Many years ago I traveled with my oldest daughter through Europe
as our "mother/daughter" trip before she graduated from High School.
The concept of a mother/daughter trip was genius and it brought us closer in so
many ways. We made friends and connected with each other and the world in a way
that changed both of our lives. We both gained confidence, me in seeing how my
daughter would be "out in the world" as a world citizen and her
confidence increased in knowing that the world is a wonderful adventure and not
something to be afraid of. Ironically, shortly after our return and her
subsequent year abroad as a Rotary Youth Exchange student, September 11th
occurred, and that new-found confidence helped to bolster her while her country
was under attack and she had to rely on people from around the world for
protection.
Our family felt
confident in her safety as a Rotary Youth Exchange student and I think her
reaction to the attacks was informed by her previous travel experiences. She,
as many in our family, understood that the people who were attacking the United
States were an isolated group of people and that remaining in France during
this difficult time in history was essential because as a Rotary Youth Exchange
student, she was also an ambassador of her country and she needed to continue
to shine the light on the fact that many of us in the United States were loving
caring world citizens. She made the decision to stay and complete the remaining
ten months of exchange. It was not an easy year for any of us, but she drew
upon the strength gained from her many travel experiences with us as a family
and from the confidence she developed while on our European mother/daughter
trip.
Rotary Youth
Exchange encourages reciprocity and as a result, in our home during this time
was a Muslim student from Bulgaria, whose family had originated from Turkey -
so the importance of our surrounding the student in our care was increased as
we processed so many questions in all of our homes during that time.
So what does any
of this have to do with minimalistic packing? The European trip that Alison and
I took for our mother/daughter excursion began with a Rick Steves Bus Bed and
Breakfast Back Door through seven countries and one of the many things that I
love about Rick Steves' tours is that we learned about minimalist packing. Not
only did we have to carry our own luggage up and down many flights of stairs,
up mountainsides, down Alps' paths ridden with slugs, through the canals of
Venice...but we were continually on the go and so taking away the time
consuming decision about what to wear everyday was appreciated. When you pack
minimalistically, there are just not a lot of choices about what to wear each
day since several outfits are hanging up drying and the other outfit is the one
you are wearing. It is actually great! And, in the morning when the bus is
ready to take off, it only takes a few minutes to throw everything you have
into your bag and be off. I love that Rick Steves gave me that freedom when
traveling.
http://tours.ricksteves.com/tours/
So then, why is it
so frightening? Since that trip I have not been a minimalist packer, despite
all of my good intentions. Granted, many o the trips I have taken recently
involve taking material aid and many suitcases loaded with school supplies,
items for newborn babies and medical supplies that the people with whom I was
visiting could not purchase locally...but I am talking about my own personal
stuff. This is in my mind as I prepare to travel with my youngest daughter on
our mother/daughter trip to Thailand and Cambodia. These are countries where it
is hot and we just don't need that much stuff. Collectively we will take seven
flights and everything about what I know about traveling is screaming at me to
be a minimalist packer...why is it so hard? With the Rick Steves tour we were
told in no uncertain terms that we were allowed only one carry-on bag - period.
We were even given the list of exactly what to pack for twenty-one days.
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/packlist.htm
So why is this so
hard? I am leaving in four days and between Shannon and me we have three
carry-on sized bags filled plus my magical backpack and her satchel...how do
others pack? How do you discipline yourself to not only dream about packing
light? How do you just do it? I am going to step away from the suitcase pile
right now and find the strength and inspiration to repack...in the minimalistic
manner inspired by Rick Steves. Happy to hear your suggestions.
