Traveling Decisions

I love traveling. J Going away from home reminds me how little stuff I truly need.  As I fly away, everything I have gets farther and farther away. It is sitting at home doing nothing during the trip. I brought one suitcase. Despite feeling I could have used more clothes, I did not need more. I got through the week just fine. In addition, there was a laundry service if I needed it and a gift shop for the items I forget (which happened).  

One choice I made for this trip was the number of bathing suits I should bring. I think if I was to pack again I would bring three bathing suits for my 4 nights/ 5 days beach vacation vs the two I brought with me.  Having one extra swim suit would make my trip easier because I won't need to worry about drying the swimsuit as fast. However, on the other side of the pro con list, two swim suits means I don’t have to carry and remember a third one.  

The questions are: do I need 3? Not really. I wanted three swim suits to make the trip a little more comfortable. Do I want to spend the limited space I have to bring one more: Yes please.  The final question is: do I have the space for another one? If I have a backpack, probably not. If I have a large suitcase, yes I can fit three swimsuits.

Shoes are little bigger, and the cost analysis has more pros for leaving shoes at home. Shoes takes more suitcase room. I brought a pair of boat shoes but ended up not using them.  I used flip flops instead.* I misjudged the vacations activities.  As this trip unfolded, I wish I didn’t bring the extra shoes. I could have used that space for that 3^rd swimsuit or another dress. Each item needs to be carefully considered.  I get better at packing each time I travel, but each decision is a hard choice to make.

*note: I would bring my boat shoes if more time was spent on a boat, or if I knew the boat had closed-toed shoes as a requirement.

What makes me bring or buy more is the feeling that I might not have it if I need it. That feeling is a habit that takes time to break. The more time you spend with smaller amounts of items the safer you will feel with less. At home, I have the space to hold the larger quantity of items; traveling I don’t. Traveling makes you challenge those assumptions of need.

“What if” is a hard anxiety to ignore. However, when you are traveling the space taken by each item makes it easier to give up if the item isn’t worth the hassle. Each purchase needs to be considered, held on its own merits - but in the end, there is only so much room. Only the best survives the decision process. 

What item do you absolutely have to have on your travel adventure? Mine is my iPhone/ camera.