What I Packed for a Year of Round the World (RTW) Travel Part II: Toiletries, Electronics & Miscellaneous

We've been in the UK since my last post, having a great time catching up with friends and even made a quick trip down to Cornwall, which is one of the few areas we did not get around to visiting when we lived here.  More on Cornwall in a future post, but let's get to the good stuff.  More TMI over-sharing on the crap I'm toting around the world.

But first, I must confess I did forget a couple of items in my clothing post!

• Swimsuit

It's an old faded turquoise one-piece I've had for years, so it's past its prime and I expect to toss it and buy a new one once we get to SE Asia, but at least I have one!

• Pajama Bottoms

Just some random satin ones I bought at Macy's last year.  I can't do cotton bottoms as they bunch up when I flip over in the night.  Plus, they air dry in about 10 minutes after washing.  I will also wear a t-shirt or tank top from the previous list.

• Black Spanx Tights

I'll wear them with my dress during chilly weather.

• Marc Jacobs Sunglasses

My practical side tells me to buy a cheap pair as they will likely be lost, stolen or broken, but sometimes I need to learn the hard way.

• Jewelry

I'm wearing the same items every day.  Two silver rings, including Wanda's (Perry's mom) thumb ring, one lightweight bracelet and silver earrings.  I also have my Paris Ikita enamel necklace for special occasions, but I'm giving up my watch for a year.  

My favorite necklace came from Paris and demanded to see the world

Ok, on to the rest....

ELECTRONICS & GADGETS

MacBook Air

MACBOOK AIR 11 INCH

This is my baby.  My last laptop was purchased in 2009 and gave me many years of beautiful service, but she was a heavy beast.  My new lapper is so lightweight, I stopped using my iPad and is second only to Perry as my favorite thing on this trip.

iPhone 5

I didn't upgrade to a 6 yet, as I think this phone still has lots of life left in it- plus, if disaster strikes and I drop it in water,  I won't be devastated.  Upon second thought, it would truly be devastating as it holds all of my music and podcasts for my daily walks, plus serves as our navigation device (thanks to T-mobile's amazing international plan) as well as my camera.  Pretty critical stuff so guess I will be careful.

JVC Sport Headphones

JVC SPORT HEADPHONES

I must have funny shaped ears because I cannot use standard ear buds.  I've tried repeatedly, but unless I am lying flat, they just fall out.  Since I listed to podcasts and do my Spanish lessons daily, these puppies are crucial.

X-Mini Speaker

X-MINI SPEAKER

Perry and I are podcast junkies and like to listen to them when we cook (Paula) or do dishes (Perry).  We also are doing Pimsleur language courses in Spanish (Paula) and Mandarin (Perry) so this little speaker will get heavy use without adding a lot of bulk in my pack.

Targus World Adapter

TARGUS WORLD ADAPTER

I broke our other adapter in Rochester, NY after I dropped it, so we picked up this adapter at a Staples and I love it!  For an all-in-one adapter, this one is remarkably lightweight.  My shoulders are rejoicing!

T3 SINGLE PASS COMPACT FLAT IRON

It's irrational and vain, but I just can't have frizzy hair on the road.  While it is small and lightweight, I gave up clothes to make room for it and so far, have no regrets.

MISCELLANEOUS

MIQUELRIUS NOTEBOOK

I love to journal, make lists and jot notes by hand, so I always have one of these with me.  With all my electronics, it's certainly not necessary, but I feel I must have one, so there you have it.  Irrationality rules the day. 

Cashmere eye mask

EYE MASK/EAR PLUGS

I started wearing one when I was working overseas and now I can't sleep without it.  I need to replace it as it's starting to get a bit manky, but I'm so picky, and I can't find another one just like it.  The cashmere is very soft on my face, plus it has two thin and stretchy straps for max comfort; most masks use a single thick, stiff strap that feels as though I've got a straitjacket attached to my head.  I'm less picky about ear plugs, and just picked up a container of them from Amazon.  

TOILETRIES

I've listed out my items and added a little bit of commentary on a few can't-live-without favorites.  All of these items are in travel size containers.

• Face wash/Anti-aging cream (Obagi Nu Derm)

Obagi products help me forget I'm 8 years older than Perry.   I couldn't bring all the products, so I streamlined down to the 3 most important items that work best on me: Foaming gel cleanser, Tretinoin (retinol for wrinkles) and Blender (hydroquinone for sun spots).

