How we roll…

Deciding to live a life of ‘home free’ travel was a joyful but not easy choice to make.  We sold or gave away most of our possessions, including our house, cars, artwork, clothes and beloved dog, Nemo.

When Kathy said I had to get my belongings down to one carry on size suitcase and a small tote bag I thought “no way”.  I am someone who had so many clothes I broke closet rods. I had drawers full of trinkets and accessories.  But I wanted to travel more than I wanted things.  I confess, I kind of cheated in packing.  I used vacuum bags for my clothes and crammed my suitcase full. I bought the biggest tote bag I could find and stuffed it with toiletries, gadgets and other stuff I thought I had to have.  We finally agreed to take an additional  large suitcase on the cruise.

The past three months of travel have been an exercise in letting go of more and more stuff. The extra suitcase, full of clothes, shoes and gadgets were given away to the Lions club in The Philippines before we got off the ship.  The great big tote bag, again full of clothes was left at our first stop: Singapore.  It was just too big and bulky to carry and I still had too many clothes.

In Chiang Mai we made some purchases we thought were necessary  (a tea kettle, hot pot, some blankets and pillows).  It was a joy to give those things (as well as more clothes) away to the lady whose place we ate at most frequently.  She will be able to use them for her family and her mosque.

Today, I am traveling light. I have enough clothes to last a week, a minimum of toiletries and comfortable walking shoes.  I have my E Reader/tablet, my phone and not else.  I can lift everything on and off trains without help.  Most importantly, I am finding out exactly how unimportant most THINGS are.  I don’t miss any of the things I have given away.  I do miss my family, friends and 12 step fellows but I always will have room for them  (YOU) in my heart.