We gave up on being Normal 'Mericans in the early 70's

        We are a happy and successful family and here comes 2020. I'm making a list of what makes us unique and why we are not considered normal:
We never watch situation comedies on the TV...never have.
We don't play video games, paintball or pinball.
We don't eat out or take-out from restaurants.
We believe that our dog and our bodies need exercise every day.
We are not so much into clothes, we are minimalists and we don't shop for new clothes...in fact, if it's warm enough we forego the use of clothes altogether.
Our house is like a Spa...we have a hot tub, a sauna and exercise machines...and there is always Yoga.   We are always striving for more vitamin D and we religiously take Glucosamine.
We always tell each other the truth (no secrets).
We always stop at two drinks (alcohol).
We believe there is such a thing as enough income...keep your "needs" moderate.
We can go for days without driving our car...when we do drive we begin by clasping our hands while saying, "safe drive".
We don't eat red meat, we seldom eat any meat at all and we prefer rennet-less cheese.
        So, how strange are we? We've founded and practiced these behaviors as we have grown together and traveled to far corners of the world over the last 44 years.
We are a little different but, we are harmless and we do what we can to help others negotiate their way through a life filled with obstacles. Counseling, sympathizing and understanding those we consider friends and family. Criticizing is not our habit...as they say, different strokes for different folks.

Bodfish Bingo...A Lowpoint and a Resolution

         Lake-bagging, one of my very favorite outdoor seasonal activities, is promoted by a game I created a decade ago called Bodfish Bingo, which is represented on a card I hand out from my Quiet Mountain Sports desk on request. Forty-nine spaces on a 7x7 grid that each represent a lake within twenty-five miles of Chester. To earn a point you must fully immerse your body in one of these lakes. You can only score on a lake once per season. You earn 2 points when you plunge naked and you can earn as many as 4 points if you have to remove ice before diving in nude. The scoring was developed by UBES in England's "lake district".
         I usually earn close to 20 points yearly in this thrilling endeavor. However, 2019 saw me earn a meager 6 points. One of my customers earned 32 points this year and completed a 'row of seven'...Bingo! She won a Bodfish sweatshirt! She described each visit to a lake and how it made her feel. This is required in order to win a prize. " I felt like I was Eve and the lake was my apple."...her description of diving in to Blue Lake.
         Here's where I need to make a New Year's resolution...in 2020 I need to score 20 points. It doesn't seem like it would be that difficult. A single day hike through Lassen National Park can result in 10 points if you plot it out correctly. I'm careful to slip in to the clear mountain water without being a nuisance or offending families. If you really want that extra point for immersing in the nude,  just ask those in attendance if "sans costume" would be a problem. We've seen whole families strip down and follow us in after expressing this courtesy.