The "free days" are over. The days when I can do as I please and I won't see one again till mid-November. Every day has a direct purpose now. A distinct advantage that I do possess is that the work is stuff that I enjoy (and would likely be doing anyway) but it is still an essential number in the equation that I call “making a living.”

I love what I do, I love the folks that come to fish with me, I love the "full on" lifestyle while in the season and I like the laidbackness of the offseason. This year over other years I realize that for a guide there really is no offseason. This is not me complaining but more bringing it to light and mostly for myself. Maybe some years are a little more relaxed than others, maybe Its because I am still finding my organizational way, but its a lot of work even in the winter. I still have deadlines like other folks in regular jobs, things that need to get done by a particular day, people to get back too, things that need to get done before your season begins or it just won't get done, and things that need to be maintained due to neglect of being so busy during the season.

Licences, insurance, taxes, first aid courses, Swiftwater rescue courses, boat building, boat makeovers, boat maintenance, dues to be paid, networking that needs doing, Chiro appointments to keep my shoulders and elbows in shape, finding lost packages in the mail, cleaning work area so you can work on boats, booking trips, do I have enough trips? Do I have too many trips? Swapping trailers, trailer maintenance, are the trailer lights working?. . . . . . Yeah right, tying flies, ordering materials, visiting people, maintaining relationships that were neglected during busy work times and the list goes on. There is no offseason.