A Taste for Travel

Hi Friends Bhakti here today 🙂

I’ve been working on a comprehensive slow travel packing list for months. One I will eventually share here for anyone inspired to follow in our footsteps (I recommend it of courses!) I spent hours researching every blog and article from well-established, seasoned travelers for months. I accumulated my stack of cloches to pack and sent it to a few trusted traveling friends and a couple of fellow worldschoolers, who have been at it longer than we have. Below is every single piece of my clothes (yup… daily wear, sleepwear, and swimwear- along with unmentionables, lol) when I left Colorado for this three month foray here is what I took….

After sending that photo and the packing list around, I got almost 100% approval rating with a couple of folks suggesting maybe a couple more items should be added and I might be a little short, and others suggesting letting go of just one or two more pieces. Keep in mind, these are just my clothes and we are shouldering three very different locations (which has turned into seven as of this morning, lol) and a full season/weather change (mid winter into mid spring).

Today we are starting to plan our departure and packing up our house in Valencia. It’s bitter-sweet for sure. We have loved our five weeks here more than we even expected we might, and we are sad to go. There will be a lot of posts here over the next few days as we revisit the activities that have kept us too busy to post reflections and too exhausted as well! We are also so excited for the next arrival in Barcelona Tuesday!

I’ve decided it may be worth the effort to lighten our load and donate a few items that haven’t made the cut; and possibly ship home a small box of mementos and items we haven’t found useful here, but likely will want in the future or on other trips. This is something my fellow woldschool mom here has reassured me about, by sharing that they have done it in every destination they’ve been in almost. So I feel like her experience is emboldening me to explore the challenges of shipping internationally. Then last night, I was talking with a mom friend and fellow traveler back home (one of the trusted resources who though I might be packing light) and she was shocked at home much I felt we could let go of.

So this morning I am trying to get a real picture of what we have that we won’t need until our return. I am deep dive purging! I am vetting everything and accumulated a pile of things that could be shipped if it’s easily (relatively) done and not terribly expensive. We have agreed it would be worth some expense to lighten up.

Here is our pile of overpacked/accumulated (though we are super careful about that) stuff from all three of us…whoa… that’s a LOT! Some will get donated, or pitched (I’m already down a shrunk sweater and pair of socks as well as an accidentally dyed two shirts that were trashed weeks ago). Some may be worth the expense to ship. Verdict is out until I have a box, a reliable place to ship from, and a realistic picture of that cost. Stay tuned…

Notice right on top is my biggest packing mistake… That damn Fire tablet that has proven COMPLETELY useless! If I could go back and change anything, I have two major packing mistakes on my list. The first and BIGGEST mistake, is not bringing my laptop! I figured the boys both have theirs, three laptops for the three of us (who won’t be home to use them a ton because we are out adventuring) felt ridiculous, and if I have a tablet with external keyboard that would pretty much do it. I could share theirs for anything more I need. I WAS WRONG. Next time the laptop of the person organizing all of the accommodations and transportation and education and events and activities etc etc etc. GOES IN THE BAG!

The other major packing mistake was the backpack… this one is still evolving… and also the purse I brought. I chose the purse over the cross body bag (see… fanny pack with a better name) in a moment of stylish hope and what a mistake it was. My sister bought me the BEST travel purse ever for the holidays before we left! It has all the bells and whistles from RFID blocking to locking pockets to straps you cannot cut. It is like an ultra-lightweight iron safe that you can carry. It’s awesome. But it isn’t really hands free. I never use the thing (sorry sis). I bought a fanny pack in Spain and I’m never looking back.

Wish me luck at DHL shipping tomorrow morning and pack light fellow travelers! Yes… even lighter than you think you can….