Type-two fun
Thursday, September 9, 2021 at 09:38AM
Ciudad Perdida, 2016
There’s no hard science behind it, but outdoor athletes and adventurers have been discussing the “fun scale” for years. Type-one fun is enjoyable from start to finish. Type-two fun is only fun in retrospect. And type-three fun consists of activities that seem fun in concept but then devolve into fear and danger—if you make it home alive, your memories of the experience are nowhere near positive.
I’d argue that type-two fun, by adding meaning to our lives, might contribute the most to overall happiness. “Why Type-Two Fun Feels So Good,” Amanda Loudin, Outside Magazine, Aug 29, 2021
Questions I often ask myself when on a challenging backpacking trip is “Why in the hell am I doing this instead of sitting on the deck of a cruise ship with a margarita in my hand? Isn’t this supposed to be a vacation?” Dragging myself up a “two-hour-hill,” feeling the backpack getting heavier and my back aching more, wondering if the hot spots on my feet will turn into blisters or if I will lose a toenail, wiping the sweat streaming down my face, and scratching the latest bug bites on my ankle, all counterbalance the enjoyment of the scenery, fresh air, and serenity of the hike. Yet the moment I get home, I tend to relate only the joys of the experience. And immediately start thinking about my next “challenge.”
Loudin’s article in Outdoor Magazine cited above helped me understand this seemingly irrational behavior - suffering, and then signing up for more. While the ultramarathoners she uses as examples who exhibit this kind of behavior are far above me in effort and skill, it is comforting to know that I am not the only person who has “type-two fun.” I’m not the only nut job on the planet.
I’ve been pretty lucky about rarely if ever experiencing type-three fun and having more than my share of type-one fun, but I usually plan activities knowing they will be type-two. A couple of years ago, I posted “Rating My Hikes” to the Blue Skunk. As I review the seven hikes I described, I would classify six of them as type-two and just one of them as type-one. (My daily walks and exercise are universally type-one. Am I pushing hard enough?)
While hiking came to my mind when reading this article, I am sure other activities could be described as type-two for others. Readers, anything you do that is only pleasurable in reflection?
Reader Comments (4)
I’m a fan of William Irving. His new book, The Stoic Challenge, is also about this very thing and how it’s good for us to participate in these kinds of adventures so we not only have “fun” but deal with minor setbacks on a scale we can handle which helps navigating life in general. You sir, are an inspiration!
HI Ninja,
Added Irving's book to my "to-read" list. Thanks for recommendation.
Have you ever watched this episode of The Twilight Zone? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Nice_Place_to_Visit Good think piece on a world without challenges.
Take it easy!
Doug
Gardening - I do not enjoy digging up sod but am looking forward to a new section of my backyard with a bird feeder, bird bath, and some plants that will hopefully attract more hummingbirds.
Kenn,
I think that is called "delayed gratification." A primary characteristic of mature individuals!
Hope you get your hummingbirds. They are amazing to watch.
Doug