I'm not ultralight but...

[Tipi Walter]

Wait until you go from a 20# pack down to 10# pounds. You feel like you carrying next to nothing.

Wolf

Wait till you pull a 20 day winter trip without resupply.

[Heater]

Indiana Jones to Marian: "It's not the years, honey, it's the mileage."

This is so true.

Unfortunately, I put a lot of stress to my knees due to sports in my younger years.

[Heater]

Wait till you pull a 20 day winter trip without resupply.

But in Nantahala where you hike?

Why...?

I am comfortable with the size of my package.

[scope]

It might have been a bad choice but I went waterless the last 5 miles.

Only you know whether it was a bad choice or not, but I offer this bit of unsolicited advice for future consideration, especially since you're around my age... and Kerosene can probably relate... I have never needed much water and have gone extended periods without only to fully recover from only the very mildest of dehydration symptoms. I played soccer all my life, in the heat of the south, and would mostly have a little bit of Gatorade at the half (because I didn't like anything in my stomach, felt like it slowed me down) and a lot of beer afterwards, which of course didn't help a whole lot... So, I've had that mentality about water all my life - that I just didn't need that much, but recently I've noticed that I just don't recover as well from dehydration as I used to. I believe I'm getting to the point where my diminished ability to recover puts me in a dangerous position healthwise if I continue to have the same mentality about not needing water.

I know I could have gone that 5m as well without water, but for me, no question it would have been a bad choice.

More on point with the thread, though, I recently got my over-30 pack down to 25 and it was a revelation for me just how big a difference that 5 or so lbs was. Was like nothing compared to what I was used to carrying.

BTW, I'd love to see your packlist.