Confessions of a Possessions Addict
He who would travel happily must travel light
-Antoine de Saint-Exupery
I learned the difference between needs and wants early in life. My parents, no-frills Midwesterners, were products of the Great Depression. Ours was a household that knew how to use up, wear out, refurbish and, when it came to frivolous fads, simply do without. I know the benefits of a streamlined, low-maintenance existence.
However, as an adult I carry the baggage of my own place and time—an environment fraught with an insatiable appetite for stuff. A decade ago, the department stores that supply my decidedly middle-class wardrobe began offering high-quality goods at reasonable prices. I developed an addictive taste for cashmere and pashmina, silk and soft leather. My homegrown sensibility pardoned the indulgence. Stocking up on bargains was prudent.
Owning so many lovely things enriched my assessment of me. Was it any wonder that I wanted to take my treasures along as I explored new places and impressed fresh faces? The cruel fact that I packed more than I could possibly need never fazed me. I was simply being prepared for the unexpected. My vision of travel possibilities included ample opportunity to strut about in evening attire and four-inch heels. Reality more likely found me bedraggled, pulling 50 pounds of unnecessary possessions through a rainstorm. Keeping track of all my things while staying in a strange environment was no picnic either. All that packing and unpacking took up valuable time and elevated stress levels.
I am now in recovery. This job has given me plenty of practical travel experience and the opportunity to interview a host of experts. Recently I spent a week in Florida with just the contents of one carry-on, small enough to easily slip beneath the aircraft seat. Avoiding overload is my new crusade, and here are my best tips for learning to travel light.
- Think through what you will be doing. Visualize the type of clothing you need. Stick to the basics, including a shawl or wrap that can work in lots of ways— as a towel, blanket, scarf, beach cover-up, etc.
- Strategize a color scheme. I prefer blacks, tans, white and one accent color.
- Think light layers instead of bulky items.
- If you have a possession problem, array all the things you think you’ll need on your bed. Try to put half the stuff back where it came from.
- Limit shoes. Flats, sandals, flip-flops all form a nice structure in the bottom of a soft sided bag. Gentlemen, wear your heaviest shoes. If you must take additional dress shoes, stuff your socks or other small items into them. Check out collapsible athletic shoes such as Nike’s Free. They fold up and take very little room.
- Scrunch small stuff—underwear and accessories—into a gallon-size sealable bag. Squeeze out all the air.
- Roll up your clothes like little logs. They take less room and don’t wrinkle as much.
- Remember to take small quantities of toiletries. TSA guidelines limit carry-on items to three ounces or less. Isn’t that enough for most travels? Don’t pack jumbo-size anything, even in checked bags.
.
Happy Skies,
Colleen