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Published: November 3rd 2012
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I've made all my official announcements, pronouncements and advertisements, now it's time to leave. Wheels are up on December first, so the apartment is a mess of things we're frantically trying to get into storage or trade for green pictures of dead presidents. Craigslist adds are flying, phone calls and texts are flying back and forth as Eya and I milk our social network for every dollar our non-portable accessories are worth. Which reminds me, anyone want to buy a queen-sized bed?
Birthdays have been fun, trying to shop for some REI version of an electronic luxury or figuring out how to ruggedize the things we want to take. Moving your life into a 65 liter backpack is a powerful exercise in minimalism. What objects define me? What can I double-up to save space? What can I get through customs?
Here's the things I've got ready to roll out with.
Packing Gear: Counterclockwise from the top right.
One Osprey Aether 70 Backpack: This is a bigger pack than I will likely need, I overbought here. If I were to do it again, I would probably downgrade to something like a 50-liter under 24" tall so I could
bring it as a carry-on (something like this:
http://www.rei.com/product/828428/osprey-atmos-50-pack). We originally planned to camp out a bit on our travels, so we needed room for the tent and sleeping pad/bag combo. Now that we're couchsurfing and hostelling, there's an extra 20 liters of space I don't need anymore and will probably end up filling with goofy stuff I don't need.
Osprey Raincover: Ties around the outside of the backpack to save contents from the weather, or possibly reduce airport mishandling.
Sleeping bag liner: Keeps bedbugs out of my favorite set of skin.
Steripen: This is a UV-based germ-neutering device, hopefully keeping all those fun water-based viruses from ruining too many of my days.
Tektowel: Full size and washcloth. These pack down further and absorb more water than the standard variety.
Hand-Scrubby: Doubles as a padded bag for my padlock.
Padlock: Necessary for hostels.
Headlamp: When you need light, you generally also need the use of your hands. This headlamp is pretty sweet.
Nalgene Bottle: Everyone needs to drink.
Eagle Creek Compression Bags: These help reduce the volume that clothes take up in the pack, which is important, and waterproof the clothing
inside, which is just as important in my opinion. Imagine a giant zip-lock bag with a one-way air valve.
Emergency Lightstick: You just never know.
Earplugs: Bus rides and hostel rooms require these.
Deck of cards: For making friends or passing the time.
Matches: One of those 'you never know' items that weighs practically nothing.
SAS Survival guide: Fun reading material. Who knows, I may need to lead a guerrilla uprising. Always be prepared.
Notepad: For when I have writing ideas, taking directions.
Ziplock bag: Keeps water away.
Stuff Sacks of many sizes: For dirty laundry, toiletries, anything I need to keep together or create a moisture barrier for.
One Zip-Up backpack: Because I will need a carryon and don't need to pack everything whenever I go out for the day.
Picture two: Accessories. From the right, moving left.
Galaxy Nexus, carrying case, bluetooth keyboard. This is a library, internet machine and word processor. Theoretically it also has these "app" things you can use for entertainment or something.
Human and gear repair kit: This is first aid plus a seweing kit. Sterile bandages, bandaids, surgical gloves, allergy and
pain pills, stored in a ziplock hard case to keep things from getting crushed.
Sunglasses with strap.
Parachute chord: Many many uses, I'll let Eric post a link or something.
Passport and immunization records: I need these to cross borders (legally).
Sharpee markers with duct tape rolled around them: Duct tape is essential for everything, and sharpies are good for both sign-making (hitchiking), vandalism and advertising. The last two might be the same thing in some areas.
Toothpaste and toothbrush: There are a couple other toiletries (shaving, deoderant, soap, toilet paper) that I haven't assembled yet.
Passport folio: Keep everything spiffy and organized. Also acts as a hidden wallet/business card holder.
GoPro camera: I wanted something invulnerable, so my fantastic girlfriend got me one for my birthday.
Nylon strap: Mostly intended for a seatbelt on those hair-raising mountain pass bus rides.
Picture Three Clothing: From the bottom, left to right.
Montrail Trail Runners
Chacos
Smartwool socks and a pair on ininji toe-socks for blister prevention on long hikes
Shorts/swim trunks
Utilikilt. This Is one I debated leaving behind, but it's such a great item for getting me out of my own head I figured it's worth the weight.
Travel pants and jeans.
Underwear: Smartwool and Ex Officio. Per the adds I can now go a month without doing laundry.
Parachute chord bracelet.
Smartwool gloves. I got ones with the fun metallic tips for touchscreens.
Fleece Jacket on top of rain jacket, both Marmot brand. Good stuff.
Belt. It's super tough. It said firejumpers wear them. Not sure if that's true.
Button-down shirts. The tan one is for jungle-ing, the blueish one is for the rare occasion I need to look presentable.
Long-sleeve smartwool t-shirt, two outdoor-aventure type t-shirts, one polo shirt, one plain white t-shirt.
Merino wool buff. It's a open-ended cyclinder of fabric used as a scarf, hat, mask, pirate head-scarf, or blindfold.
Fishin-hat. This is for when I want to look like a super-crazy gringo.
I'm also taking a mandolin, but I haven't bought it yet.
When it's all type-out it looks like a lot of crazy stuff. The entire living room is a wreck. Then I look at all the other stuff I normally own, like a fridge full of food, a full wardrobe, kitchen and dining objects, electronics, music equipment...Then I pack it all in a bag and it looks like the last picture.
So, I have everything I can have, which is much less than I used to think I need.
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seth
non-member comment
just a thought
what about a small solar panel to charge electronic devices as well as an adapter for the various outlets used in other countries