You Just Might Be A "Weekender!"
by Tim McCrerey
I suppose there is a certain smugness about those of us who spend a large part of our lives in the desert. We share a treasure that very few can appreciate and understand. Just as the burro prospector held the "Model-T prospector" in disdain, latter-day Desert Rats hold a similar low opinion of what I call "Weekenders."
Whether one is a Desert Rat or a Weekender has less to do with how much time is spent in the desert than how it is spent. Here then is a Desert Self-Examination. If you are guilty of 3 or more of the following please read the "Help Tips" at the end of the article.
You Just Might Be A Weekender If:
1. You ask "what is there to do around here?"
2. You use your lantern on a full moon night.
3. You know what time it is.
4. Your tent and sleeping bag are packed in the boxes they came in.
5. You can't sit still longer than an hour at a time.
6. Your watch beeps on the hour.
7. Your can opener is rust free.
8. You buy one of those bundles of firewood for the trip.
9. Your car alarm goes off.
10. Your music can be heard in the next camp.
11. Getting lost ruins your trip.
12 You bought water.
13. You let your dog run loose, then are surprised when it runs off.
14. You ask, "are there snakes out here?"
15. You walk through other people's camps.
16. Your Coleman equipment is still bright green.
17. You have chairs that have to be assembled.
18. Your campfire flames are higher than 2 feet.
19. You packed headphones.
20. You don't wear a pair of easy shoes most of the time.
21. Your hat is on backwards.
22. You don't feel crowded when there are more than 3 people around.
23. You carry your wallet on you.
24. You use a cool cup.
25. You wonder what the temperature is.
26. You know what the temperature is.
27. You have to have a loud machine to ride.
28. You worry about getting tan.
29. You run out of water on the first day, but you and your dishes sure are clean!
30. You throw a chair away because some of the webbing is broken.
*Help Tips
If you are guilty of 3 or more of the above you are probably a weekender. I recommend the following treatment:
1. Continue to enjoy the desert; It is there for all of us.
2. Ignore cynical, self-proclaimed Desert Rats who think they understand the desert just because they go there often.
3. Read DesertUSA!
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