Why would anyone voluntarily forego a couple nights in a hotel for a stay at a rustic cabin with no plumbing, frequent visits by mice, occasional visits by a black bear, and no cell phone, TV or internet connections?

The answer is in the latter part of that sentence: the absence of phone, TV and internet. The lack of electronics allow for a more mindful experience without man-made distractions.  Call it going back to our hunter/gatherer roots where our days and nights are tied into nature. One research study has shown that just a few hours in the woods can work wonders for your physical and mental health.

How Roughing It Started

When I was 23 years old I had this crazy notion that I wanted to live more like a mountain-man and less like a suburbanite.  I saved every penny I could and bought a ram-shackle cabin in the mountains of northern Vermont.  It was a half-finished A-frame that required parking the car at the base of a ridge and carrying supplies – up a quarter mile – on a washed-out dirt lane.

Over the years I’ve made improvements, but not many.  A small screened porch, clearing some trees on the ridge for a view of the distant hills, and a wood stove.  There are still discomforts: mosquitoes, mice, and carrying in five gallons of water.  But, ah, the benefits!

Shooting stars through a black sky…a glimpse of a moose (and the bear that roams the ridge)…looking into the flames of a fire…and a chance to sit on the little deck and stare off into the distance.

Roughing It is Relaxing!

Now that I think about it, the cabin is the only place I can sit still for more than a few minutes.  Sometimes after an afternoon of splitting wood I’ll rest in an old oak chair on the deck with a beer and a cigar and two hours will drift by.

My best trips to the cabin are in the summer when I can walk along a nearby river, catch a couple trout and jump in the water for an exhilarating swim.   I even bring goggles so I can go down into deep pools and see the big trout I couldn’t catch!

I might not be the mountain-man I envisioned when I was in my 20’s but there is a certain magic to it all.  The weekends and occasionally a full week at the cabin remind me of my boyhood when I spent hours with a buddy exploring a swamp or neighborhood woodlot.

I can’t speak for women, but every guy I’ve brought to the cabin was eager to split wood for the fire, try to catch a trout, and take a quiet walk in hopes of seeing wildlife not found in the suburbs. With one friend, you could almost see the little boy emerge from the man.

Want to Rough It?

You don’t need to own a cabin to have this experience.  Some campgrounds offer some relatively secluded sites.  The on-line vacation rental sites such as Airbnb have plenty of cottages, cabins and even adult-size treehouses and houseboats.  (If you search on-line for vacation rentals you can target your categories to “off the grid”, tiny houses, and even private land where you can pitch a tent.)

The website  Thrillist has suggested spots for hidden gems, outdoors & nature, and travel itineraries off-the-beaten-path.  Another option, the website Glampinghub  combines rentals tied to nature along with suggestions of where to explore in the great outdoors.

See if you can find a quiet spot where you cannot see another home or campsite. You’ll spend your day exploring and your evening gazing at the sky.  You’ll kick back into a slow gear you didn’t know you had!

YOUR TURN

Have you tried ‘roughing it?” Share your experience in the comments!

Michael J. Tougias is a New York Times bestselling author and co-author of 30 books for adults and nine books for middle readers. His latest book is Extreme Survival: Lessons From Those Who Have Triumphed Against All Odds. Tougias speaks to both business groups and at public libraries across the country.  www.michaeltougias.com