New Year Wishes for 2012

2011 is drawing close to the end. Old and new dreams swirl around in the air. Next year we will try to reach out after some of them:

• Dating a tree. In 2012, we want to be intimate with a tree. Preferably a tall beech with a smooth trunk. An oak might also do. The hunt for our upcoming flirt will soon begin.

• More mini-expeditions. We are nursing some ideas for small expeditions with the kids close to hour home. Actually, the best idea came from the girls.

• Packrafting in the mountains. Mountains + water = true. This year we will honour that relationship with our packrafts.

• More overnight trips. While we constantly surprise ourselves with mediocre planning, we are getting more experienced with respect to small adventures with children. Planning and packing before trips and unpacking afterwards is noticeably faster and makes it easier to overcome the threshold to go on trips. And with kids enjoying hiking in the surrounding areas, there’s no reason to sit home.

• Bring out the fishing rod more. 2011 was rock bottom with respect to fishing. Though we did catch fish on a couple of occasions, the number of times the fishing rod was taken for a spin could be counted on one hand. There is always room for ultralight Tenkara equipment, even on a run. All trout in the nearby area are hereby warned.

• More theme trips. Zoological, botanical or cultural. Day trips and overnight trips. High and low.

• Dive into hot spots. The landscape is fragmented and biologically impoverished every year. Still, small remnants of biological key areas are scattered around. Here, big and small can explore and experience a glimpse of what was once more the rule than the exception.

• Increase the day to 30 hours. Thus we get more time for everything we want to do.