The reality is we don’t have a lot of down time. Basic things like washing clothes don’t happen with the turn of a knob and the push of a button. We don’t wash our clothes often, but when we do, it is a process. It is something that can be enjoyable and relaxing on a warm sunny day or finger-numbing this time of year.
Gathering firewood, hauling water, transforming basic ingredients into nourishing, fulfilling meals, caring for the dogs – these basic tasks fill our days. When these are combined with writing, filming, photographing, and documenting our #wildernessyear to @savetheBWCA, there is not a lot of downtime.
Probably our biggest form of entertainment is listening to the radio. We have a tiny radio that a person I guided last summer gave me after our trip. In the mornings we listen to Minnesota Public Radio while we sip our coffee, but there are always chores to do, memories to make, and moments to share that easily fill our days.
Simple tasks are not easy or boring; they do not make me yearn for a washing machine, faucet, or thermostat. Our often repetitive, time-consuming routine is filled with moments we enjoy and others that we would happily give up, but they are intertwined. Numb fingers are part of washing clothes in February as well as photographing them stiff as boards catching the morning’s first rays. Clean clothes and an image that can be used to tell our story and lift up the conversation about protecting this special place are our rewards.
Wilderness removes the noisy clutter, whittles things down to the most basic. What a wonderful gift. Moments to be cherished, remembered, and shared. Everyone should experience this simplicity, it is more valuable now than ever.
#savetheBWCA #simplicity #wilderness #chores #simple #BoundaryWaters #BasswoodLake #BWCA @patagonia @mprnews
