Your comments on the simplicity of life in the mountains struck a definite chord. I think that’s part of why I go there too. It’s hard to maintain that state of mind once you come back down though.

I’ve been trying to give away or get rid of two things I own for every one thing I purchase. It’s a sisyphean task, but it does at least force me to really focus on the things that are most important to me…

I hope you enjoyed your hike in the mountains. When we lived in Japan for a while we belonged to a group called the “aruite meshi o kuoo kai” and went walking with them in the local yama on the second Sunday of each month. Not quite the kind of mountain-hiking and eating you have in mind, though!

Belated best wishes for your birthday. Mine’s in November, too, and it’s my brother’s and also my twin nephews’ today. It’s a popular month.

I’m looking forward to seeing your creative projects and hope that all that work will be fruitful.

Glad to see you making plans for new features to the website and towards your “new job”/life.

I wonder do you have any source here in Japan for the gear you recommended? That jacket looks awfully good.

Like you I have adopted the BPL philosophy and extended it even to my personal life and that of my family. Last August the kids and I gave away 2 truckloads of “oh-no!-I-need-this-stuff” to charity. General rule was to donate stuff we used less than once during the last 12 months or more. I will do one more of these sessions during Christmas break. We have a room we have not even entered for 12 months with a bunch of “must-keep-stuff”. It is amazing how much more we can do with so much less.

I sense a wind of change in your writing (for the better). Good for you. Hope you have fun test-driving your new Mariposa Plus.

On my birthday, I did the same. I love my family but walking provides me the solace and comfort of being alone with my thoughts. I left the wife and kids to do some walking in the desert. It was liberating. The terrain was flat as far as the eye can see . I had no destination. Just a stroll under the moonlight. Just the freedom of walking aimlessly (until I cannot see my car in the horizon) knowing there is not a single soul for miles and miles. My new GG Mariposa felt fine under my 8.6lb baseweight. My new 23.8oz sleep system with the BPL Cocoon Quilt, GG Thinlight and Nightlight & Down Balaclava performed well with just the Smartwool bottom and Icebreaker top. It did not get as cold (10 degC) as I expected . Funny how the Guinness Books says the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth (58degC/136degF) is just 100 miles from where I camped. It rained briefly that night but it was mainly pleasant.

I had banana and ramen noodles for dinner and emmenthal cheese and crackers for dessert.

It was too bright for star-gazing because the moon was full…so I read a book (BPL Bible), the chapter on why women need more insulation and padding!

I hope you enjoyed YOUR BIRTHDAY WALK, too.