I have been giggling to myself all week. Some of the giggles are of an incredulous nature – I just can’t believe how lucky I am sometimes! Sure, I have no job and my shiny new college degree doesn’t seem to have the magic wand-type power I imagined. But its all good because my mom and I are leaving soon for six weeks in Southeast Asia: a three day layover in Beijing, then on to Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. I have surpassed excitement level: Jessie Spano (without getting … so scared).
Actually the rest of my giggles also fall into the incredulous category, now that I think about it. Y’all will not believe how little we are taking for six weeks in five countries! I hardly believe it myself. It’s seriously making me laugh every time I look at my pack.
It’s not like I’m usually a high-maintenance packer – I’m taking the good ol Osprey pack I’ve been toting around the world for the last few years – but this time all that’s in it are my shoes (and a pair of my moms), two large Ziploc of my clothes and my tube cube o’ toiletries.
We’ve never been a family of bag-checkers – strictly carry on for us – but my mom has always been a great rolling bag advocate. (I’m not going to lie – I often envy those wheels about 3/4 through a trip!) We are both taking so little that she has downsized to the backpack my dad uses for weekend trips – could your mom handle that? …that’s what I thought. :)
Crazy, right? Crazy awesome.
It feels awesome to not be weighed down by stuff. Do many other people pack this light, and am I getting excited about nothing? I didn’t even bring a raincoat – and it’s monsoon season!
If you need it, you can always buy it.
I’m not worried at all about our lack of luggage. I am relieved to avoid the overstuffed backpack/overhead bin struggle (even though I am undefeated). But mostly, in the immortal words of The Pointer Sisters (& Jessie Spano), I’m so excited!
Meredith R. Allen 