Packing for the desert

I have been packing for nearly a week now and I keep realizing I am not done and have to go back to the store. My HIV counselor friend who stands on the sidewalk with me every Monday said, he didn’t have a word to describe me, he said you’re more than a planner. It’s like everything you say and do has been thought out to the tenth step. It makes him go, hm? Like when we had the conversation about food, I told him I can’t eat those things because they are grown far away and I refuse to contribute to the gas and waste it took to be delivered to this part of the world as a matter of convenience. I try my best to eat locally grown products and food in season for that reason. Ethics and being conscientious is what helps guide me. I have to think through lots of things before I act.

I’ve been packing for two trips this week, one week in the cold desert and one week in Denver/rocky mountains. I don’t have time to do laundry or unpack between trips and literally grabbing the second bag to the airport. I’ve been packing 2 sets of everything for each bag, thermals, toothbrush, pajamas, hats, gloves, jackets, etc. I noted I am a little short on normal socks but good on hiking and ski socks. I will have to buy more every day socks on my return. I am grateful to have enough of everything to make these trips.

I also spent the week planning food and water for our trip.  If water is only accessible on the outside of the park, and we plan to be on the interior, how much water does each person need and how long can we go with our supply?  On average, I drink 2 liters of water while hiking, and then you get back to camp, probably drink another liter and use water to cook and wash up, estimated 4 liters = 1 gallon per day.  4 people = 4 gallons per day.  I bought (2) 7 gallon containers which means we have enough for 2 days, with room for any errors.  There will not be any phone signal in Joshua Tree or Death Valley, stay tuned for photos and updates after the new year.  Picture: my week dehydrating food in prep for camping.

Adult-ing, snack sherpa

I found my place in the kitchen, no cooking. I made my first no bake granola bars and gluten free too. (Dates, rolled oats and peanut butter). Never again do I need to buy a granola bar. I am excited to eat just 3 ingredients and now I have an endless supply of snacks.

I made my way through dehydrating strawberry/banana fruit leather, apples, pears, kiwi and tofu jerky. I’ve been bringing my projects to archery class and everyone thinks it’s pretty tasty. I am going apple picking next weekend and will bring back bushels of apples to start making apple sauce and move on to other recipes like peanut butter and jelly leather.

I don’t bake and I don’t cook but I make snacks really well.

What I do in my spare time…

I wasn’t going to write about this topic but since I’m still thinking about it a week later, I’ll engage my thoughts out loud.  Folsom Street Fair is this Sunday and I am a volunteer HIV counselor.  I’ve asked other counselors what they are going to wear, and I’ve heard: harness, leather suspenders, vinyl, short shorts.  A few people who identify as women said they are going to wear corsets.  I asked another counselor what I should wear, and he said, oh, you could wear nipple pasties with tassels and a dominatrix mask.  My immediate reply was but the mask will give me tan lines and who wants that?  He said, it’s true, but we will be under a tent for most of the day.  Folsom St. Festival is a fetish, leather, BDSM community.  A senior counselor said wear what makes you comfortable, but I’m afraid wearing what’s comfortable is normal clothes and I will be the only counselor in such attire. I’ve heard some other counselors say this year, we want our staff to go all out.

Thus far, counseling has been ok.  I find myself a little more prepared and able to chat normally with clients about their situations.  I find myself leaning in a little more, bringing out the positives in their situation for potential HIV or STI exposure.  I’m working on emotional listening and it’s been good so far.  I have been volunteering 5-6 hours per week, Monday nights mobile on Castro street and Tuesday nights in the office.  I would like to get back to other types of volunteering, like at the Food Bank, or the Emergency Room but my calendar is full and any other obligations would make me feel overextended.  I volunteer enough but always feel I should be doing more.

I bought a dehydrator and excited to start drying food next week.  My dehydrator says for large families, large gardens, craftspeople and sportsmen.  I don’t identify as any of those things but I like to eat a lot of dried fruits, I am a picky eater, and I want to up my outdoor backpacking cooking skills.

I have made progress on weeding the jungle called my backyard.  I’ve weeded as much as I know how to do, and now I need power tools and more advanced help.  I don’t have the actual skills to garden, but I think I do have enough clearance to make a backyard archery range.  I know it’s against the law, because an open bow and arrows are considered armed weapons, but I don’t think my neighbors will mind if I shoot at the house.

Outdoor cooking

Friends, I am up-ing my outdoor game. I do not cook and I am an exceptionally picky vegetarian. I mean, I only like to eat farm fresh carrots. I love heirloom tomatoes and my favorite fruit ripens only for 3-4 weeks out of the year. I picked up a few books from the library with titles called “Fork on the Trail” or “Lipsmacking vegetarian backpackin.”

I am excited to try to make things like tofu jerky, nian-gao blueberry rice cakes, backpacker vegetarian sushi, dehydrated fruit leather which can be made into a smoothie with water on the trail. Can you imagine your favorite banana strawberry smoothie while climbing some switchbacks?

Most of the recipes call for a dehydrator. I’m not sure how it works but I bet it will be my most used kitchen appliance.

I’m planning to be in NYC for an extended Thanksgiving (maybe 2 weeks), and for the last week in December – I’m planning on going to a few national parks.  If you want to see me, pencil me into your calendar.