packing for long-term travel
Hello, friends! I’ve landed in Buenos Aires and will be traveling for the next 7 or 8 months. The plan will be taking shape as I go along. I’m up for anything the wallet will allow!
Of course, this going where the wind blows you approach presents an interesting challenge when it comes to packing your bag(s).
Some things I reminded myself of while I was packing:
Less is much much more.
How does one go about packing for a trip that has no real end date? People who have done it before stress again and again how little you will want to take. When you find yourself catching that train after that flight and before that bus, you will be so glad you left that extra pair of shoes at home.
And honestly, how many pairs of shoes will I need? It’s not like I’ll be dining at the Ritz every night.
But what if I need...
Everything seems important before you set out.
- Should I bring gloves??
- January’s the hottest month of the year in Argentina.
- But I might need gloves, what if it gets to be winter and I’m really cold and I don’t have gloves I’ll wish I’d packed gloves and I didn’t, I’ll be a sucker for not packing gloves.
And thus the craziness sets in. I had countless conversations like this in my head as I was packing. I had to make myself step back and remember that I wouldn’t be able to pack for every single situation that might present itself while I’m traveling.
Yeah, I could always pack gloves. Or I could buy them when/if I need them.
How I packed
Now, I’m not going to give you a complete rundown of exactly what I brought. Others have done that before and I found their guidance most helpful. But I'll tell you this much: I brought no more than 6 tops (long and short sleeved), 2 pairs of pants (my British friends, read: trousers) and 2 pairs of shoes. Yes, I’ll be doing a lot of laundry, but I can handle that as long as I don’t have to lug 10+ outfits around on my back.
I’m still not convinced I got as light as I could have, but I can certainly get rid of stuff as I go.
Packing light for any trip
So, yes. I’m traveling for a long time, but even on my shortest of trips I’ve found the less I take, the easier it is. If you’re going on a weeks vacation, could you just take a carry-on bag? Think about how much better it would be to not have to pay $25 or whatever they’re charging these days to check your luggage. When you arrive, no waiting at baggage claim, just take your bag out of the overhead compartment and be on your way.
Seriously, what do you really need?: 1-2 pants/shorts, a few lightweight tops, a nice outfit for evening, underwear, a couple pairs of shoes (you’ll be wearing one of them on the plane/train/automobile. Of course, it depends on the destination, but please! You can totally do it.
Are you a light packer? Do you end up wearing everything you’ve packed or do you ever find yourself wishing you had packed something you didn’t?
2 comments:
I liked your entry and the pic.
No, I'm not a light packer. Yes, on most trips there are two or three things that I didn't even look at except to put them back in the suitcase.
Would like to try packing light as it definitely has advantages that you pointed out.
Lu
I have gotten better... Now I wear everything I pack! There have been sometimes when I wished I had packed something I didn't have, but I just did without. I remember when I was in New York and I must have been hormonal, but I didn't like anything I had and I had to borrow something from a friend!
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