Rules for Intrepid Living: Rule #47

Rule #47. Go local.

We’re all part of a community, and we each have the capacity to add to or detract from it. That’s one of the reasons that I write for QC Outside; I’ve only lived in the Quad Cities for three years, but this area has welcomed my wife and I with open arms. We’ve found our place here and we try to always give back. One of the ways we do this is by going local.

We shop local; I recently bought a bow from a dealer down the road, we buy fruits and veggies from local farmers markets, we love QC breweries, and we frequent a number of local restaurants, bars, and other businesses. We frequent our local library and we try to take part in activities at the Figge Art Museum, and other cultural institutions.

Come Monday, I’m starting the Great River Trail Trash Trek as a way to give back to the community that has given so much to us. You don’t have to take a hike picking up trash to give back though; volunteer here and there, help out your neighbors, and spend some of your dollars at local businesses. Hike the nearby trails, explore your neighborhood parks, and remember to leave these places better than you found them. Give to the community in which you live and the community will give to you as well.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to explore faraway places. It’s actually a very good thing to seek out those adventures, but don’t eschew the haunts and adventures you can find nearby. Explore, both near and far. Find the beauty in the remote but also find the wonder in going local.

Get your own “Go Local” sticker in the Intrepid Daily Store.