Great responses everyone. Thank you. I think, perhaps, another area where all of us "backpackers" on this board are similar, is that we write to help relieve our anxieties? At least that is true for me.

I didn't intend for my post to sound like a long complaint.

I have a pretty good life. I own & run a business, and I can go backpacking fairly often. I have less disposable income than at any point in my life, and yet I'm the happiest I've ever been.

I'll get back out there. It felt good to sort of vent.