• Overnight moisturiser (Skin Medica Dermal Repair Cream)

Unbelievably lightweight, this moisturiser eliminates dry patches overnight and never causes a breakout.

• Daily moisturiser (Aveeno Positively Radiant 30 SPF)

I adore this daily moisturiser as it soaks in quickly and doesn't feel sticky.  While I prefer the 15 SPF, I needed to step up my sunscreen game with all the outdoor walking we will be doing.  

• Hand cream (L’Occitane lavender)

If I was going to a desert island, I would choose this over food.  

• Hair styling cream (Living Proof 5 in 1)

I really like this brand as it is not too heavy and doesn't make my head feel greasy.  

• Bumble and Bumble dry shampoo

As shampooing dries out my hair and wrecks my color, I've gotten my hair washing down to 2-3 times per week and dry shampoo has been a godsend.  Top tip: if you put it on before bed and brush out in the morning, it works even better.

• First Aid Kit (Advil, Tums, Claritin, Band Aids)
• Brush & comb
• Hair elastics/stretchy headband
• Nail clipper

LUGGAGE/CARRIERS

Michael Kors 

MICHAEL KORS JET SET WALLET

On the surface, this has to be the most indulgent, unpractical item in my pack, but let me explain!  I did buy a travel wallet in practical black nylon with RFID blocking technology, but it did not have a strap, which meant that I would have to carry it around in my hand (easy to set down and forget) or carry in my day pack, even when going to dinner.  The Jet Set is brilliant- part clutch, part wallet, part purse, it has a section for the usual wallet items such as credit cards, but also a place for my phone and enough space for a lipgloss.  But the best part is that it has a removable strap, so I can carry it like a clutch or wear it like a cross-body purse.

Friendly Swede Day Pack

FRIENDLY SWEDE DAY PACK

I got this from Perry for my birthday and he chose very well!  I planned on carrying a day pack I used for biking, but he hated the flimsy straps and dorky brand name Lewis N. Clark.  This genius pack is remarkably sturdy, yet folds up into a tiny pouch and weighs next to nothing.

TORTUGA 44 LITER BACKPACK & PACKING CUBES

While we just got started, I have already fallen in love with this pack and cubes.  So tidy!  So compact!  So organized!  Since my disastrous trial run last October, I've gotten my packing weight down which has helped me with carrying.  When I boarded the plane to London, I swung it overhead with the greatest of ease and smugly watched as those with heavy suitcases struggled to push them into overhead storage.  Immature, I know.

Tortuga packing cubes

Thanks for reading!  I would love to hear your packing tips so please reach out!  

Next up on the blog.  A video on packing, a recap on Cornwall and an update as we hit the shores of Scandinavia.  

What I Packed for a Year of Round the World (RTW) Travel

As discussed in my earlier post, planning a travel wardrobe has proven to be a challenging task.  With so few clothes (I only have one 44 liter backpack), I felt that everything needed to be perfect, and that  rigid requirement made for frustrating shopping.

• Wrinkle free (or a least reduced wrinkle)
• Performance material
• Machine wash/dry
• Dark color 
• Not bulky (rolls up tight)
• Looks chic

The reason wardrobe selection caused so much consternation is that I subscribe to the Deion Sanders philosophy of ‘Look good, feel good.  Feel good, play good.', so my quest for perfect clothing continued literally until the last week before the trip began.  Eventually, I did find all the right pieces, and knowing how interested I was in reading travel blogs on this subject, I've detailed my entire wardrobe below. 

Before I do, a little background on my approach.  No shocker, I settled on a palette of dark solids (mainly black and gray) with a pop of color from a patterned scarf.  Then, trying to strike a balance between my requirements and cost, I searched in both mainstream stores such as Athleta, Target and J Crew, as well as travel clothing specialists like REI and Travelsmith.   Some items were more expensive and some were not- but I was most concerned about a 'price per wear' calculation, such that even costly pieces would work out to pennies per wear by the end of the trip.   With that in mind, I feel I have built a smart, functional and reasonably priced travel wardrobe.  We shall soon see how it pans out.

