Back when I was working as a forensic scientist, I used to travel to other towns to give evidence in court. Usually I was only away for one day. But occasionally because of weather conditions, the airport was closed and I was stuck overnight. I remember ringing my boss to say I wouldn't be back to work until later the next day, and he was very concerned about whether or not I had a toothbrush.
Actually I didn't mind in the least being stuck without luggage. And I could always buy a toothbrush. The only thing that I made sure I always had with me, in case I was stuck overnight, was my contraceptive pills. These days, that's not a problem. Actually, the chance of being stuck overnight away from home is not something that's a problem these days. Still, I was thinking about what I'd want to have with me. Firstly, my asthma medication is always in my bag. I have very mild asthma, but I'm not taking chances. Secondly, more and more I try to have my digital camera always on hand - in case I see a truly beautiful sunset, or some other photo worthy scene, just when I'm not expecting it. My handbag also contains a notebook and pen, just in case a line or two of a poem strikes me. And if I was travelling, and might be stuck overnight, I'd want clean underwear and a clean shirt. For a trip of a few days, if I was trying to travel really light, the list above would pretty much do it, except with a few more changes of shirt and underwear. And a passport, if I was going out of the country. I think I could survive pretty well on that lot. What would you take?
It's interesting that we use the phrase "he/she has baggage" to mean something bad. We all have emotional learning from the past - sometimes bad feelings, sometimes good. Without learning, we would be like babies starting over each day. Travelling light can be a good thing, but there is emotional "baggage" that I am glad to have. I have learnt that some people are good, and caring, and loving, as much as I have learnt that some people are not. And that's baggage I'm glad to travel with - it weighs less than the other sort.
More Sunday Scribblings here.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
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4 comments:
It's interesting that we use the phrase "he/she has baggage" to mean something bad.
Ah! I was just thinking that! I guess sad emotional baggage is taken as weighing you down with bad memories, preventing you from taking flight or running or dancing (or possibly prancing).
I think that good emotional baggage is certainly a concept that should exist, as you say. What about the happy memories that we carry with us everywhere? But then, I think that this baggage is light, or even bouyant, lifting us up like a helium-filled suitcase. People perhaps don't talk about it so much because it doesn't get in their way like the other kind.
Um, thank you for saying all that better than I just did!
I'm in awe of your traveling so light. I'm even more in awe of your career...very cool! Great scribblings :)
I really like what you said about emotional baggage - so true.
As for the more literal question - I always try to think what would be my absolute minimum to have on a trip in case an airline loses my luggage...things I wouldn't want to do without even one night or take a chance on losing forever. So I always make sure my carry-on has my glasses, my meds, some travel-size toiletries (I *could* rebuy that stuff if I had to, but it's more convenient not to), my camera, a pair of undies, a pair of socks, and a fresh shirt, and a book.
Tammy, yak attacker, I don't usually travel that lightly. I was just pondering what things I couldn't do without - but I usually take quite a bit more, especially clothes. Deb, that sounds like a pretty good set of stuff to carry on. My boss went to the US and had his bag go astray, but his travel insurance covered replacement clothes. I think his baggage finally caught up with him on his last day.
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