Quality…

The word “Quality” has many connotations and varying definitions. As I get older, I much prefer some of the finer things as opposed to run-of-the-mill items. Things that possess a vestige of the craftsman’s soul, or a bespoke suit of clothes expertly tailored to the individual, or perhaps a life well lived.

As of late, my “Quality of Life” has been lacking. I currently suffer from all the warning signs of mental exhaustion, stemming from working way too many hours and not getting enough sleep. Truth be told I average about an hour and half of decent sleep per night. And I was blessed/cursed with a mind that never seems to shut off. The summer heat has prevented me from doing much in the way of fishing or getting out for that matter. I am not a fan of summer and am looking forward to autumn. Once things cool off I am hoping that we will able to get some much needed fresh air as I tend to sleep better out of doors. I seriously need to get out and recharge my inner-batteries. But persevere we must.

We have ever-so-slowly been upgrading our camp gear to include more items of comfort. You won’t find any crystal or fine China in our Kitchen Box but that is not outside the realm of possibility sometime in the future. We definitely have plans for a shakedown outing to see how the new pieces integrate into the whole.

Hand-in-hand with quality, and as equally important, is aesthetics. I won’t hunt with an ugly gun, or carry an ugly knife, or rod and reel. All of which I find rather odd since I used to use what was at hand to get the job done. But not now…and it baffles me how this came about. Perhaps it is because I am getting older and per force, am slowing down. That I now have time to take a critical eye to all the accoutrements and select each one according to some preconceived notion.

For me, natural fibers such as wood, wool, leather and canvas, as well as antler and bone have a vital essence about them that I find appealing. Indeed, a warmth that will never be matched by petroleum based items, but rather harkens back to a bygone era which is rapidly fading into history.

Don’t get me wrong, there are many modern items that I prefer as well such as quality knife steels, modern canoes, modern rods and reels and even modern tents and camping stoves. The only thing constant is that they have to “please the eye and be functional.”

Inevitably it is left up to the individual to forge their own path forward and decide what to take along for the journey. In our case, we are both introverts so we go forth without judgement or haughtiness towards others. Thank you for reading and Godspeed on your ventures.