Many people in my life think I’m nutty for having two jobs. And while I do hang out at REI in an attempt to pay down my credit card debt and for the great discounts (those seem mutually exclusive don’t they??), there is another reason why I love REI so much that I choose to spend my free time working there.

They are an amazing organization. One of the world’s most successful co-operatives (yeah… NOT a corporation). They continually find ways to support the outdoors as well as people’s original source of joy – playing outside and enjoying God’s kingdom/our natural environment. So with a touch on a soap box, I thoroughly enjoyed the email I just received from them. Here is the text of their headline and subhead. Brilliant.

DOES NATURE HAVE A STATUS UPDATE?

Remember when social networking meant hangin’ out with real people? Kick it old school this summer with an impromptu picnic. Just grab some friends and go.

Here’s to everyone celebrating our nation’s birthday old school – outside, with friends, without computers. More starlight than TV light. More bird sounds than online tweets. More face time with loved ones that time on facebook.

And here’s to the end of my 18 day-in-a-row work stretch. After 5pm today I am OFF WORK for 3 WHOLE DAYS. Cycling, running, pooling, Peachtree Road Racing, lunching, reading, sleeping in, fireworks-ing, churching, real social networking, and of course cold beersing. Cheers to that!