Yesterday was another one of those days that embodied the worst of times and the best of times. But I think it’s the kind of day that embodies what packing for travel is all about. And yes, I’ll agree that’s a rather strange segue to the topic of what to pack.

Recently, someone posted a comment asking me about the definitive packing list. I responded that I would blog about it that very day. Ha!

Needless to say, Life intervened, which brings me back to the heart of the matter. Life comes at you in unexpected and strange incarnations and all you can really do (besides going crazy) is to meet it with an open heart and no expectation of what it should look like.

It’s the WYSIWYG theory of life. What you see is truly what you get so quit looking for something else. Accept what is.

Therefore, my packing philosophy can be summed up this way:

I believe what you leave behind is as important as what you take.

Toss out your attitude of how things should go, how countries/trains/schedules/spouses/friends/life would run if you were International Dictator of the World.

Leave behind your expectations, your lists, your knowingness and certainty. Instead, accept that the train is delayed, your bag is lost and you have just started the true adventure. We all know the stories that we love to tell are when something goes wrong…not when it goes right.

As an aside, I believe that this is the reason why so much travel writing fails. People are busy writing the perfect post card story of the pristine beaches, the crystal waters, blah, blah…Seriously? I can just grab the post card if you’re going to tell me about all that perfection.

I’d rather hear about the guy on the beach who claimed to be a shaman and wanted you to wear those magic seagull feathers. Who cares if he’s crazy? It’s way more interesting than all that white sand.

As for what to actually take? I will soon be packing for a one-week cycling trip where everything we eat and wear will be in two small panniers. Less is the operative word. That, and giving up the notion of really fresh clothes 🙂 One pannier will be stuffed with the rain jacket, wool socks, toque and fingerless wool mitts. I’m not going to get stuck in some freezing weather like last year’s trip. Can’t trick this girl twice!

And then at the end of August, Kevin and I will be leaving for a few weeks in the U.K., including a two-week, 285 kilometer hiking trip in Wales. From there  I will be flying alone to Delhi for a month-long trip with three other girlfriends.  Considering my hiking boots are rather large items and probably take up an entire carry-on, defining that two-very-different-country-packing-list will be a challenge.

It comes back to letting go of how I usually dress and instead making do with the very basics. Besides, what you could possibly need to wear at the Aurovalley ashram besides one flowy outfit?

Perhaps stunningly paired with those great big hiking boots? Oh baby, oh baby…