A Lighter State of Being
Back to life in a 27-inch suitcase.
Hi Friends,
I’m back out in the world and traveling. I couldn’t be happier to be typing this from my (temporary) Pied À Terre in Copenhagen, Denmark.
I will say that my 8 months this past year in the Pacific Northwest weren’t the best. I will leave it there because, well, I don’t want to use this platform for unloading. However, I will say the challenges outweighed the positives and I’m delighted to be passed that time.
The planning and anticipation for my travels lightened my mood. Working one-on-one with my Pacific Northwest clients was also a good time. And now I’m looking out the window of my cozy apartment located in a 16th-century row house in the Christianhavn neighborhood and am in full-on hygge* mode.
Travel lightens me. Not only in mood but it literally lightens me. I have to edit my life down to a suitcase (27 inches) and a laptop/overnight bag. Anything I take with me has to not only fit in these two bags but the bags themselves have to be a manageable weight for me to pull/carry/lift without straining my body. I have people ask me all the time how I travel for months at a time with just one suitcase (the thought of having to juggle two suitcases makes me break out in hives - not for me) and one over the shoulder bag.
Here is how I approach what I pack:
First, I make a list of what I’m planning to do while I’m traveling and create categories such as extensive walking; biking; stretching/yoga/exercise; dining out (from casual to fancy); essentials; toiletries; work stuff; electronics; books; journals; totes for groceries; keepsakes that make my pied à terre home (photos; owls; cards).
Then, I begin to edit down that list, and do so likely a couple of times until I have a manageable suitcase that feels good physically.
As time passes, we like to simplify our lives - Hubert de Givenchy
This process also entails putting items into my storage unit and that process leads to me editing down even more - assessing what I’ve accumulated (hopefully as little as possible) and seeing what is easily reached in my unit and seeing what can be donated and recycled. During the storage unit part of my trip planning this year I’ve decided that 2023 will be when I disperse the unit. I’ve had it for 4 years! When I initially put things into storage during the summer of 2018 I had no idea that I would leave the country for 8 months in 2019, I just knew I wanted to simplify my life and I no longer wanted to be in a long-term lease or own a property for the time being. 90% of what is in my storage unit I haven’t laid eyes on in these 4 years. I think it’s time to give away some things - redistribute and shed. I’m committed to doing this next year when I return to the states. Stay tuned.
In the meantime, I loaded my Prius twice with bedding; clothes; rice cookers and InstaPots and gave them to friends or donated them. I loaded up books and distributed them to several little neighborhood “libraries”. This process gave me immense pleasure. I love books and part of me wants a house with a library or just a house that is a library with a bed and a fireplace…who knows?!?
Once I had unloaded my car for the last time and packed my suitcase in preparation for my flight I felt so much lighter. Don’t get me wrong - I love beautiful, well-made things and art and books but there’s something about simplifying that just appeals to me right now. I’m leaning into my intuition and just letting life flow.
My intuition led me to Copenhagen, Denmark. I have never been here before and well, it is beyond expectation. More to come on that shortly.
What lends to your feelings of lightness? I would love to know.
Until next time.
M
*hygge - a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture)