The Geography of Contentment

I was balanced on a rock in the Payette River, capturing this image, when I thought of my mother. She’d have never done anything like this. She preferred reading and writing books from the security of her little office to my kind of outdoor “adventure.”

The options for outdoor adventure around Boise, Idaho, are limitless for those who are interested. I have friends who hunt, ski, mountain bike, backpack, camp, ride dirt bikes, skateboard, fish, swim, dig for gold, rock climb, run white water in rafts, and golf. I’ve observed, however, a difficult aspect to my outdoorsy friends: many of them feel that their outdoor activities are noble, even sacred. There’s a certain air of superiority in their pursuits, an implication that those who don’t maximize the outdoor opportunities around here are foolishly wasting their time—missing out on the good times.

So, what about those who prefer the controlled serenity of four walls, like my mother? The explorers of the interior world. Those who prefer to watch movies, eat fine foods, find rhythm in the click of knitting needles, or the steady hum of a sewing machine? There are woodworkers shaping timber in the garage and readers lost in the labyrinth of paper worlds. Some prefer to scroll on their phones, watch TV, or comment on Facebook. Others spend hours talking to friends or mastering the culinary arts over a hot stove. But the list doesn’t end there.

There are puzzlers conquering a jigsaw on the dining table and family historians digging through genealogy records to find their roots. And let’s not forget the “indoor athletes” practicing yoga on a mat or the gardeners fussing over finicky plants. Some thrill over the high-stakes strategy of a board game or the simple, meditative joy of an afternoon nap under the perfect blanket.

I appreciate the “softer” pursuits. My mother taught me a long time ago that you don’t need to scale a mountain or stand in a river with a heavy camera to find adventure. She spent many happy years enjoying herself in her office.

Whatever you do, I support your quest for a happy, fulfilling life. Outdoors or not.