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The idea of going away for 4 months brings with it a bunch of anxieties. The one that has got my attention has been the question of ‘what do I bring with me?’ Of all the anxieties, this one is more immediate and can be resolved, so best to latch on to it.
First thing is to search the web for what other folks have brought on their trips. No shortage of resources there. But quickly I realised how I identified myself as a traveller — was I an ultralight traveller, a digital nomad, a small luxuries prince, a gadgets guy, or ‘chuck it in and see how’ traveller.
Next thing I did was make a list of the things I thought I would need, with ‘nice to haves’ added in a different colour. This gave me a base to work off as well as make sure I bought any supplies I needed early. Not a fan of last minute errands.
I then ran this list by a few friends I know who have done extended travel and work for their advice. It was very valuable thing to do. I suppose in research process terms it would be called validation. There was also amply opportunity for debate on my ‘nice to haves’. The coffee debate is not yet settled.
Today, the packing itself begins.