The Contender

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No Bad Conditions

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No Bad Conditions

The Case for the Outdoor Life

David Coggins
Jan 28, 2021
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No Bad Conditions

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Very excited to share the news that I’m the first guest editor over at L.L. Bean. I’ll be writing stories, sharing images from their incredible archive and more. First up I made the case for outdoor life. I like seasons, seasons are good. Seasons give symmetry to the year, clues about what to eat, what to wear, and it’s not too much to say, that seasons bring rhythm to our lives. 

This photo is from a salmon river in Canada. It was the last morning of our trip. We knew the weather was arriving and…it did. And that’s alright! This factors into The Optimist, so I’ll leave the story there for the moment. 

We’ve been indoors so much that we’ve lost a clear sense of time. Everything is both extended and confined. It’s disorienting and hard to tell where we are in the calendar. That’s another reason to look forward to spring. Hopefully we can all make it a few more months, then get outside with a vengeance. 


If you received this already I apologize, but it didn't go through to quite a few people so I re-sent. Thanks!

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No Bad Conditions

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5 Comments
Andy Poupart
Feb 9, 2021Liked by David Coggins

The idea that we've been inside so long that it has become disorienting does resonate. It feels like wanting to have a good stretch but being unable to do so. And congratulations on the LL Bean gig. I'd coveted a pair of Bean Boots ever since I've lived in the States ands became aware of LL Bean. Indeed, for a while in the early '80s I wore LL Bean chinos almost every day instead of jeans. Anyway, I finally bought a pair of Bean Boots a year or so ago. I have had occasion to wear them maybe twice, but the happiness they give me is real, even as it makes no sense at all.

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Dave Beran
Jan 28, 2021Liked by David Coggins

Great picture and wonderful news. Cheers David!

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