There’s a reason they call it “public service” and it’s not always fun. Of course if it were like taking a trip to Disneyland, people would be lining up at the City Halls and Courthouses around the country to take out nomination papers to run.

I’m talking about serving in public office.

Oh sure, there are the good times. It’s a rush to finally gather enough votes to get a policy of yours through whatever legislative body you would so choose, and it’s nice to talk to people whose lives you have truly improved in some substantial way but it’s not all good times. You have to run for office, deal with obnoxious liars and be subject to an alarming amount of criticism, some of it though the media. There are many who will think they own you for your years in service and confuse even your personal time for required years of servitude to them. You’ll also miss out on time with friends and family that only someone else who has been in office can appreciate.

But all that gives a person a better understanding of what it takes to run a government. I’m talking about basic civics here. Yes, you may have had civics in High School, but being in office is like civics class on steroids.

It’s been years since I’ve served, but I can still look back on some of those times with fond memories as well as a sense of accomplishment. Does that mean I’d do it again? This summer I’ll have a chance to do something I just wasn’t able to do when in office — go camping with friends. Today I’ll spend time on this sunny day fishing a little with my son on a lake and having a few martinis with family in the evening. With every passing year, I’m enjoying my personal time more and more.