One afternoon my dear friend that we made here in California offered to baby sit my kids so that my husband and I could go on a hike and have some alone time.
We were thrilled. Our kids adore our friends and we can spend some time hiking together… winning all around.
We took the road up the mountain chatting all the way. About goals, life… just everything! When we arrived at the trailhead we saw three 20-something fellas getting their mountain bikes out of their truck. My husband who recognized some cool bikes began a conversation with them about their planned route… one of them was the spokesman for the group. They were going to ride back down the massive mountain we had just come up in our car. They were going to ride into town, and have a few cold beverages.
My husband, the one who thinks everything out: How are you going to get back up to your truck?
The carefree mountain biker: I guess we can hope some nice person like yourself happens by and can give us a ride. We aren’t too worried about it…. that’s an afternoon problem.
My husband and I went about our day hiking along and frequently using his phrase “that’s an afternoon problem.”
A beautiful view on a trail we hiked the day we met our mountain biking friend.
We finished our hike and saw that our adventurous friends had not gotten back to their truck yet. We watched for them on our entire drive down the mountain.
We got to the bottom of the mountain and headed into town and spotted them. We did a quick u-turn and pulled along side them.
My husband: It’s time for afternoon problems. Want me to take you back to your truck?
That’s an afternoon problem.
And so we carried the Bay Area attorney back to his truck while his friends sat at the bottom of the mountain waiting for his return. They were a cool bunch.
It was cool getting to meet this guy and I wish we could tell him just how much this phrase has stuck with us.
So often we (or at least I) get caught up in worrying about afternoon problems when nothing can be done about it until the afternoon. I like to have a plan. To know what is going to happen.
To problem solve before the problem arrives.
But we have decided to like a little more like the mountain biker. If we can’t do anything to solve the problem right then… it’s an afternoon problem. Or its a Tuesday problem.
So, what about you… are you able to live with the mentality of “that’s an afternoon problem”?
Check out some highlights of our first weeks as full-time RVers.
Why we decided to go full-time