I should clarify that we are focused on Europe first, so my clothes are geared towards a cooler climate rather than tropical.  When we get ready to move on to SE Asia, I expect I will need to swap out my jeans for another pair of shorts.

I also want to acknowledge that I am only packing enough clothing to last a week.  Yes, we will be doing laundry frequently, but I also have a manageable backpack that only weighs 10 kg (22 pounds) and won't kill me walking to and from train stations or waiting to clear immigration.  

Athleta City Jogger

CITY JOGGER BY ATHLETA

I started with my favorite article of clothing.  I know these will be a hit as I've found myself digging them out of the plastic tote of travel clothes I'm supposed to be saving for the trip.  These pants are the perfect combination of comfort and cool good looks.  The fabric is light and quick drying, but loose enough that I'm not worried about overexposure around my bottom.  I'll wear these on long flights, out for morning coffee or just lounging around.  

AG Farrah High Rise Skinny Jeans in Tarmac

FARRAH HIGH RISE SKINNY JEANS BY AG 360 CONTOUR

Yes, these are expensive, but with my curves, skinny jeans that have just the right amount of coverage and stretch to slim and flatter are worth the price.  These AG (Adriano Goldschmeid) jeans will be my every day go-to’s.  Originally, I picked up a pair of Prana Halle pants as my everyday bottoms, but I found that while they were super comfortable, I didn’t feel particularly put together.  These skinnys are city-ready and the black color can be dressed up or down (plus hide dirt).

Lululemon Wunder Under Leggings

WUNDER UNDER LEGGINGS BY LULULEMON

Leggings are a must-have on any female traveler wardrobe list.  From long train journeys to exercising to flitting around town (with my CYA tunic, thank you), I expect my leggings to get a work out (pun intended).  This pair, from Lululemon are expensive, but the heavy duty fit and frequent use should get the price per wear down to pennies by the end of the trip.

Tail Golf Shorts from Dick's Sporting Goods

GOLF SHORTS BY TAIL

I must admit, this is the one item that I'm not 100% confident will be a winner.  Yes, the material is high performance, but the fit is, well, very fitted and I tend to gravitate towards a standard cotton walking short.  I chose material over style in this case and will see how they work once summer begins.

J Jill Tencel Indigo Tunic

TENCEL INDIGO TUNIC BY J JILL

I knew I wanted a chambray tunic and originally, I selected this henley popover by Athleta, but the slits up the sides had a bit too much side gut exposure.  I was really bummed out until I found this tunic at J Jill, which is not store I normally shop, but a cursory online search for a chambray tunic pulled up this little number.  The Tencel fabric provides easy maintenance and the CYA length is perfect without being a potato sack.  I expect this top to be a wardrobe workhorse with both my skinny jeans and leggings.

Anthropologie Ribbed Slim Tee

RIBBED SLIM TEE BY ANTHROPOLOGIE

A long sleeve tee for layering is standard, but this one also provides great stretch and looks good on its own.  My shirt is actually black and white striped (which is sold out), but this black version is pretty close.  

J Crew Vintage Tee

VINTAGE TEE BY J CREW

I have been wearing these t-shirts from J Crew for years, and knew I couldn't live without them on the road.  Great quality means they look better with age.   This black v-neck and another in white are tidily rolled up in my pack.  

Rag & Bone Classic V Neck Tee from Nordstrom

CLASSIC V NECK TEE BY RAG & BONE

I was attracted to this shirt due to its color, but have come to love that its high performance material dries in a flash.  Being slightly longer, I can also get away with pairing it with leggings.  

Lululemon Power Y Tank

POWER Y TANK BY LULULEMON

Another versatile piece, I will wear this for working out, but also as a dressy layer with a cardigan and necklace.   I love that this tank is extra long and heavy duty enough for everyday wear.

Mossimo Long & Lean Ribbed Tank from Target

LONG & LEAN TANK BY MOSSIMO (TARGET)

I LOVE these tanks and have been wearing them for years.  The ribbing provides enough coverage for any (ahem) problem tummy areas while still being slim and sleek enough for layering.  

Travelsmith 3/4 Sleeve Ballet Neck Indispensible Dress

3/4 SLEEVE BALLET NECK INDISPENSIBLE DRESS BY TRAVELSMITH

A little black dress is a travel must and this dress lives up to its indispensable title. 3/4 sleeves and knee length provide enough coverage for touring churches and museums while the lightweight material is cool enough to wear on warm summer days.  

