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Okay, I'll state it up front---I'm not a hair boater and I never will be or aspire to be one. I've been married 25 years to a wonderful woman---who isn't a whitewater paddler. I have 2 boys (ages 10 and 14 who only have shown modest interest in ww paddling so far, although I've taken my eldest son on one good trip each summer). I have a busy, rewarding career working for a national think tank that conducts research and analysis of policies and programs to make our economy more energy-efficient. I have a lot of other interests--we do lots of things as a family---car camping, flatwater canoeing, bicycling, and travel.
For me it's all about balance and finding contentment if the amount of boating I'm able to fit into my life---which has evolved into mostly a few weekend trips more locally and one big trip each year (a week's worth of paddling somewhere spectactular---like the West).
I've been paddling about 30 years---and am comfortable running class IV, but truth be told, probably have the most fun just paddling some fun class III. The kinds of trips I've been able to take over the past few years out west (multiple day runs on the Selway, Middle Fork of the Salmon, Middle Fork of the Flathead----and weeks of day trips on things like the Arkansas or Ottawa---have really been amazing in all respects.
Sure, I don't get out as much paddling as I'd like to --- I generally can't just drop what I'm doing and head out to paddle something that is going off. I have to plan things well in advance and hope for good water, but accept some less than ideal conditions sometimes.
So I guess you could say what I enjoy is getting some quality time doing rivers I'm comfortable doing---with good friends I've made over the years. I enjoy the physical experience of just being out in some of the world's most specactular wilderness settings---making my way through them on my own power in a little boat.
I try to encourage my wife to take some trips that fill her soul with joy as well---a few years ago she trekked to Machu Pichu, for example with some friends.
And this summer I'm exposing my whole family to the wonderful world of whitewater---we're going with an outfitter on the Main Salmon River in Idaho. So my wife and boys will get to experience why I'm so passionate about this crazy sport---and I'll get a good trip in myself paddling my own kayak.
Happy water trails---ours is NOT a one-dimensional sport that requires one to be self-centered. There are other models out there.
Dan |
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Not necessarily -- depends on how you balance other life demands New 
BoaterTalk 
