Our version of “Survivor” soon to ‘air’

We're approaching that time of the year when, like it or not, folks in our part of the country start thinking about spring's arrival. Many of the traditional wintertime activities are starting to wind down; most hunting seasons will end at the end of the month, ice fishing conditions will begin to deteriorate, as will those for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. But we still have a ways to go before those spring crocuses appear, and if you don't have an alternative activities plan, March can seem like an endless month - kind of our local untropical version of "Survivors."

Yes, there are lots of appropriate indoor activities that have a connection with outdoor interests, but it often takes a major mindset change to motivate us into taking advantage of them – fishing gear, for example. Probably that gear was set aside last fall, before colder weather, and has been gathering dust ever since. Unfortunately, just getting it out and inspecting it often spawns daydreams of when you'll be able to use it again. So maybe it's wise to wait on that until a couple weeks before the trout opener on April First to do that.

Unless you plan to hunt coyotes or crows, you'll be packing your hunting gear away the first part of March. That isn't all that tough to take since, other than the spring gobbler season, you won't need most of it until next fall. So cleaning and oiling your guns, washing and storing your hunting clothes, and inspecting those well-worn hunting boots will have a less depressing effect than prepping fishing gear which may carry the "cabin fever" virus.

Of course, if we're lucky, March may bring us a couple of blizzards, dumping two feet of fresh snow on our springtime dreams. That should make the skiers and snomobilers happy, but might lead to total depression on everyone else. Conversely, an early spring arrival – as in March – would be cause for celebration by anglers, gardeners, and homeowners who are sick and tired of cleaning snow off driveways and sidewalks, and driving on slippery roads. Alas, you just can't make everyone happy during the month of March.

The alternative would seem to be that either unhappy grouping might adopt the couch potato mindset, watching videos or shows depicting their favorite activities. There's always a slew of those themes available, be it fishing, hunting, snow sports or even gardening. Heck, spending the entire month in front of the TV, munching junk food, probably wouldn't add more than 25 pounds to your body or cut your life expectancy more than a few years. Pass the corn chips and salsa please.