Sports - Part one: My interview with an indoor type

She told me that she is not an outdoors person and I thought it would be interesting to get her side of the story on some questions I came up with.

The first thing I did was to exchange some facts about the Pittman Robinson Act, the funds raised by this act and the use of those monies by the states.

Following that exchange, I was fortunate enough to get her to agree to meet with me for a one-on-one, up close and personal interview. She agreed to meet with me so long as I kept her identity anonymous. I always have that effect on people. They don’t want to be seen in public with me in fear of being run out of town or shunned by their neighbors.

However, I am pleased to report that she and I (and her adorable little boy) met at her husband’s place of business and had a delightful conversation. Unfortunately, and as usual, I did most of the talking.

But, I was able to get her to share with me her feelings and position on some issues of interest. I said to her that, particularly at this time of year, too much of the conversations and writing concerning the outdoors centered on hunting and that I was looking for some balance in what I wrote about each week. Having her non-outdoors person’s input would help me reach that objective.

So, I presented some questions to her and left out time together as unstructured as possible to open up the conversation. I asked her when I say the word “outdoors,” what, besides mowing the lawn, comes into your mind?

Much to my surprise she blurted out, “peace and quiet.” She then added, “My husband and I live in a very rural area and I love the peace and quiet when I walk out on our land.”

I knew right off from this reply, we were on the same page even if we where coming from totally different backgrounds.

I then asked her if she had ever read the information I had sent her concerning the Pittman Robinson Act.

Her response was, “Yes, I read it and I was discussing it before you arrived.” She was sitting around the conference room table with four or five of her husband’s employees when I arrived and no one knew anything about it and had no idea about the money or what it was used for.

That was not a surprise. Most people, including hunters, don’t know about this legislation. I went on to ask her if it had any any effect on her thinking about outdoorsmen and hunters in particular.

“Oh yes! I just wish other people would learn about it and understand how our public lands are acquired,” she said.

I couldn’t have asked for a better reply. I felt that I had succeeded in educating at least one person and fulfilled my duties for at least one day.

By this point in our discussions, the initial awkwardness of our meeting seemed to be fading rapidly and our conversation was more relaxed and open. Ms. K, as it seemed to me, was more of an outdoors person then even she thought she was - sort of a closet outdoors person. Her interests and the emotions she was showing to the questions I presented showed me that somewhere deep inside, she would love to experience “my world” and was open to exploration.

She just needed a guide and when I pointed out that her son was at an age where he should be exposed, she really got excited. Sometimes, I’m so good it scares me!

I then asked her if she had ever considered hunting with a camera.

“We have actually tried that, but both my husband and I are terrible photographers. I mean we are really bad,” she said.

I told her that the effort, not necessarily the results, were the real reward and that she should consider it again.

We talked for quite a while longer and I will report more of this conversation next week. I will assure you that by the end of the conversation, I had a convert on my hands. I just have to find a way of getting her to leave the comforts of home behind for just a little while.

See you outdoors!