Camping has been a recent pursuit in our household. Since moving to NC we have gone up to the mountains almost monthly. For us it's an opportunity to be quiet and together-- to minimalize. Compared to a zoo or theme park vacation it's about reduction. What is left when removing amenities such as plumbing, permanent shelter, electricity, and cell phone service? Carrying only the basic needs in our pack, we push through the landscape. Materialism becomes quantifiable when you carry each item on your back. Ounces can feel like pounds.
In constructed spaces like Disney World, amenities or goods are added. Stimulations are stacked on the visitors through theme music, fried food and structure. The weight of ones own materialism appears very light I contrast of such over saturated environments.
So maybe one instance feels like addition and the other subtraction. However, both the Appalachian Trail are altered and marketed environments. One a bit more obvious than the other.
