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Have you ever found yourself standing at the precipice of a grand adventure, only to be thwarted by the sheer volume of your luggage?
Picture This: Katy vs. The Train
Feast your eyes on this gem. Here’s Katy, trying to board a train in Sri Lanka with backpacks so overloaded they could double as a small closet. In this snapshot, she’s draped in backpacks, tote bags, there's even a portable hammock in there. (because, why not?). Katy wrestling with her bags, looking like a modern-day Sherpa lost in transit.
The Art of (Over) Packing
Back in the day, Katy was convinced that her travel bag needed to accommodate every potential scenario. Beach camping? Check. Impromptu black-tie event? Double-check. Her bags were so stuffed, she could hardly fit through the doors on a train!
Abby, on the other hand, started her travel career with a collection of high heels and pantsuits for a teaching stint in Thailand. Who knew Business Casual wouldn't be useful on a motorbike journey through Southeast Asia? She also had a foolish notion that if it fit in her bag, it wouldn’t weigh her down. Spoiler alert: physics doesn’t work that way.
The Great Purge
Eventually, reality hit. The duo had to shed our baggage—both literal and metaphorical. Abby’s luggage went on its own adventure across Thailand via post truck, while Katy started leaving a trail of clothes across New Zealand like breadcrumbs leading back to sanity. It took us months to refine our packing lists, trimming the fat and learning to live with less.
The Evolution of Our Packing Skills
Nowadays, our packing style is as streamlined as our morning coffee routine. For vacations, we stick to a week's worth of clothing, embracing the capsule wardrobe life. Katy's essentials? Sneakers, basic cotton attire, and a camera. Abby? She’s the queen of Ziploc bags and rubber bands, with a secret stash of custom-tailored jackets featuring hidden pockets.
We’ve learned to value function over fashion, which is why you won’t catch us hobbling around Europe in uncomfortable shoes. Plus, we've become masters of the art of doing laundry on the road. A little powder soap, a sink and a little patience goes a long way.
Packing Tips for the Modern Traveler
So, what should you take away from our packing escapades? Here are some golden nuggets:
Pack for a Week: No matter the trip length, a week's worth of clothes suffices. Embrace the joy of laundry days!
Invest in Good Shoes: Your feet will thank you after miles of exploring cobblestone streets and uneven trails.
Capsule Wardrobe: Mix and match basics are your best friends. Think layers and versatile pieces that work for different occasions.
Tech Savvy: Bring only what you need. A universal power adapter, portable charger, and perhaps a tiny speaker if you’re musically inclined.
Less is More: Leave behind the “just-in-case” items. Most things can be bought or borrowed along the way.
Final Thoughts
Packing isn’t just about what goes in the bag; it’s about what you’re willing to leave behind. Whether you’re gearing up for a weekend getaway or a year-long adventure, remember that the best part of travel is the journey itself, not the baggage you bring along. And sometimes, that journey involves a very public struggle to board a train in Sri Lanka.
Got a hilarious packing story or a tip that saved your trip? Share it with us! We’d love to hear about your travel triumphs and tribulations. Until next time, happy trails, and may your bags always be light and your adventures plenty!
Catch the full episode on Spotify and Apple Podcast. And remember, if your bag isn’t bursting at the seams, did you even pack?
P.S. Abby never did part with her beloved koozies, and Katy, well, she never quite let go of the dream of that disco light show on the go.
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