Who you calling CRAZY??

[rjcress]

Wife already knows I am nuts so weather makes no difference lol

Yep. That is my situation also.
i might add that my recent hammock and gear making addiction have only reinforced her belief.

[rjcress]

on topic...
My wife used to get worried sick when I went camping... and we were only dating then.
She learned to not stress too much when I was in the Air Force and flying all over the world. I would often leave on short notice for an undetermined period of time to an undisclosed location, with no expectation of being able to call and check in. Might be gone for a day, or a month.
After learning to deal with that, she pushed back a lot less when I got into civilian aviation and would take off every weekend on "$100 hamburger" trips all around the SouthEast US.

Keys to helping her relax were:
- knowing that I was well trained, well practiced, and reasonably skilled
- seeing the hours and hours of preparation that I put into each outing to be sure that I was appropriately managing the risks I was taking
- understanding that I was passionate about what I was doing and that it was meaningful to me to be able to do my thing without the burden of extreme guilt being piled on me.
- knowing that I had the sense to stop taking the risks if I were ever unable to appropriately manage them. Sadly, this happened when we started having kids. The time to prepare and the $ to fund frequent practice both dried up and I gave up flying, cold turkey. I'll get back into it some time, but not until I can do it right. too easy to die otherwise.

Hammock camping isn't generally as unforgiving as aviation, unless extreme conditions are present. Sounds like you are comfortable that the conditions are within your personal and gear capabilities, and that you have layers of contingency plans.

[Jsaults]

females (preferably younger than I) express concern over my hammocking.

"Are you going to be comfortable?"

(Insert assurance here)

"Are you SURE you're going to be comfortable?"

(Insert ANOTHER assurance here)

"But what if (insert vague, female-type concern here)."

To which I reply, "Awww, don't worry yer pretty little head Darlin'! Just give me one last hug......in case SOMETHING DOES happen."

Jim
(as an over 60 male I am now allowed to call all younger females "Darlin'")

[babelfish5]

I show them Shug's Video's and say he's my mentor. That usually puts them, at ease.... sorta.

[oldgringo]

Jim
(as an over 60 male I am now allowed to call all younger females "Darlin'")

And they can call you, "Hun."

[gunner76]

My wife doesn't worry, she just thinks I'm nuts

My wife does not think I am nuts, she knows I am. But then she has camped out with me in a blizzard on top of Roan Mt and another time we shared one sleeping bag in a snow storm at Elk Park Falls TN. She knows if I camp out in the cold I will be OK (or she will be a rich widow) I told here I have enough life insurance to take care of her but not enough to make it worth her while to .....

[Shug]

Do what I do ..... fake confidence. Look them in the eyes without looking away to the left. Hum a lot.
Shu

[Roadrunnr72]

My wife has never really said anything..hmmmmm....... makes me think...... Went camping with the Scouts a 2 years ago. Yes we were T**T camping, but we used the old school canvas (just think military type) t**ts with cots. Went to bed on Fri night, expecting high teens. Woke up to -2 deg. I had a 0 deg mummy bag a fleece liner bad and thermals on. Was just a little chilled on my lower back. That morning, I took hot water off the stove and tossed into the air----- IT FROZE BEFORE HITTING THE GROUND.

[Bradley]

Dear Fellow-Forum Members,
, how do you all cope with putting your loved ones mind's at ease?
Appreciate your thoughts!

-Bandit

Hey Bandit
Tell her you know someone from the forum that spent two years in a tent . . .
even in -40 . . .

. . . and is still alive to type about it . . .

Back yard testing till she goes from worried . . . to . . . "Mr. You're just plain Loco"

[questtrek]

Can't wait to hear how it went .. love it up there! .. Great place to be!