Originally Posted By wandering_daisy
...I used to alawys carry a compass. After years of never needing it I simply quite taking it. GPS? - no I just do maps. Maps? - if I am really familar with the area I go without. Headlamp? Leave it home mid summer when there is more daylight than I can effectively use anyway and do not take it when there is a full moon...

I'm impressed how many of even the "essentials" you can comfortably do without in the right situation. I wouldn't recommend that to a beginner, but knowing what and when to ditch something comes with experience, and I know you have it.
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The journey is more important than the destination.