Travel Essentials – Where to Go and What to Bring

“What should I take on my trip?” is a premature question if I don’t know where I am going.

Step 1: Decide Where To Go

Historically, I have travelled for one of three reasons.

First, I need to get away. Work, or the responsibilities of daily life, convince me it is time for a break. Accordingly, I choose to take a break.

Sometimes, that means staying home for a week to get caught up on personal stuff. Other times, it means going on an extended vacation of 2 to 3 weeks to truly “get away from it all.”

Although I enjoy this kind of travel, it usually takes me a few days to wind down and truly relax. Then, 2 to 3 days before heading home, I generally get wound up again. That’s why 2 to 3 weeks is a better choice (for me) than the typical 1 week vacation.

Second, I have to go somewhere for business. This kind of travel, at least for me, is a lot different than personal time off. There are often training sessions, vendors to meet, “social events” to attend, etc.

I have never really enjoyed this kind of travel as it takes me away from my family and forces me to be “social” with people I would not otherwise “hang out” with. Although this kind of travel is often required, I have tried to avoid it when possible.

Third, travel with a service mission. This might include building a school in a developing country, helping with a medical clinic where people cannot otherwise afford medical care, or spending time with orphaned children who have lost their parents or family to crime, drugs or disease.

This kind of travel is very rewarding, but it isn’t as “easy” as you might expect. Preparation is very important, working with the right support organization is critical, and being willing to put your personal needs aside while you focus on helping others is essential.

Step 2. Decide What To Take

Once you know where you are going, it’s easier to prepare and pack. For short duration personal trips, it’s pretty easy. A few clothes, my computer and smart phone, and snacks for the trip. Of course, I take cash and a credit card as well. But that’s about it.

For personal travel, my tendency has always been to over pack. I have always enjoyed this kind of travel more when I pack less.

For business travel, I tend to pack very lightly. One or two pairs of slacks. Two or three dress shirts. One sport coat. A few underclothes. My computer and phone.

For service and mission travel, it’s a bit different. Clothing is minimal, with extra luggage space use to take supplies, like school supplies for kids, medical supplies, etc.

Step 3. Deciding What’s Next

For today, this is the most important step. Where am I going to travel next and what should I take?

Destination Essentials

My next trip could be any number of places, as long as it fits a few criteria. Here’s the wish list:

1. Mostly sunny. Where I live in the Portland, Oregon, area, it rains a lot. Especially during the non-summer months. Therefore, when I travel, I prefer destinations where there is lots of sunshine, even if it is cold or cool.
2. Historically significant. My wife and I love history (she more than me), and we like to explore. Consequently, we really enjoy destinations where there are historically significant attractions.You might think this a bit morbid, but we actually enjoy cemeteries. Why? Because it is interesting to look at headstones and wonder what certain people were like. What their life was like “back then.” What struggles they may have encountered in their lifetime. History, in general, is a great teacher if you learn from it. It is fascinating to compare “then” to “now.”
3. Comfortable, but not opulent accommodations. When we travel as a family, we enjoy comfortable lodging. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but tent camping is no longer high on the list. The one exception is for service-type travel. I am fine with sleeping on hard floors, taking cold showers and eating strange food if the purpose is to put my own life aside for a time.Even writing that makes me wonder why I can’t live my whole life that way, always focusing on others. I suppose it’s because the definition of “others” changes depending on my destination and purpose. If my purpose is to take my family on vacation, the “others” in my life are my family members. My goal is then to service my family.Oh, this is getting deep. better leave it there for now.

Travel Essentials for Any Trip

Now it’s time for “brass tacks.” What to take on any trip.

1. One bag. I hate traveling with lots of luggage. It is more difficult to pack, heavy to carry, and a pain to find what you need when you need it. The more I travel, the less I need. Underclothes for a week and 3 or 4 changes of clothes are enough.
2. One computer. With everything available “in the cloud” these days, having a laptop along for the trip makes it easy to stay in touch with my business and my family.
3. Smart phone. Much of what I do can be handled on my smart phone. I carry an iPhone 4S, although I’m not married to it. I have owned plenty of high-end and low-end laptops and phones, and I’m not an Apple zealot. The simplicity of an iPhone is great, but I’m not a power user. All I need is a phone, email, the ability to send text messages, and a good camera. Everything else is icing on the cake.
4. Notebook. I carry a Classic black, ruled Moleskin. It’s 5″ x 8 1/4″ inches with a strap to keep it closed. It is not too big, and it feels good in my hand. Although I don’t do a lot of longhand writing, I do enjoy putting pen to paper for note taking or ideation.My daughter gave me my first Moleskin as a Christmas gift and I really enjoy the quality. A 10 cent spiral notebook would accomplish the same thing, but the look and feel are different. Since I place a high value on my writing, the vessel that contains my writing adds to that value.

The Key to Travel Essentials

What’s the bottom line?

If you don’t travel, none of this matters. The key is to get out the door and go somewhere. Even it if is across town to stay in a motel for one night. The practice of planning a trip, packing and unpacking, and changing your environment are all healthy practices.

Unless you already travel a lot and you just want to stay home.

This is my response to The 30 Day Blog Challenge, Day 24: What are your travel essentials for your chosen destination(s)?