Re: [Paddlewise] Spousal Compatibility

"Shawn W. Baker" wrote:
> 
> Sandykayak_at_aol.com wrote:
> > Hi, Shawn, this reminds me of something else.  Our camping trips seem to be
> > filled with men who are married to non-campers!
> 
> This just begs the question:  why doesn't one see as many women
> campers/paddlers/skiers/climbers/etc. who are married to non-<insert
> sport here> participants?
> 
> Are we men really that naturally compulsive about our sports that we
> exclude  our SO's and women aren't so compulsive?  I'm not saying
> intentional exclusion, but we go do outdoor stuff whether they want to
> join us or not.
> 
> Or are there more "outdoorsy" men than women?  I would think this is
> just a blatant stereotype and I personally don't want to believe it is
> true.

I haven't figured this out completely, but I have a hypothesis.  Comment first...

I've seen several friends have their marriages or long term relationships
come to an end as a result, in no small part, of the growing incompatibility
due to the outdoorsy nature of him and the non-outdoorsy nature of her.  What
is interesting (personal experience here too) is that the women initially 
are interested in (or express strong interest in) the outdoors.  This interest
wanes, sometimes quickly.  Strange.

My hypothesis (slightly tongue in cheek) is that the ultimate dividing line
between those who like the outdoors and those that don't is... whether
they can go to the bathroom comfortably in the wilderness!  This applies
to both men and women, but seems to affect women more readily.

Some women tend to have funny attitudes about hygiene and don't like not 
having a real bathroom.  Some won't use a boom-box and abhor catholes.  
Hence, they won't go out.  They are quick to point out the "advantage" 
men have when peeing in the wilderness - men only have to unzip (not 
totally true, women can pee standing up).

Amie and I organized a wilderness camping trip last winter to train some
xc ski trail guides.  There were more women than men, but these women,
who I've known a long time, are far from typical.  Two other women wanted
to join us, but only if they could stay outside the park (Algonquin) in 
a motel.  I said "No - the yurt, quinzhee, tent, but no motel - either 
you're with us or you're not".  After all the discussion with these 
two, I realized the real problem was - they wanted to shower at the 
end of the day and they didn't want to use the outdoor toilets in 
mid January.  

Lots of little bits of info gathered unintentially over the years has
lead me, this past summer, into piecing together this hypothesis.

> 
> A little good news at the Baker home-front: my wife just bought
> cross-country ski gear, and gave me the go-ahead to build a double!
> (not that I relish paddling a double, but it's better than feeling
> guilty for leaving my dear wife at home!)

That's good news!

Mike

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