I keep getting the question, "What are you boneheads going to pack for a ten month trip?" to which the short answer is "As little as possible."
I have some experience packing for trips like this, but it’s been a steep learning curve. Here’s what I mean …
Back in 2003, by recommendation from a certain Scandinavian ape, I went on a solo escapade to Peru for two months. Apart from a couple of fishing and climbing trips around Canada, this was my first "real" international adventure. Not having thought much through, I made the mistake of packing every little thing I could possibly need for any situation. I had a giant duffel bag filled with trekking poles, a tent, sleeping bag, stove and cookset, hiking pack. In short, I brought a massive pile of crap that I then had to lug all over the country. Some of it proved useful at times, but more often it was just taking away from the trip.
In 2004, I set off on yet another trip, this time with my brother, Randall. Extending the duration of travel to a little over four months and visiting seven countries. This time, a bit more seasoned, we brought with a significantly smaller load of crap, fitting it into a little smaller than 3000 cubic inch (50 liter) packs. We quickly learned we still could have thought a few things through.
This was still the dawn of the iPod and digital camera. Two items that are now a must for any trip, but were then very expensive toys for Randhovnee and I, who at the time were a couple of film-camera-owning, discman-listening yahoos from Minnesota who had just worked three jobs for three months to save for the trip. I think we each packed a ton of film. I also had all these little things in my pack that were not necessary but very useful, to Randall mainly.
Randall would say:
"Jimmy, do you have a sharpie?"
"Yes", I said as I tossed him a magic marker.
"Jimmy, do you have a zip tie … a AA battery?”
“How about a cough drop?"
Each time I would reply "Yes" as I tossed these items to him week after week wondering what the hell was in his pack.
Fast-forward to 2010 and you'll find Jen and I slowly figuring out what the hell to pack for this particular experiment.
First of all, I keep reminding myself that everything we take with us will be lost or stolen by the time we come home. We will be robbed. So all of the fun tech gadgets that people can't seem to live without in everyday life these days may not be the best to take along. So, no Macbook or SLR camera, but instead a cheap netbook and a compact digital point and shoot.
Enough of the jibber jabber for now. Here is a current packing list I've been compiling starting with clothes: (note from Jen: He mentions this list as if it’s something that he just came up with. He fails to mention that at every free moment, including on napkins while we’re waiting for our food at restaurants, he writes and re-writes this list. Jim doesn’t know the first thing about football, but ask him about gear and expect an earful.)
Footwear
2 pairs of socks
shoes
sandals
flip flops
Clothes
Underwear, 4 pair
Long underwear bottoms
Long underwear top
Pants
Shorts
Swimsuit
Sarong
Belt
T-shirts, 2
Button-up short sleeve shirt
Rain jacket
Driclime windshirt
Light fleece hoody
Visor
Stalking cap
Bandana
Wool fingerless gloves
Dop Kit
ear plugs, q-tips, toothbrush, toothpaste, razor with blades, shaving cream, pack towel, lip balm
Electronics
ipod with wall charger, headlamp with batteries, camera with SD cards
Office
2 pens, pencil, passport, visas, padi card, dive log, drivers license, check card, credit cards, cash, journal, calendar, flight confirmation, book to read
backpack, man purse/, wallet
glasses, case
sunglasses, case, wiping cloth
Keep in mind that this list is unfinished business.
Any suggestions?
