Never have I felt more worthy of a vacation than the one I just returned from. The previous few months were a blur of nose-to-the-grindstone days and late nights, consumed by multiple work-related deadlines, the heartbreak of a couple of deaths in the family, and the usual everyday stresses of life. Once I’d met my last deadline, I’d promised myself a vacation to my “happy place”—otherwise known as anywhere that’s hot, humid, and close to the sea. Like writer Heather Goodspeed-Walter suggests in her Rewilding story, we can all benefit from the healing power of the outdoors, and I was definitely overdue for some quality nature time. After debating between India and Thailand, I settled on the latter because I knew it would easy (no visas!), that the food would be divine (coconut curry, 24/7!), and it ticked all the “happy” boxes.
On departure day, I was relaxed and ready to roll. I knew I deserved this trip—and the daily massages I was about to indulge in—and I was also utterly lacking in pre-flight anxiety because my low-maintenance travel style supports easy, fluid mobility.
For me, successful travel begins and ends with the bag: As you can see, I travel light! Tucked inside that one little carry-on bag (A fabulous Parisian thrift-store find) are all the necessities for a fun-in-the-sun holiday. Specifically,
- a pair of sandals
- a sun hat
- a stainless-steel water bottle
- bathing suit
- two sleeveless dresses
- a one-piece sleeveless jumpsuit
- a sheer beach cover-up
- undies and bras
- scarf
- belt
- a cloth shopping bag
- toiletries
- travel journal and second notebook
- backup pair of sunglasses
In my purse, I carried my Kindle, a small notebook, passport, pen, wallet, glasses, sunglasses, and a toothbrush. Sounds like a lot, right? It was! In fact, each time someone made a comment about how light I was traveling, my immediate response was “I’m actually carrying more than I’d like!” Next time, I’ll pare it down by eliminating the extra dress, ditching the belt (I can use the scarf to cinch in my waist if need be), and maybe carrying just one notebook instead of three.
What does your packing situation look like for an average vacation? Do you stuff a suitcase on wheels or load up a backpack? What are some of the indispensible items you carry with you when you ship off? And most importantly, where are you spending your next vacation? Please share!
On departure day, I was relaxed and ready to roll. I knew I deserved this trip—and the daily massages I was about to indulge in—and I was also utterly lacking in pre-flight anxiety because my low-maintenance travel style supports easy, fluid mobility.
For me, successful travel begins and ends with the bag: As you can see, I travel light! Tucked inside that one little carry-on bag (A fabulous Parisian thrift-store find) are all the necessities for a fun-in-the-sun holiday. Specifically,
- a pair of sandals
- a sun hat
- a stainless-steel water bottle
- bathing suit
- two sleeveless dresses
- a one-piece sleeveless jumpsuit
- a sheer beach cover-up
- undies and bras
- scarf
- belt
- a cloth shopping bag
- toiletries
- travel journal and second notebook
- backup pair of sunglasses
In my purse, I carried my Kindle, a small notebook, passport, pen, wallet, glasses, sunglasses, and a toothbrush. Sounds like a lot, right? It was! In fact, each time someone made a comment about how light I was traveling, my immediate response was “I’m actually carrying more than I’d like!” Next time, I’ll pare it down by eliminating the extra dress, ditching the belt (I can use the scarf to cinch in my waist if need be), and maybe carrying just one notebook instead of three.
What does your packing situation look like for an average vacation? Do you stuff a suitcase on wheels or load up a backpack? What are some of the indispensible items you carry with you when you ship off? And most importantly, where are you spending your next vacation? Please share!
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