Travel fit and travel light
It’s a challenge to travel light. The problem arises from needs versus wants.
When I was younger, fashion always trumped practicality. I think there is an unwritten commandment about death by footwear: “Thou shalt not die wearing practical shoes.” Or something like that.
So if you must wear those boots or stiletto heels, wear them on the plane instead of packing them. Just make sure you take them off before exiting down the inflatable slide so you don’t destroy the emergency exit for your fellow passengers. Or better yet, wear your practical shoes. They are easier to run in and remove for security screening.
The best advice I’ve ever received wasn’t about what to pack. It was about how to pack. Pack stuff that has multiple purposes.
For instance, a belt can be used as a strap for a clip-on water bottle or to wrap around clothes to make them more compact. A packable coat can be used as a pillow. A wrap or sarong can be used as a blanket. Shoes provide empty space for socks, underwear, etc. The possibilities are limitless.
I once watched a video that suggested hiding money in a bar of soap — an interesting idea, but you don’t want to literally wash your money down the drain. Most of us can manage that without the soap.
Over the years, I’ve managed to eliminate a lot of stuff based on how much room it takes up and how much it weighs. While working as a flight attendant, I always kept my suitcase packed and eliminated or added stuff as necessary. Often, we walked up and down stairs with our bags, and I learned the hard way to travel light. Try packing for your trip a week ahead of time. Then carry your suitcase up and down a flight of stairs a few times. You will probably figure out what to eliminate without any assistance. Trying to defy the laws of physics instills humility. Or, to put it another way, don’t mess with mother nature.
I love backpacks. I can get more stuff in my backpack than in a purse, and it fits under the seat. Purse inserts work great for organizing backpacks.
I also love my Apple watch. It can do almost everything my phone can do with the exception of taking pictures. I can swim, snorkel, and walk in the rain with it and don’t have to leave it on the beach or on a boat. I can also pay for stuff with it and text or call, which I think is the coolest thing ever. However, the technology is still new and doesn’t always work, so for now, I’ll probably still take my phone. I will just lock it in a safe at my destination so I don’t lose it. If you are hiking in a rainforest or even walking around town and lose your phone, you may spend the rest of your vacation trying to find it and recover all the information it contains. Always pack clothing with secure pockets.
Try not to look too touristy. Expensive jewelry and cameras are enticing to a starving kid in a third-world country or a gang member in any country. Skorts and scarves are great inventions for women. You can looked dressed up even if you aren’t, and they have a dual purpose. If you can be labeled as a wealthy American simply by your possessions or mannerisms, you become a target and at the very least make everyone else look bad.
Here are a few more tips on how to travel light:
—You need an emergency kit and toothbrush.
—You don’t need stiletto heels.
—You need your phone, tickets, and itinerary.
—You don’t need a purse.
—You need to carry a change of clothes in your backpack.
—You don’t need expensive jewelry.
—You need to keep any medications accessible.
—You don’t need a hair dryer, bread machine, or coffee pot. Seriously!
