The first place the travel bug led me was New Orleans. Like all great travel stories, this one involved a beautiful young female. I was about to finish my sophomore year at University, infatuated and lovesick. When the girl of my dreams decided to run back to her boyfriend, I was crushed. I needed to get away. I needed something to occupy all my thoughts. I needed something (anything) to keep me busy.
Relief work in New Orleans seemed like the perfect solution.
I brought one full-size suitcase and a completely loaded book bag on that trip. I only stayed there for two weeks, and it wasn’t like I needed to remain fashionable. We were gutting houses, afterall. I didn’t need kicking gear when I was sweating in Tyvek suits for six, seven hours a day. Now that I’m thinking about it, I have no idea what the hell I brought with me on that trip.
I definitely improved over the years, but I still came across some last minute pangs of “what-if-I-need-this?” worries. I did my best to keep it to a minimum, but I did just spend two days crashing with my perfectly adorable but high maintenance cousin (love you, Sanny!) Over the two days, she tempted me with all these unnecessary luxuries: “Oh, don’t you want to use a big fluffy towel, Ming?” or “Don’t drink out of your water bottle – here, use a glass!”
I came across a whole slew of crap I suddenly realized might come in handy for the next six weeks: bug repellent, Campus Suds, an extra Maglite, a money belt, an extra Ex-Officio jacket, hair gel, a knife. With each item, I asked myself: “If someone put a gun to my head and told me to get rid of this, would I be able to?” That helped the decision making process considerably.
Not that it was perfect.I did succumb to some last minute packing additions: extra laundry detergent, toilet paper, extra zip-lock bags, a wifebeater and pair of shorts just for sleeping. As I travel more, I’m sure I’ll be able to pare down what I’m currently bringing, and learn to suppress those last minute worries.
