Let’s make something clear: I am a computer professional, complete with the ailments and weaknesses of my kin. I am in no way a personal packhorse of the Sherpa people nor have I ever gone to a gym that is xtreme in nature.
When I threw that Tom Bihn brick into the trunk it never even registered how terrible it would be to get the Entire Weight of Mankind (roughly 5-10 lbs) from the overhead compartment at Newark into my friend’s Manhattan apartment. I was far too pre-occupied stuffing the nylon turkey to capacity and couldn’t be bothered with stupid stuff like math, ability.
Even though the idea is to stay a month or so at a time, chances are high I’ll be running to/from a terrifying/spirited/speedy/friendly oddity/train/snack/dog on a regular basis. Not only was there no way I could run with the bulk I was carrying, I’m lucky no one pushed this turtle over on the streets of New York. The bruises have faded but that dark day will live on forever in my mind.
How do you decide what stays and what goes, when every single thing you brought fits under one of your goals?
AMAZING GOAL COMPARISON CHART
Avoid Being Eaten By Vultures > Staying Healthy > Laptop Safety > Staying Sane > Getting Outside
Alright AMAZING GOAL COMPARISON CHART, let’s get rid of stuff.
Avoid Being Eaten By Vultures is most important here and wasn’t included on the goal list because it’s very important whether you are traveling abroad or not. My Avoid Being Eaten By Vultures items include a backup vision correction system and required medications.
Staying Healthy means keeping the safe water UV device w/ plug-in boiling water backup, first-aid + dental emergency kit, mosquito net, and preventative medication. Nothing optional here.
Laptop Safety! A good assumption to have is that I’ll most likely lose a laptop on the way. By peeved stegosaurus, mobsters, tuk-tuk, or an ill-timed swim: this sweet little thing is probably going to get it. Protecting my backup hard drive is suddenly far more important than protecting my computer!
I originally found both a lockable wire bag and a perfectly fitting waterproof box to go inside and render this external savior drive MORE POWERFUL THAN ATLAS!!!! GAMES THE COMPANY!!!!!!
Unfortunately the Otterbox was heavy / bulky and had to go.
All of the duplicate cables and USB hub + card reader were taken out. Most bulky power adapter have already been swapped out with their USB counterparts, but the fact remains that most of my weight will be electronic in nature. Upside: keeping a few powered creature comforts like a hella-loud + tiny USB speaker and bright USB light.
A Kensington notebook lock is still on the ?!? list but I’ll probably take it with me. I’m really going to be pissed if someone grabs my computer and runs. At least the laptop should be able to survive the attempt.
Staying Sane. Basically I’m going to have to go insane. In addition to the two-pound no-English insect-based tile game, most sane-making things (i.e. anything made of paper and/or fun) were obvious candidates. I won’t, however, give up my single remaining excuse-to-be-social copy of San Juan.
Getting Outside. The largest poncho ever made is fired. Goodbye emergency tent, I can’t wait for that moment I REALLY need you. Other than that I’ve barely brought enough clothing to get served at a restaurant.
Total weight saved? I’m estimating a good third of the weight has been removed with around 25% of the overstuffed volume freed back up. But then I went and bought a sleep mask for the train and a fantastic coffee/tea filter. Stop doing this. No, seriously.
Can I manage this new, wimpier load? FIND OUT TUESDAY WHEN I GET ON A PLANE!
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