by weaselmaster » Wed Apr 27, 2022 9:55 pm
For years I would leave on a Thursday night and return on a Sunday night, and I wouldn’t be in contact with my wife til I sent her a text to say we were on the way down the road. I’d usually leave a note of the hills we’d be doing over the weekend but not always. If we were doing something serious like scrambling on Skye I’d maybe let her know it had gone ok, but otherwise she just got used to not hearing from me. I enjoyed not having the intrusion of phone contact in my weekend - after all I go into the hills for an escape from everyday life. I’d have a spare mobile with me, for emergencies, a wee dumb-phone. I’d also carry a PLB which I could activate in emergencies.
In the last few months I’ve had my mobile with me, been using it instead of a camera, and to check next days weather, but I’ve sometimes sent her a text or photo. I’ve found I don’t really like that, and if I say I’ll be in touch then can’t get a signal it can cause worry on both sides.
I remember when my son was old enough to be going places on his own - there was scope for anxiety as to whether he was ok etc etc and I could have let anxieties drive me to insist he text or call me basically all the time! Instead I realised I needed to deal with my own anxiety and let him enjoy getting on with his life. That was much easier than arranging or expecting him to call or text then him being unable to or forgetting and then me worrying.