Spartan2, as usual you've written from the heart very well.  Thx.

I have 2 college age boys and a 16-year old girl.  My wife of 22 years grew up in California and spent her youth with the family camping and hiking from San Diego up to Oregon.  When we first met, we camped as well and after the kids were born, took an annual trip to Parry Sound, Ontario.  But as Jennifer aged, she decided that was enough for her.  She's never had the desire to rough it on a canoe trip, but never hesitated to allow me to do so and take the kids each summer if they wanted to come.  So I canoed with each when they turned 5 and 6.  My daughter went only once, had an aversion to bad weather and bugs, and even today still has an aversion to bugs.  My two sons, on the other hand, have tripped with me each summer since, except for Ben who decided to spend last summer in Cancun with his buddies (go figure).  For me, canoeing with my boys is the single greatest pleasure I have each year.  I can't speak for them as they have many more other interests than me.  But I know they enjoy it or they would be doing something else with their limited summer time.

All in all, I am happy and content that each of my kids have their own unique passions and that we can still treasure the time we are actually together.