Years ago I started my own business and was working six and a half days a week all while getting used to being a single father of three kids. I would sit and worry if work slowed down and complain if I had too much. I've always hunted and fished as well as camped. I noticed that I wasn't doing as much of it as I had been. Then I started going fishing if I didn't have work on a given day. Before I knew it I was taking hikes and camping more. The more I did the less stress in my life and the happier I was. I met my wife and on our first date I took her for a picnic along a little creek. We have been hiking ever since. We took our horses and camped on our honeymoon in the Sierra. At the young age of 42, I decided that since my children were grown, I would do what I wanted. I joined the Sheriff's Department and went to the academy with a bunch of 20 something kids. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> Well the job does have a four day work week and five and a half weeks of vacation a year. I had backpacked in my youth but mostly car camped untill my wife had heart surgery 11 years ago. After the surgery we took the camper up to the Sierra and took a day hike. After years of smoking (we had both quit by now) we were surprised that we could do as well as we did. We decided to try backpacking. Now it's a big part of our outdoor experience. By lightening the load and adjusting our goals we have been able to continue. Bottom line, don't put it off or you'll regret it.