Something I’ve given a lot of thought to in recent years is whether working an outdoors job enhances your personal outdoor recreation or depletes it. I don’t think there’s a right answer. But, I do think there are some things to note.
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It’s always difficult to have your hobby also be your work and I really felt that both as a music teacher and park ranger. A lot of times, outdoor industry jobs are seasonal and relatively unstable. They may also require you to live at work and then make you move when the season is over. Sometimes, there are no benefits or overtime pay. Maybe it all seems like a good trade off if it means you get to be outside every day? As a ranger, I loved the time I got to spend outside exploring and interacting with the land. I didn’t love catering to tourists as much. It felt like my work was meaningful when I was able to make an impact on somebody’s visit, but I also felt rejected when nobody attended my programs.
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I did find myself doing less outdoor recreation on my own time or of my own accord simply because I was outside so much for work. Now that I’ve left the outdoors industry, I feel like my relationship with outdoor recreation is more personal again, and like I am truly recreating when outside. I’m still wrestling with whether I preferred my outdoor industry job over my more “normal” ones. I’ve struck a pretty good balance currently working for Girl Scouts. I don’t think I could ever work just a desk job. Have you ever held an outdoor industry job? How did it impact your relationship to outdoor recreation?
Have you ever held an outdoor industry job? How did it impact your relationship to outdoor recreation?
Oh yeah. This is like bike mechanics that stop riding their bikes. And in my case, climbing guides that stop climbing.
I haven't actually stopped climbing but sometimes it's hard to find free time/motivation to climb "for fun" after climbing all day/week for work. I've learned that I have to plan ahead, and bring yummy snacks to get me back to the cliff after work. The biggest impact is that it feels like I climb less with my wife during the season, which is strange. We make up for it with pre-scheduled trips where the only focus is recreational climbing. And a lot of winter indoor climbing.