G. Peltz

I was born in North-East Pennsylvania during the flood of 1972. Not long after that we moved to Central/Southern New Jersey. I grew up running around in what is known as the Pine Barrens. A house was always someplace you kept your stuff and slept when it was cold or you had school tomorrow. In the summer sleeping was done in a tent, even if it was often just set up in the back yard. A house wasn't for "living". Living was done outside. Living was running through the woods, climbing tall pine trees, catching snakes and lizards, and riding our bikes down the trails through the woods. Living was finding the closest body of water and jumping in, and when you got tired of swimming, you sat on the bank and cast out a line instead. I drowned a lot of worms when I was a kid. I still do, actually.

When I got older I joined the US Army. Since I still didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up, I took every chance they gave me to take on a new job. First I was a combat engineer, then a logistics specialist. Later it was a cavalry scout and I cross trained as a tank gunner. After a while, my body couldn't keep up anymore. Rather than get rid of me, the Army found me yet another job and trained me to be a medic. But no matter what job they gave me, one thing always stayed true. I was always happiest when we were out in the field, living in the woods, sleeping in tents or in our vehicles.

No, to me living doesn't happen inside. Living is what happens once you step out the door.

I decided to start writing about it in the hope that I can help others who see it that way too, but maybe don't have the experience that I do, or are just looking to get started.