Everything I Own
It’s June 2010 and 43 days ago I heaved my Kelty Moraine 3200 on my back, walked into San Jose International Airport, and haven’t looked back.
Life out of a backpack is different than any other style of life.
The biggest triumph of a day (or week- let’s be honest) is a shower- a hot shower is just pushing it. You never know where you will lay your head at night, half the time you don’t understand things people are saying to you (ahh, but half the time you do!), and square meals were a thing of the past. The one thing you do know for sure is what you own, cause like a tortoise’s shell, it’s always on your back!
Below is a list of every item I own- ever. Every scrap of paper, pack of gum, everything- this is it folks.
Clothing
1 pair of jeans * 1 pair of cargo pants * 1 light cotton pant * 1 pair of workout pants * 1 bathing suit * 16 pairs of panties * 11 pairs of socks * 2 bras * 1 long sleeve workout shirt (now hole-y, thanks to the fire incident*
5 recreational shirts * 2 light black sweaters * 1 zip up hoodie
1 hooded scarf (which is awesome) * Waterproof (and apparently fireproof) Merrells with a dogtag tied on the left shoe- just in case I die
“Junk Drawer” Bag
1 D&K Greece Book * First Aid Kit * 1 meditations booklet * 2 moleskin notebooks
* 30 Action Wipes
1 Vanilla Bean Noel Body Lotion * 1 lemon body spray
* tons of pens (yes, I know they have pens other places in the world, but I REALLY like having them)
* deck of cards * glasses * contact lens solution & case
* 1 laptop & cords * 1 digital camera * 1 memory card * 1 world adapter
* 1 emergency CLIF bar (thank you :)) * 1 photo album with 30 pictures
* 1 US passport * 1 debit card * 1 pair of Reefs (oh how I love thee) * 3 packs of Orbit
Toiletries (the eternal pain in the ass bag)
Merlot Night Cream * Ayur Medic Tinted SPF cream * hairbrush *
Hawaiian Tropic Sunblock * Neutrogena Sunblock * LUSH solid shampoo & tin
* 3 mascaras… or 4…* 1 eyebrow powder * 1 eyeshadow container
* 7 chapsticks (yeah, I know) * 1 disposable razor with a piece of denim
* 3 lighters * 1 eyeliner * 1 tweezer * 50 bobby pins * 8 hair bands
* 1 swiss army knife * 1 Smith Wesson special tactical knife
* 2 pairs of earrings * 2 necklaces * 1 compact mirror
That’s it- no more, no less. Yet every time I pick up the anchor that is my Kelty I feel so tempted to leave it on the curb and walk away. 3200 cubic inches, 52 liters, it’s so LITTLE compared to the things I used to have, so little compared to what I used to think I “needed”.
So little compared to one good day of shopping, and still- I want to throw most of it away. I have found so many things that I now carry with me, inside me, in my mind, in my heart, my eyes, the things I can buy with money (aside from keeping me alive) offer me no satisfaction (okay, let’s leave makeup out of this).
I’m not saying that giving away everything you own and leaving to travel the world will make you happy- but I am saying that it did for me. 🙂
'Round the World Packing List aka Everything I Own' have 9 comments
April 15, 2010 @ 7:35 pm Caleb
A) Hurray for the one bag.
B) I’m impressed that much clothing fit into the 52 liter AND u got to take the pain in the ass bag of girly things.
C) THREE LIGHTERS?!?! LOL pyro? Extreme adventure chain smoker?
D) Keep rocking on.
April 16, 2010 @ 2:47 pm livevicuriously
#1 – I can’t believe I got my whole life into one bag
# B – my backpack is a jigsaw puzzle, sometimes i am near tears trying to get it all in there…
3rd of all – total pyro until near death with fire incident… now, moderate pyro… chain smoking IS an extreme adventure. My Lungs vs Arsenic.
lastly, right back atcha- can’t wait to meet up with you in China…or wherever this world brings us.
April 15, 2010 @ 10:40 pm melissa is effing rad
ahahahaha wierdo.I hope you have a horrid time in spain. I hate you forever.
April 16, 2010 @ 2:45 pm livevicuriously
jealousy and love duly noted.
April 16, 2010 @ 1:26 am jo
Amazing. I so envy you. How I wish I could quit working & travel the world… leaving the annoyances behind.. I’m already halfway there, O fortunate one.
April 16, 2010 @ 2:44 pm livevicuriously
there’s always annoyances in life my dear- the ones of the road are just different 🙂 I do feel so fortunate 🙂
April 16, 2010 @ 6:26 pm Mom
You, my dear are simply inspiring. When we moved I pared down our life so much and yet we still have so much. Grrrr! Paring shall continue. I have no desire to live out of a backpack, however, I do wish to continue to rid myself of things I just don’t use or enjoy. Love you a whole bunch.
April 17, 2010 @ 1:11 am Adam
Awesome that you got it all in that one backpack! I’m just about to start cramming my stuff in so I’m trying to figure out if I’ve planned to bring too much already.
Also glad to see you’ve got a moleskin notebook. And two of them at that! I was trying to decide if I should bring two, so you’ve already convinced me.
April 17, 2010 @ 4:12 pm livevicuriously
I dont know if Im a master packer, but I am certainly a master crammer! Every cubic inch is packed with my little life! Absolutely bring the moleskins- best travel journal ever, and I’ve been through about 6 so far. 🙂 I’ll be waiting to see how much vegemite you can smuggle!