Shower thoughts

One to two days in the woods, then back into town, whether for a change of scenery or basic supplies, spring water, and a shower. I'm a man who loves both. I love the feeling of being in the rural forest, no cell service, and the sound of wind blowing against a tent, but I can come to appreciate a small mountain town like Flagstaff. It's easy to navigate, and, well, I like showering. I can’t stay dirty for long. I'm serious; I've been living nomadically for almost six years, and I've always kept up with my hygiene. It's not something I'm willing to let go. I know plenty of climber dirtbags, hippies, and van lifers who wear it as a symbol of pride—a way of saying, "Hey, I live a rustic and wild life, and a shower? Well, that's not very adventurous of you."

Oh give me a fucking break.

"Do you actually make the effort to shower every day?" I get asked that more than I'd like. Pretty hard to believe, huh? Cleanliness is not something I take for granted, and I never will. The sins of today washed off for the night of tomorrow. Anyway, who likes to smell bad? Seriously, it’s a cardinal sin to be roaming around smelling janky. It's one thing to have a good funk odor to you, but to make heads turn and scrunch up noses? That's a personal offense.

This is one of those "don't share opinions" moments, but here I am sharing. My point is, if you have the proper means and the ability to keep clean, it should be your obligation to do so.