Minimalist Travel Tips that I Struggle to Follow

It's almost time for Santa's overnight trip distributing presents to all those well-behaved children across the land!  It gives me pause when I think about the logistics - does he pack his OWN bag?  Does he go through customs?  Is he Team Carry-On or Team Checked Bag, given how burdensome that large sack is to tote around?   What's in his personal item? Beard oil and a nice protein bar?  Reindeer treats in case they get peckish? So many questions...

While I ponder all of Santa's issues with international travel, I have been reading a multitude of blogs/articles on how to pack like a minimalist.  Full disclosure here - not a big part of my skill set.  I can, however, Tetris just about anything in to a suitcase.  The minimalist husband still lays out clothes for me to fold and pack before he goes on a work trip.  I am great at rolling, packing cube-ing, and weight-estimating for the 50 pound limit. 

What I am not great at, is not bringing everything I own.  

When I am at home, I feel freedom in purging the "just in case" items and following my "< $20 dollars 20 minutes from home "rule. Travel, unfortunately, is a different issue.  My above-mentioned packing skills just encourage me to cram in all 5 of those french horns.  

I have tried to pack like a minimalist, as Courtney Carver suggests here.  I like being Team Carry On because as mentioned in previous blogs, have a simmering anxiety related to lost items in travel.  But I hate deciding what jacket/bag/shoes will be suit me when I arrive at my destination.  And the weather?  What will it be?  Am I dressed for a hurricane? 

I am not a big souvenir buyer, so I don't intentionally leave room for more stuff on the return trip.  I do plan for every potential en route disaster, so I always have these in my personal item: extra underwear and a shirt, contacts for several days, toothbrush and a few toiletries, and all chargers.  Should my luggage take a trip without me, I can at least survive with whatever else the local apothecary may have until we're reunited.   

Here are Courtney's tips I am going to try during my holiday travel this year.  Let me know if you have your own tips and what works for your minimalist life! 

• travel day uniform - comfy black leggings, a travel scarf/wrap, and a short sleeved shirt.  
• roll those clothes in the suitcase
• two pair of shoes - one for walking, one for looking cute
• just in case means never (goodbye french horns)

Happy holidays minimalist friends, and may your burden be light in your travels!

Pre-Christmas Purge-a-thon

It's that time again - the time of year that always spurs me to write about how I am NOT the minimalist I claim to be.  The turn-myself-in confession happens when I open up the store room door to discover I have WAY too much Christmas stuff.  Again.  

What defines too much?  

Your mileage may vary.  I can't quantify your too much against my too much.  The litmus test for me was "Have I used this in the last 2 years?"  For example, I unwrapped some Santas that had been living in my storage space since my early twenties when I moved out on my own after college.   The newspaper I wrapped them in was dated 10 years ago.  I typically recycle the paper every year when I unwrap, so that means I haven't decorated with them in a DECADE.  

 
Clearly not a meaningful part of my Christmas stash. 

The other question I ask myself is "Will the husband/kids want this when I am dead?"  I understand this question seems morbid or downright gruesome to some, but it's a fair question.  At some point, a holiday will roll around and one of us won't be here.  What part of our family's traditional decor will the survivor want to display or hand down to the kids?  I gave this some hard thought this year. 

I asked the kids "Do you care about this? Does it have meaning to you around the holidays?"  As my children are familiar with my no-subtext answer expectations they are pretty good about giving me an honest response.  If they care, it stays.  If they are indifferent or definitely don't care, it got repurposed. 

 
This year, some of my overstock went to a family whose special needs child loves collecting certain Christmas baubles.  Some went to a friend starting a nutcracker collection.  And some just went to the donation box, and I am hopeful it found a place in someone's Christmas story.  

As is typical for me, I'll sort through it in January and careful pack away what the integral parts of Christmas for us.  As I have gotten older, I seem to really enjoy all the OTHER Christmas decorations in the world: stores that really decorate to the nines, traveling to see other cities' light displays, and driving through neighborhoods to admire streets full of color.  There is ZERO clutter in admiring decor outside your home.  Try it - you'll thank yourself in December next year! 

I would also suggest having those hard conversations with yourself and your family.  Look at what REALLY matters to you and them, and make cuts accordingly.  The memories aren't taking up space.  

Merry Christmas and Happy December!