POKÉMON and PONDS?

I realize that you are thinking…Here goes Eric, losing his mind over some new trend. Okay, admittedly, I do get a little carried away sometimes, but this new trend is on FIRE!

FIND THE FUN

AND, people are getting up off their couches and actually WALKING, (or even running) to catch the Pokémon in their neighborhoods, grocery stores, and shopping centers.

What could be better? Kids can use their mobile phones and their feet! Exercise and gaming all in one! Plus the WHOLE family can join in.

When I am cruising the neighborhood, trying to catch Pikachu and his buddies, I see people of all ages, from 6 to 60 chasing down Pokémon with me. It’s a friendly game, and before you know it, you are bonding with strangers over where to find Diglett. We compare catches, share secrets, and tell each other where to look for the coolest critters.

I recently caught an Arcanine, and I am the envy of all the kids! My kids, and their friends actually WANT to spend evenings with me chasing down Pokémon in the neighborhood several times a week.

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EMBRACE THE ADDICTION

The point is, I fully embraced this new addiction my kids have, and I’m spending all kinds of fun time with them. We sprint around, laughing, yelling, and playing for hours every week.

How does this apply to ponds you ask? It’s soooooo simple. I am not a huge Pokémon fan, but my kids are…..get it? I am doing this to spend quality time with them, and they love me for it. Plus, there are “pond based” Pokémon, AND you can drop a “lure” by your pond so the kids can catch cool critters right at the water’s edge. Just be prepared to meet your neighbors, and their kids, and their friends.

So, when it comes to your pond, take this Pokémon advice and apply it to the pond in your life:

INVOLVE EVERYONE

1. Involve your family and friends as much as possible. Give them what THEY want in your pond to help them enjoy it. Add candles and comfy, plush seating for your wife, put an outdoor TV for your husband with a built in ice chest nearby. Add an excellent gaming chair for your kids with some wifi, and get a hotspot if it is too far from your modem. Even if they are staring at their phone, at least they are out there with you.

GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT

2. Find a way to enjoy the pond after dark. Let’s face it, most of us work 40+ hours a week and can’t begin to enjoy our pond until evening. Pokémon creators knew this, and have special critters that only come out at night. They are practically FORCING you to go play with your kids!!!! Brilliant.

Add lights, night blooming plants, and citronella tiki torches to your pond. It will create such a cool atmosphere, you will want to be there, and you family will too! Put a picnic table nearby, so you can enjoy beautiful, peaceful evening meals by the pond. Fire pits are always a bonus, because what kid doesn’t love s’mores?

FINAL THOUGHT

The real take home here is this, if you are as addicted to your pond as your kids or grandkids are to Pokémon, take my advice and offer them incentives to love time by your pond as much as you do.

And maybe offer to go Pokémon hunting in trade. You’ll be glad you did!

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Leslie Triplett, The Pond Gal