This past weekend I was supposed to go snowboarding, but plans fell through and the people I was going to go with weren’t going any more. I was faced with the decision of bailing myself, or to go alone and to try and salvage something. I was weak and decided to check the snow forecast the morning of and make the decision then. Anything over 10 cms was a go, but I wasn’t looking forward to it.
When it comes to mountain biking, I have noticed the same thing. I no longer take the chances that I used to, and no longer ride the big lines I used to. If it is raining, I am reluctant to head out, and I rarely ride alone any more.
Honestly I don’t feel like I am getting old, but some days I sure act like it. I am definitely more responsible than I used to be, and I think that affects me more than I think. I now have a lot more in my life that I care about than I did 8 years ago at the height of my sporting fun. Back then I could (and quite often did) drop everything on Friday and head out for a weekend of riding or boarding. Now everything I want to do takes more planning, and effort. Much of the time I would rather spend the weekend with my family.
So what do I do? I know I am a fairweather mountain biker. I know I won’t snowboard alone anymore. I still want to ride, but I can never seem to make it out of the house. Right now I am trying to accept that this is life for the next few years more.
This post sounds a lot more depressing than I meant it to. I love my life with Sox, Sprout, and Yoshi. I wouldn’t change it for anything, but I can’t help but remember how I used to live. Fun and enjoyment have a new meaning now, and it doesn’t involve an adrenaline rush. I now have a lot more to life, and that is the best feeling in the world.