The Economy of Our Things: Minimalist Packing for Long Term Travel

Packing, I suppose, is the first signal of transition. At least to me.

Between all of the moving I've done in the past few years, from one apartment to another, never before have I taken packing so seriously. Due to the extreme downsizing I'm doing, from a 600 square foot apartment to a suitcase, the economy of my possessions has been weighing greatly on my mind. Each item has a new price tag to me - of either sentimental, useful, or financial value - and if something doesn't fit into either pile, it's going to Goodwill. Since we won't be able to bring a whole TV, bookshelf, and rice cooker to Hawaii, we have to decide what is really worth keeping.

I should make clear I plan to make use of my parent's basement space as much as possible, so I guess it might be misleading to say I only have a suitcase. My boyfriend Jasper and I are challenging ourselves to get rid of as much as possible, and really ask ourselves what we're going to need on this new journey.

My priorities while packing are thus: what will I need during this trip, and what might I need in future trips? Most of which is a wardrobe that can be packed neatly, worn comfortably, and last for years. Anything else is dead weight. So, the TV was sold, the bookshelf was given to a friend, and the rice cooker is currently waiting for a yard sale to happen. I've reduced my clothes down to a dresser (and a storage bin filled with thick sweaters). Since the weather in Hawaii is close to perfect nearly every day, my suitcase should be light (in theory).

Anyone taking on this journey knows that what you bring with you is essential. I’m no expert at it, but my biggest piece of advice is to take less than you think you’ll need. Odds are the extra baggage will just weigh you down. Plus, if you find you really need something when you’re there, you can always buy a replacement.

Also, keep in mind how often you'll be able to do laundry and use that as a basis for your wardrobe.

Another piece of advice is don’t bring anything you don’t want lost, stolen, or broken. Baggage claim is not a gentle process, and sometimes things are left behind in rooms or left out in the rain or stolen by a monkey. Travel light and travel being okay with losing everything. They’re just things.

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As of writing this, we've officially moved out of our apartment and moved back into our respective parents' houses. He's about an hour away now, and it's definitely been a weird 48 hours not having seen him. The hardest part of the move is over, now I have to store and start packing for the next leg of the journey. Countdown to flight: 19 days.