<<If an expert doesn't want to wear a PFD, that is their right. As for us mere mortals, we will be best served by following the conventional wisdom on this issue.>> So I'm foolish and I'm commenting here. I agree with Rick. What we learn at the beginning is that we do. We use seat belts because we did it for our drivers ed or parents bizillion years ago. I even learned not to drive barefooted then. Paddling with x, y, z gear is HOW I PADDLE. I learned this way and I'm comfortable this way. I have food, water, clothes, light, rope, excedrine, band-aids, even stuff we don't talk about BECAUSE I was told it was a good idea and I have it packed in my "other" bag. My First Aid Bag has some things I have in the other bag but critical things are always there. I forgot my pfd one day. I couldn't believe I didn't have it. I finally found someone with an extra, though it didn't fit me. I stuck it in the boat with me and paddled out. I felt so weird. I was not comfortable at all on that short trip. I knew I had many paddlers who were expert at getting falling paddlers but I was still VERY uncomfortable. It is all in what I'm used to. I expect we really all feel that way. There is a reason that we say, "do as I say, not as I do." and that is because we can't make others understand the variations of conditions we have to make decisions about. Start with the thing THEN decide you don't need it. You DO NEED IT TO START. When in doubt wear it. Not that hard to decide. Joan Spinner *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Aug 22 2000 - 17:14:54 PDT
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