So Begins Another Year ( or decade as it be.)

January is already gone and we are a week into February. Is it just me or is time actually going faster?

You'll find out when you get old the only thing that really happens fast is getting older. If you keep your health though, you can still do all those things you love but just not as fast. This ranges from everything from sporting ventures to mind activities to bodily functions. You can still do them although not as fast and don't expect to command the same skill level. Also, be prepared for the back, neck, shoulders etc. to voice their dismay a day or so later. 

The other thing about getting old is you spend a lot of time pondering your time wasting youth. In my case my mind wonders back to the very earliest of memories.  It's very odd how you can recall those rather  clearly but can't remember the time in the middle like anything about the fifth grade, even who your teacher was. Worse yet, where did I put the tape measure down five minutes ago?

This can be somewhat mitigated by forcing yourself to develop mindful habits. Years ago I use to lose my keys with great regularity. That never happens now because I have trained myself to put them in only one of three places.

1. on the dresser.
2. in my pocket.
3. in the vehicle.

Truth be known I shouldn't say 'never', there is one exception to my lose the keys problem. I have a small Leatherman tool on my key chain. Occasionally, I'll use the screwdriver, knife or pliers of the tool then set them down where ever I am. ( I guess my mind thinks it's okay to deviate from my routine because it's thinking of the tool not the keys.) Fortunately, I can usually 'back track' to where they are.

When I fixed electronics stuff for a living, I would, with some regularity, set my screw drive down on a shelf or appliance but not on my work bench or in the toolbox where it should be. Then, of course, I would promptly forget where.  The only thing that ever worked for finding it was to accuse my fellow workers of stealing it. I would proclaim with great absolution, "I WHAT THAT SCREWDRIVER YOU STOLE!" Amazingly, after so making a complete fool of myself, I would often look right at it.

Thus, if you can't find something all you have to do is resolutely accuse someone of stealing it.

My theory for why this works deals with that inner child we have in our minds.  That child has the ability to block the flow of information to the conscious part of the mind. Furthermore, my inner child is a total brat and just loves to see me make a complete fool of myself. 

Your big question is what does this all have to do with camping! Ha! Everything. Getting it right is all about good habits in life and especially when camping. Here is my playlist of One Minute Camping-tips.com videos to help you develop your camping routines: 

The only way I have found to make both my 'Inner Child' and 'Outer Old Dude' happy at the same time is to do something they both like.

Go Camping! - Ken