Family!

Burrapeg · Feb 27, 2018

I used to do a lot of climbing professionally, cranes, ships, drilling rigs, etc., stuff that was somewhat dangerous and with rather primitive kit in those days. Now, my adult daughter thinks I have lost my mind wanting to keep climbing for fun now that I am semi-retired! Can't quite get across to her that this is different. Trees are special to me, always have been; and also we have such user-friendly, nifty gear now. Any of you other rec guys have issues like that?, I mean your family thinking you are bat-shit crazy?

oldoakman · Feb 27, 2018

We are the same age and I still climb to make money. My immediate family thinks nothing of it and I am teaching my grandkids to climb. Although some of my further removed family members think I am bat shit crazy though.m

Tom Dunlap · Feb 27, 2018

Aren't we fortunate to have a profession that's so
Fun!

Sometimes I think that how we're perceived is filtered through people's self perceptions. Since they either don't have jobs that could be done outside the workplace or
They don't like their work like we do they're envious but make it seem like we're crazy. Should be the other way around!

RoyalTree · Feb 27, 2018

I have been called bat shit crazy many a times. Not sure it has anything to do with climbing....

Tuebor · Feb 27, 2018

Not family, but the neighbors think I'm crazy. And their teenage daughter thinks it's "so gay!" Lol

JD3000 · Feb 27, 2018

I've been called worse than bat shit crazy as well.

JeffGu · Feb 27, 2018

JD3000 said:
I've been called worse than bat shit crazy as well.

JD3000 · Feb 27, 2018

No it's true.

Can't say I agree as most folks are crayon eating Phiistines but who am I to say?

And talk about the pot and the kettle...

Benjo75 · Feb 27, 2018

I've been called crazy too. I climb here in Arkansas for work and for fun. My in laws live in an upper class neighborhood in Ft. Worth. When I go there I'm bored to death. They live on a golf course. There is one Maple in the back yard. It's only about 45 ft tall but it's actually a pretty good climbing tree. When I go I carry my gear and spend as much time as possible going up and down. Mainly to burn off energy and to get out of the house. They all act like I'm the craziest person in the world. If they only saw what really goes on at work.

Burrapeg · Feb 27, 2018

Awww, you guys have made me feel better already!

islandarb · Feb 27, 2018

Climbing is stress relief plain and simple...good for the soul...

colb · Feb 27, 2018

I interviewed for a municipal position recently. Asked them if they preferred to hire a climbing arb and they said no, they wanted a manager. Talk about a disconnect... I didn't even know how to answer, lol. After the interview, I realized that they wanted a secretary with an arb cert.

JD3000 · Feb 27, 2018

colb said:
I interviewed for a municipal position recently. Asked them if they preferred to hire a climbing arb and they said no, they wanted a manager. Talk about a disconnect... I didn't even know how to answer, lol. After the interview, I realized that they wanted a secretary with an arb cert.

I interviewed for that position last year. I felt they wanted a City Forester just to say that they had one. Have contractors do all the work.

No thanks.

islandarb · Feb 27, 2018

F**k that BS...

Tony · Feb 28, 2018

I grew up and still live in a family of arborists, climbers and tree folk. Tried to leave, tried real hard. Didn't work. Guess I been crazy for so long it's the norm.

Tony

Treezybreez · Feb 28, 2018

I took climbing gear when I went to visit family in CA, OR and WA. My extended family thought it was a little strange that I would enjoy pruning their trees on my vacation. I was excited to climb different tree species.

oldoakman · Feb 28, 2018

I have actually stocked a full set of gear at my daughter's so I don't have to pack my gear from home when we go on vacation.

Tom Dunlap · Feb 28, 2018

Why is it odd for us to climb but not weird for others to golf? Or whateever..fill in the blank.

Treezybreez · Feb 28, 2018

oldoakman said:
I have actually stocked a full set of gear at my daughter's so I don't have to pack my gear from home when we go on vacation.

My uncle bought a 200T just so I would enjoy pruning his tree. He said that it was cheaper than hiring someone else to do the work and he has a pretty sweet saw for doing yard work now.

Treezybreez · Feb 28, 2018

Tom Dunlap said:
Why is it odd for us to climb but not weird for others to golf? Or whateever..fill in the blank.

Tom I don't like to compare smacking a dimpled plastic ball to changing the entire future of a living organism, that has the potential to outlive us, with every prune cut made.