Traveling light ~ the new normal

[not so long ago] that we didn’t think twice about taking a large, weighty suitcase and carry-on bags when we flew somewhere. Taking luggage today usually comes at a price and so many of us are being forced to pare down and settle into a new mode of taking nothing but the bare essentials in our hand luggage.

I admire minimalists. I would like to “come back” as one in my next life. I have a great propensity to live with too much STUFF. I also tend to take too much STUFF when I travel. Since I was flying up last week, I resolved to travel light. I always try [really hard] to be minimal when I pack, but I always end up taking more than I need and it’s, well no pun intended, extra baggage. The intent is sincere, but I seem unable to follow through. This time I was determined I would take the smallest carry-on bag I own and I would exercise restraint and make it work for the trip.

It helped a lot that I knew we’d be mostly at my son’s new house, unpacking and moving things around. Therefore, I could get away with really casual clothing. It also helped that it’s currently summer because warm weather clothing is more compact than winter woollies are. I would be away for 3 nights/2 and-a-half days so I thought my clothes through, made a packing list tailored to my needs and tried not to take anything unneeded. I took one sweater for the weekend and I ended up wearing it each day because the weather was generally cooler than forecast. Had I known about the lower temperatures, I’d likely have taken more than one sweater but I wore this one several times, and it was just fine. This was a good lesson about not taking extra!

In my carry-on, I fit relevant clothes which I rolled up tightly to save on space, a travel-size hairdryer and my flip flops. To keep my clothes clean, I pack my shoes in old socks that I don’t wear any more.

On the tech side, I took my phone, my laptop and my camera so I needed all their chargers and cords. Wouldn’t a universal cord and charger for all these devices be revolutionary?

If you travel by air and do not check a bag, then you know about the challenge of packing toiletries with a 4 oz. allowance for liquids. I carefully contemplated all the items I would need and determined that I would buy some of the useful items I had been seeing here at Blackhawk in our Travel Section. We have empty tubes that you can decant liquids into and, therefore, you take just the amount of shampoo, conditioner, lotion needed for the time away and no more. The travel tubes are packed in their own little see through pouch almost the size of a regulation Ziploc, but they are also available individually.

I splurged on a luggage scale because I have needed one for a long time. In the past I would stand on the scale alone, then with my luggage and then do the math to get the bag’s weight. This method has proved inaccurate a few times, leaving me panicking at check-in where I’ve had to take items out of one bag and stuff them into another. No fun. I’ve also had a couple of times where my hand luggage was scrutinized for weight and size, and on an international flight I had to check it at the last minute and almost missed my flight. So, this time, I was determined to be within the 18lb limit. The beauty of this little scale is that you can take it on the trip and check your baggage weight for coming home too.

I always travel with a couple of spare plastic baggies and I never regret this. Something that I also take is an expandable tote that folds into almost nothing. When away, I can use it as an extra day pack, a grocery bag, or simply to keep toiletries and medications stored all in one bag at my destination.

When I arrived at security, I took off my shoes and then pulled out my laptop and the baggy with the toiletries, placing them into TSA bins, knowing I was well within my limit with liquids and the sizes of my bags. What a good feeling….for a nice change!

Into my large handbag, I strategically placed a loaf of fresh cinnamon chip bread and 2 South Carolina peaches for my son. Both were greatly appreciated and I was pleased as punch that (1.) They didn’t get smooshed, and (2.) That I was able to finally take no more than I needed!

Coming home I didn’t have any souvenirs or gifts from my trip. I find this helps greatly as a way to save money, travel space and with clutter at home. I have already begun the practice of not buying souvenirs for myself, but to rather bring home a rock, a piece of sea glass or some broken china – all findings that I can work into my mosaic stepping stones. But that is a story for another day!

 

Traveling Tip:

These are websites I have used in my endeavors to travel light.

This is a site http://www.onebag.com/useful-packing-tips.html that has wonderful tips which I have used in the past – how to pack and what [not] to take.

This one http://www.travelite.org/archive/clothing/womenswardrobe2.html takes 9 items of clothing and suggests unique combinations for 2 weeks of travel. While it’s obviously for women, men can certainly adapt with the exception of a skirt, skort and scarf. Well heck, what am I talking about – it’s so much easier for men. Isn’t it?

Note:

Blackhawk has an endcap loaded with TSA approved locks, luggage tags, adapter plugs for international travel, bottles and tubes, luggage scales and so much more.