Although I have no objections at all about clubs and resorts, both they and urban meet-up hiking outings have limitations, thought not the same ones. The missing element is "free," although I don't mean in the financial sense. Both with and without clothing, the one thing I miss from the past is the freedom to up and go whenever the spirit moved me, any time of the year. Hiking with someone else, even the wife, means more organization and compromises and usually leaving about four hours later than I would by myself.
Of course, I was younger then but I don't miss that as much.
Naturally there are other differences. In fact, everything is different. Although there are trails leading from my back door, I am otherwise further from really good places, meaning secluded and less visited. And that means it takes more time and money. Even though the cost (of driving) isn't very much, cost is always a consideration. Mostly though, it means that an outing is something that needs to be planned for, at least in theory. I guess I could drop everything and leave first thing in the morning but I haven't done that for a while. At the moment, though, the heat is a little too much.
On the other hand, freedom's just another word for nothing else to do.
