What's in your suitcase?
I dream of the day when I'll have a perfect travel bag, pre-packed and ready for the road. All I'll have to do is open the closet, grab the bag, wash everything when I get home, pack it all in the bag and put it back in the closet again ready for the next time. Unfortunately, despite the number of times I've had to do this, I still agonize over what to bring. I want the right combination of practical and "just for fun" items so that I'm truly prepared for anything, and don't bore myself to the point of desperation shopping. I am convinced that, although I haven't done it yet, this whole process can be made much less difficult. Here's why I think so:
1. You have the same basic necessities (clothing, shampoo, toothbrush and paste and other toiletries, a few good books) no matter where you're going or how long you're staying. I have found that I pack about the same load whether I'm going to be gone for a week or a year, and that in both cases I take more than is actually necessary.
2. Unless you are going to a place with "extreme" weather conditions, you are going to need very similar things. From Europe to Africa to India and now Latin America I have ended up, after all the agonizing, with basically the same bag. Any place you go you should be prepared for hot and dry, cold and wet (unless going to Antarctica and then you're pretty much guaranteed not to run into hot and dry). Since becoming a serious traveller I have become a "pants-wearer". That is to say, I generally leave the shorts and minis at home. My first time around in Europe I was kept out of one too many places due to exposed knees. Shorts aren't as popular anywhere else in the world I've been, in my mind shorts = American tourist. It's also a good idea to pack a nice outfit and pair of shoes. I have ALWAYS wished I had these after I had tossed them out as being "unneccesary" during the packing process.
3. The most important thing to be while travelling is comfortable. If your feet aren't happy, you aren't happy, so shoes are a most important consideration.
4. Things can always be washed, whether by hand or machine, so the number of articles of clothing can be kept low as long as all weather bases are covered. With this in mind I try to pack black tops and bottoms that will go with everything. Layering is key. My summer in Europe I wore every article of clothing I had to the top of Mt. Blanc and was able to stay satisfactorily warm (though i wouldn't have wanted to sleep up there).
5. Don't forget a sleepsheet for questionable beds, camera and film, journal and address book.
Okay now that I'm packed in my head I should get to it for real.
1. You have the same basic necessities (clothing, shampoo, toothbrush and paste and other toiletries, a few good books) no matter where you're going or how long you're staying. I have found that I pack about the same load whether I'm going to be gone for a week or a year, and that in both cases I take more than is actually necessary.
2. Unless you are going to a place with "extreme" weather conditions, you are going to need very similar things. From Europe to Africa to India and now Latin America I have ended up, after all the agonizing, with basically the same bag. Any place you go you should be prepared for hot and dry, cold and wet (unless going to Antarctica and then you're pretty much guaranteed not to run into hot and dry). Since becoming a serious traveller I have become a "pants-wearer". That is to say, I generally leave the shorts and minis at home. My first time around in Europe I was kept out of one too many places due to exposed knees. Shorts aren't as popular anywhere else in the world I've been, in my mind shorts = American tourist. It's also a good idea to pack a nice outfit and pair of shoes. I have ALWAYS wished I had these after I had tossed them out as being "unneccesary" during the packing process.
3. The most important thing to be while travelling is comfortable. If your feet aren't happy, you aren't happy, so shoes are a most important consideration.
4. Things can always be washed, whether by hand or machine, so the number of articles of clothing can be kept low as long as all weather bases are covered. With this in mind I try to pack black tops and bottoms that will go with everything. Layering is key. My summer in Europe I wore every article of clothing I had to the top of Mt. Blanc and was able to stay satisfactorily warm (though i wouldn't have wanted to sleep up there).
5. Don't forget a sleepsheet for questionable beds, camera and film, journal and address book.
Okay now that I'm packed in my head I should get to it for real.
posted by Eva Hathaway at 5:28 PM
1 Comments:
hi honey,
this is a pretty virgo way of organizing your travel bag. I'm impressed with the amount of time and effort your willing to put out. I have noticed a couple of things that you missed: sunglasses, headlamp or flashlight, and a knife. Just remember, survival comes first.
Ky
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