It has been suggested I write this as a post, so here goes

@cperry2 My son is eight but we won't be going for at least a few years. My son is in cub scouts and he really gets into it all. He is officially a bear scout now and he says he plans to stay in through boy scouts. He has a goal to actually be an eagle scout but we'll see. They do a lot with nature and that keeps him active in it until we can eventually get him to Yellowstone. I understand depression but mine is a more milder case but my anxiety is pretty severe so that keeps me from doing things I'd like to do. It's good that you've found a way to keep yourself moving forward.

Good for you. I don't know how old your son is, but he may love the Junior Ranger Program there at Yellowstone, my grandson certainly did. (actually, most parks have some JR program to emphasize the attributes of the park) At the visitor center, ask about it, Generally they give a booklet that has questions about things in the park, The idea is to explore the park to find the answers. When that is brought back to the rangers, they will do a 'swearing in ceremony' in front of whoever is in the visitor center, give him a badge and shake his hand. It is cute and the kids generally love it. (I know 80 year olds who participate in these JR programs and wear their badges proudly.) As for me, I spent a decade living in a debilitating depression. The only way I broke the cycle I was in was to force myself up and into life. I stay as busy as I can because I fear sliding back into that pit of doom and gloom. I nearly did not get out of it last time.

@sissy15 Overall, I love the scouting program. I learned so much when I was in it. There are some aspects I see today that bother me, but I still think it is a wonderful program to teach kids survival and leadership skills. I actually like that it has been opened to girls as well. (I know some don't like this.)

@cperry2 It sounds exciting to me. Where are you originally from?

we've been volunteering for just over six years now. We started out just cleaning the campground. That wasn't so much fun, but when we moved to ORegon state parks we changed over to interpretive roles. We both love that.

@velvet53 Born in Arkansas, spent my teens to early 30's in Texas, then to California, and for now, in Oregon

I hope you don't fall anymore @cperry2 Sorry you got banged up. What kind of Nikon? I have the D3200. Sorry your lens broke, those aren't cheap.

Generally, we stay on the trails. Of course in the tidal pools there are no trails. One has to be much more concerned with the brown seaweed which gives off an oily substance. (It is being harvested in some places for use in hand lotion) That stuff is like walking on a forty-five degree slope covered in smooth ice. I have fallen a number of times. Shattered the screen of my cell phone on one fall and broke the attached lens from the body of my Nikon camera on another. (not to mention bruises and such)

@rebelann D5200 And the lens was actually okay, the mounting broke on both the camera and the lense. Yeah, cost of repair nearly $450 for both. Almost enough to have just replaced the camera.

@cperry2 My Mother (RIP) moved here because of a wicked cousin that fooled her, so I eventually moved here to be near her. So Mama is the reason. Now she is buried here.

@TiarasOceanView It is hard to lose a loved one, I've lost my mother too, nearly ten years ago.

So how is it that you have found yourself in Colorado?

@cperry2 I get Social Security that pretty much sucks but is a lot better than a lot of people get and I don't have an awesome job like that. I pretty much look at other people's trailers.

@akalinus one does not need a trailer or RV to volunteer. We live in a house now and I still work with the parks and with Hatfield Marine Science Center. Could volunteer at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, but they only accept new volunteers who start in the winter, usually when we are out of state. I've found there are dozens of places that accept volunteers. But we are busy enough already. I also like to take pictures and write stories in my free time.

I think it's perfect, the pay sucks, (we are retired) but the people are pretty cool and the sights, OMG.

@cperry2 I am sure it is a nice place to live near the ocean.

I never thought I would want to live near the ocean, until we volunteered up here. We both fell in love with the area.

@cperry2

That could probably be arranged. We do some travels in the summer time doing presentations at other parks. Not to mention visiting the kids and grand kids down in California.

your not kidding about getting good photos. For the few that I have, I think I have at least ten times that many that fail.

Newport Oregon, is on the Central Coast. It is named after Newport RI I do believe. We have a Dallas, Oregon, a Milwalkee, Oregon, and a Springfield, Oregon as well.

@cperry2 The town of Heidelberg is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Germany. There are 12 (!) Heidelbergs in the USA.

@MALUSE and how many Paris' are there? I know Texas has one.

The humidity here is higher than most inland spots but the ambient temperature is usually no higher than 65F (18 C) That makes things very comfortable for me. On those rare occasions our temps rise into the 80F range (26+ C) it is indeed unpleasant.

@cperry2 I am so far from coastal Region.But we go for picnic to seashore occasionally.

I do not know how far you are from your coastal regions, might be you have some interesting places there to look at.

Is that all we talk about? Mmm, not really but that is what we are asked to return to talk about. As far as genteel with their own species, you are right they don't usually go trying to kill each other off. Not usually anyway.

@cperry2 Really? How about penguins in Madagascar?

@ihasaquestion Hmm, I have zero information on those critters. I also realize lots of creatures will prey on one another, Orcas will kill whales, (hence their name killer whales). I think I remember reading about chimps getting into territorial battles too. I guess, there are species who do murder one another after all.

@cperry2 That's the issue as well around my place as well since it is a tourist destination.

It is except during tourist season. The population normally triples to quadruples between Memorial day (may 27) and Labor Day (September 2). Then the locals try to stay out of town or if they must go, use the back streets instead of the main roads.

I love the beach and walking on it. I miss being able to swim in the ocean. But the water here is about 53 degrees at best, well that's been slowly slipping upward. But still way too cold for frolicking.

@cperry2 Same here Maine water is cold.Does not warm up around August. What state do you live in?

In the summer time, things can get a bit hectic but we love the discussions and the people who stick around after to ask more questions.

@cperry2 Cold is better than hot in my opinion.

Here in this area, night time walks on the beach are interesting, with the wind whipping across the waves, the ambient temp in the 50's (in the spring and summer) it can be quite cold. But still it's fun.

@cperry2 at least you've been to two places

@evans777 I suppose I have. I am grateful for the memories and the photos I took help me remember them. Now, I am focused on being happy with where I am and what I have.

Me too. I've done little travel outside of the US. Spent a little time in Mexico, Less time in Canada. But that's about it. Think I might like to see Australia, New Zealand, maybe Thailand, Japan and Singapore. But just a dream. Takes money I do not have.