I’ve been a regular poster on a website called thebackpacker.com/trailtalk since about 1998.  And as incredible as it may seem, I feel like I “belong” there.

And it is one of the strange turns of our modern society that a person could feel like they “belong” to what is essentially a few words on a computer screen.

But through posting, I’ve gotten to know quite a few people from almost every state in the nation.  And I’ve met quite a few of them, too.  The website is devoted to hikers and backpackers and there is a core group of Midwesterners there who get together on a regular basis.

And the regions overlap.  Some of the Midwesterners head off to California or Montana every once in awhile for an organized hike.  And if one of the “TTers” from Florida is in Michigan for any reason, there is always someone around for dinner plans or a place to crash.

The end result is that an entire social circle has developed around this website.  If I don’t post for awhile, people notice.  If a holiday rolls around, people send out nice little emails wishing the best of the season.  Birthday threads abound.  And, of course, there have been a series of weddings that can draw their origins to that site.

Personally, I think it would be great if these Monroe Evening News blogs could serve the same purpose for the local community.  I have this vision of a big ole’ blogger party at Munson Park.  And we could get the Luna Pier Cook to come up with some darn fine potato salad.

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