Patagonia Capilene Midweight Zip-Neck Top from REI

CAPILENE MIDWEIGHT ZIP-NECK TOP BY PATAGONIA

I struggled with my warm layering as I wanted a true fleece, but found the bulk to be too much for my pack.  I've been wearing this layer nonstop as it not only provides warmth, but is surprisingly sleek and fun to wear.  I'll wear it on its own as a top, or as a layer under my rain jacket or puffer vest during chilly weather. 

REI Co-Op Down Vest

CO-OP DOWN VEST BY REI

Another one of my favorites!  This piece is lightweight and rolls up into a tiny ball which makes for easy packing, but is also super warm and cozy.  I expect to wear this nearly every day.

Marmot Uptown Rain Jacket 

UPTOWN RAIN JACKET BY MARMOT

I searched high and low for a jacket and selected this one for several reasons.  First, it is extremely practical, being both water and wind proof, plus insulated with a detachable hood.  Mostly, however, I love the good looks (mine is a dark slate gray) with the slim cut and feminine shape.  Bring on the elements!

Bombas Originals Ankle Socks

ORIGINALS ANKLE SOCKS BY BOMBAS

Another long time favorite introduced to me by Perry's brother Mason (shout out to Raymond Burr), I wouldn't dream of going anywhere in anything but Bombas.  I'm super picky about my socks and these offer fit and comfort like no other out there.  Blisters?  Fuggedaboutit.

Nike Free 5.0 

NIKE FREE 5.0 RUNNING SHOE

Yet another favorite, I'm supposed to be saving these for the road, but have been wearing them nonstop since I brought them home.  I was attracted to how light they are and that they pack flat, but have also found them to be exceptionally comfortable even after a full day of walking.

Tieks by Gavreli

LEOPARD PRINT TIEKS BY GAVRELI

I came across these flats in a travel blog and bookmarked it as a maybe.  However, after assessing my wardrobe, I decided a slightly dressy footwear option was needed.

Birkenstock Gizeh from Zappos

GIZEH SANDAL BY BIRKENSTOCK

This was a last minute purchase.  After searching for the perfect walking sandals that were comfortable, durable and cute, I had given up all hope until my college girlfriends weekend in Austin.  Thank you Susan and Tara!  I'm a sucker for a t-strap and love the neutral metallic color.  

Patagonia Barely Bra from REI

Patagonia Barely Hipster Brief from REI

BARELY BRA & UNDERWEAR BY PATAGONIA

Apologies for the 3D images of my underwear!  Hopefully this isn’t TMI, but I’m a diehard Natori bra and Hanky Panky underwear kinda gal and didn’t intend to deviate from my current underpinnings ‘system’ for this trip.  However, after watching Perry order and try out many different travel underwear brands, I wondered if I should put more thought into it.  He mentioned a travel packing article lauding Patagonia’s underwear, so off I went to REI.  Normally, I detest bikini underwear as it never stays where it should (there I go again with the TMI), but I was astounded at not only how comfortable the Patagonia Barely style was, but that it didn’t creep into places it shouldn’t.  I was sold and then saw they were also quick dry, further solidifying them as the perfect travel underwear.  Sure, I’ve got a few Hanky Panky’s in my pack, but expect the Patagonia Barely to serve as my every day go-to undies. 

Desigual Rectangle Scarf

RECTANGLE SCARF BY DESIGUAL

A large scarf is a travel workhorse!  It performs multiple duties from dressing up an outfit to serving as a cover up at the beach, to funky odor blocker (usually on planes and trains, ugh) to, of course, providing warmth!  I had a similar one, also from Desigual, that I purchased while living overseas and I wore it to tatters, so when I saw this version in the Houston aiport (random, I know), I knew it was the cherry on top of my travel wardrobe sundae.  Since I packed mostly solid colors, this colorful number will perk up boring black outfits. 

RECAP

Whew, after all that,  here is a final count of my items by category. 

