beast of burden

in perhaps the greatest adventure of my life, I roamed through the New Mexican desert for two weeks with everything I would ever need on my back. The experience taught me many things, most importantly, that you can compact your entire life into a 45 pound backpack. not surprisingly, most of your life consists of food and water. without sustenance, you would die. it not only determines your survival; it also makes up most of your cultural and personal identity. However, it is not wise to take more food than you need. You will break down from the weight if you over indulge. this is the first lesson of the desert. the second weightiest category of your gear is your shelter. In the desert, a tent, a sleeping bag, and a ground mat are sufficient. usually, the tent is divided between you and your tent mate. You are equally responsible for your home. In real life, the same is true. The rest is clothing and survival gear. In the grand scheme of things, your appliances and belongings shouldnt weigh much on your life, though there is no shame in having a few. this is true of both the desert and real life. Of course, the greatest burden of all is that of the memories and frends you make along the way. Even after your leave the desert, you'll have both of those for the rest of your life.