Social Distancing Since ’98

Let’s be honest — we were social distancing long before it had a name.

We called it “heading to the lake.” Or “checking out that new spot.” Or “just going to clear my head for a bit.” But deep down, it’s always been about the same thing: finding a stretch of quiet water where nobody can ask you to do anything.

Sure, we tell people we’re in it for the sport. We say we love the chase, the tug on the line, the serenity of nature. And yeah, that’s all true — but let’s not kid ourselves. Sometimes the best part of fishing is the part where no one’s talking.

It’s not that we don’t like people. It’s just that the fish don’t expect small talk. Out there, there are no notifications, no meetings, no “quick questions.” Just the sound of the reel, the hum of the breeze, and the sacred peace of being exactly where you’re supposed to be — alone.

So whether you’ve been “social distancing” since ’98 or you’re just realizing how good it feels to step away, here’s to all of us who find our calm in the quiet. The ones who go “off-grid” not to escape the world forever, but just to remember who we are when it’s quiet enough to think again.

Because sometimes, the best kind of connection...
is the one you lose on purpose.