You will need one if you go tromping through cemeteries and travel around to different courthouses and libraries and other record repositories. A good pair of boots for getting in the mud is helpful too.

Being a genealogist is about both musty records and getting out in the woods. Imagine yourself as Indiana Jones of the genealogy world.

The need to go through old overgrown cemeteries or just walking through large cemeteries without easy road access is another reason to stay in shape. Staying in shape also helps the brain do a better job of thinking and making connections in your research.