I concur Dave.
Salt water is a real killer of cars, so the more protection it has the longer it will survive (although in the end...).
If you are mainly encountering fresh water, mud, dust - then much much less of an issue.
I plan to wash occasionally but clay bar, polish & wax twice a year.
So few people know about the benefits of clay bar and probably less use it but,professional car detailers all use it and it is brilliant.
The polish is to remove the light scratches & swirl marks that will come.
I buy the most expensive wax because that provides the best water, bird dropping, tree sap, insect etc etc repellent