matter, does it not 
also stand to reason that the spouse at home has to take care of 
there urges also?  I'd hate to think that I'd be worried about my 
spouse at home taking care of their urges while I was out taking care 
of mine.  That is one sorry relationship in my book and one that 
needs work regardless of the proximity of each other.
I guess I've rambled on enough and I'm sure some of this makes no 
sense (even to me!)  but its my 2 dollars worth this time!

Mainframe GA-->ME 2002