“Hell yeah!”, I announce to my dad upon entering the room, my stuffed backpack alighted on my shoulders like a trophy. The TV was showing the recently completed financial debt deal, and I felt like my packing challenge had been surmounted as well.
It’s one thing to have a neat list of all the items you want and supposedly need to pack for a trip, but it’s always an altogether different beast once you put that into practice. Even with a few years of experience packing for international trips, I still struggle to not overpack.
I think I might have overpacked. Again.
Granted, my previous trips have been two week jaunts to Europe or South America. Traveling for a year is slightly different. By slightly different, I mean in my mind I think I need more things. Such as the laptop I will now be bringing. Or the brand new DSLR camera I needed to have because I talked myself into wanting to take better pictures with a fancier camera. Plus these little devils need all sorts of cables to function. Oh, and I can’t just have one lens for my camera, no no no, I also need a zoom lens. Yes, these things are “must haves” when traveling for a year.
Notice the sarcasm? See, this is the dichotomy of the two Brian’s. The first is what I will call “Planning Brian”, who loves the idea of taking a laptop to blog and taking a nice camera for awesome pictures. The second I will call “U-Haul Brian”, who has to carry this crap on his back in 90-plus degree weather, cursing as the weight gets heavier with each step. Sweat dripping into your eyes? No problem, says Planning Brian. It will be fine. Screw you, retorts U-Haul Brian. This crap is heavy and I’m pretty sure it’s not going to magically get lighter.
In all seriousness, I really do love the challenge that comes with trying to pack light. I find it fun to figure out how to get everything to fit, and kind of enjoy the agonizing that comes with deciding whether or not to pack that second pair of cargo shorts, or that extra travel size bottle of Listerine (Yes, Listerine! I love fresh breath and might be a bit obsessed with my teeth!)
My dad suggested yesterday as I was struggling through this packing challenge that I might want to blog about stuff like this.
OK, Dad. Good idea. Here you go. See, my dad is smart. Not quite as smart as Packing Brian, but maybe smarter than U-Haul Brian.
Or perhaps he just might be smarter than both.
How many extra pounds will you be carrying??
51 pounds
Did u weigh the bag this time ? Looks heavy 😉
It is a bit heavy – 51 pounds total. Luckily my daypack is in there too and I will take that out for flights.
So which picture is Planning Brian and which is U-Haul Brian?? I can’t even imagine packing for a whole year… there just ain’t a backpack big enough!! What kind of dSLR do you have?
Both pictures are U-Haul Brian 🙂 See, Planning Brian doesn’t touch or lift the bags, he just thinks it’s fun to pack “one more item”. It is hard to pack for a whole year and decide not to bring something. I can buy stuff along the way though so that helps. My camera is a Canon EOS Rebel T3i.
Dude – this rocks. I can’t believe your adventure is so close to launch. Don’t forget Pret a Manger for some really nice sandwiches and baguettes in London. It ain’t Jimmy Johns but neither is it Fish n Chips! I can see you fitting in a few baguettes in those side pockets 😉
You know I will be visiting Pret a Manger frequently to get my sandwich fix!
Things that are smarter than Dad, let’s start a list:
Alright, list complete!!!
Good list brother. I don’t think you left anything out either.
Boy those Soybeans in the background sure look good! Better enjoy sitting outside at night, drinking coffee and watching the corn grow before you leave. That’s the life!
So Brian the things that you buy where are you going to put them at?? Fanny pack, Wrist pack, in your socks/??
Well my day pack is currently in my regular backpack so if I take that out there is plenty of room. My plan for now is if/when I buy enough things I will just ship them back to the US.
Suwandi shared this out on G+… inspiration for your new camera? http://gizmodo.com/5827842/what-traveling-around-the-world-looks-like-in-1-minute-hint-awesome/gallery/1
Those videos are awesome. I bet that took a ton of work in post production.