I need some access to the things civilization offers, like good libraries, good coffee, and good medical care. I also need to be out of civilization, preferably out in the boonies. Without time in nature, I am lost.
I reflect on other souls who felt the dual pull of the wilderness and the perks of civilization. John Muir wandered relentlessly in CA, AK, and even on foot from the Midwest to Florida. He sought time out in San Francisco. Mid-life, he managed a family farm for a time. John Steinbeck alternated between city and country isolation. Ditto Jack London. Contemporary writers include Rick Bass, Jim Harrison, Doug Peacock, and Anna Marie Spagna. Anna Marie travels between a home on an island in the Northwest and LA, where she teaches. The great outdoors is where their muse hangs out. They cannot leave it for long.
Oddly, this is a white person’s thing (for the most part). I do not see people of color in the campgrounds, living in RVs or on the trail. In “Why are our Parks so White” the New York Times looks into this phenomenon. They interview minorities who live in the shadow of Mt. Ranier yet have never gone to the National Forest that surrounds it. A typical response is that in those areas, there are bears, cougars, mosquitos, all the scary stuff. Non-whites are also likely to think that the system provides poor service and the places are not safe, according to the NYT.
The problem is this: the US will have a non-white majority by 2044. Without an appreciation of wild lands, future generations may not value it enough to be good stewards or be willing to fight off the private land grabbers who are knocking loudly on the door. Goodbye to the rest of our wild lands.
Ways to make our parks and lands less “white”? The NYT suggests it starts with the National Park Service, whose employees are 80% white. Also helpful: increased education and marketing about public lands. Right now, families with a 4th grader can visit National Parks for free all year, thanks to the “Every kid in a Park” program. It is a small start to attract minority families. What about making the great outdoors appeal as much as Disneyland, without that kind of development? What about minority spokespeople? This year, in honor of the Park’s centennial celebration, the Obama family visited parks during their vacation. Great start! Woo hoo!
By the way, children of all colors are less likely to visit public lands than ever before and the 4th grader program helps there as well. So would limiting screen time and kicking kids outdoors. Of course, teaching by example is the best solution.
Can you live without nature? Really live? Be content? You may suffer from Nature Deficit Disorder, which is easy to cure! Go outdoors! Perhaps it will help us also overcome the idea that nature is ours to use and abuse without any concern for the future.