Bottoms:  4

Tops:  7

Dress:  1

Outerwear:  3

Scarf:  1

Shoes:  3

Socks:  3

Bras:  2

Underwear:  7

In my next blog post:  What I Packed:  Part II (Toiletries, Electronics and Miscellaneous)

Thoughts on this subject?  Feel free to comment below and offer up your travel wardrobe must haves!

Planning Long Term Travel Part II: Patience

Regardless of how long it takes to earn your freedom, remember that you are laboring for more than just a vacation.  A vacation, after all, merely rewards work.  Vagabonding justifies it.

-Rolf Potts, Vagabonding:  An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel

After our long-term travel decision had been made, there was an initial flurry of planning that led to a stagnant period of waiting. Unlike the comparative ease of preparation, waiting turned out to be hard work and required a certain capacity for patience before hitting the road.   So, while patience is a virtuous teacher, waiting is her killer final exam.

Why wait? As mentioned in the previous post, a bit of planning was needed to extricate ourselves from our lifestyle. Jobs, cars, homes and a houseful of possessions- all of these needed to be dispensed and while getting rid of stuff is easier than losing weight, it does takes time.

Equally important, we needed funds for the trip, with extra for a return to the US someday. Saving money definitely takes time and patience, and while there were things in our stripped down lifestyle we needed to get used to (like sharing one car), the learning curve wasn’t as steep as we thought it might be. Turns out, we didn’t miss a bigger apartment, shopping at the mall or frequent dinners out when the trade-off was freedom of time.

So, while saving money is one form of patience I can manage, there were other examples where I had to dig into my reserves, which are about as deep as the California water table.

One involves the selling of my condo. Perry and I had agreed in June 2015 to leave in April, but unaware we would have that fateful eureka moment, I had made the regrettable decision to extend the current lease on my condo the month before, requiring a ten month wait before I could sell it.  My eleventh year of home ownership proved to be the most tiresome and expensive one yet, with financial obligations ranging from major (assessment for historic brickwork repairs) to minor (bathroom and kitchen maintenance). Every email from the management company raised my ire as I watched precious funds meant for the road flow out the door.  

Breathe deeply, Paula.

Anticipating that a long fuse is a critical skill in approaching guaranteed mishaps on the road, I worked on my patience during the everyday, garden-variety irritations we all encounter: a traffic jam, picking the wrong line at the supermarket, navigating an automated phone system or getting your car dinged in a parking lot. I tried to approach such situations with a shrug and a smile, pretending I was in a foreign country and these minor calamities were just part of the adventure.  And while I definitely improved my approach, let’s just say I won’t be nominated for any Zen Master awards anytime soon.

However, of all the effort I put into cultivating patience, work is where I really learned to embrace it, and appreciate it more fully.

Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t just turn into some kind of Pollyanna. I still felt irritated during unproductive conference calls or bored during interminable PowerPoint presentations (performance metrics…zzz), so I’m not pretending that I magically transformed into the patron saint of patience.

But my attitude in how I approached these situations changed. Recognizing how this job would fund my travels, I adopted an attitude of gratefulness. And while that might sound trite, my daily gratitude exercise proved very effective in creating a positive mindset. I didn’t worry about having visibility, securing the best projects or being promoted- I simply appreciated things for what they were and was grateful for whatever learnings I could glean. I found an additional upside to cultivating this ‘skill of appreciation’, as my newfound outlook was mirrored back at me by my colleagues, where we formed strong relationships and even stronger results. This attitude wasn’t just some feel good woo-woo either, as I achieved better performance in the last few months than I had in the last few years.  Sure, knowing the end in sight was a contributing factor, but I'm convinced my 'gratitude adjustment' was key.

Gratitude is a bit of squishy thing, so you might be wondering how that works, practically speaking. I use a gratitude journal, which Tim Ferriss calls Gratitude Training and the premise is that by focusing on the positive, you can dramatically improve your happiness and success. Thus, my daily ritual involves answering these questions:

• What am I grateful for? (AM)
• What would make today great? (AM)
• What were three amazing things that happened today? (PM)
• How could I have made today better? (PM)

I can feel anxiety and stress melt away (similar to meditation) when I do this, so even with confrontational customers, office politics or marathon conference calls, frustration and irritation are kept in check.

As we begin our travel adventure, I’m still working on my patience, especially when it comes to waiting, but I’m packing my newfound impatience-busting secret weapon: gratitude.