What’s in the little blue suitcase?

 

This blog is called Traveling Light for a few reasons. One of them is literal - I’m going overseas for three weeks with carry-on luggage. Who does that? Turns out, a few people I’ve met at airports and on planes who think the same way. Why? Because it’s so much easier to traverse countries (and customs/security regulations) with less. 

I packed light on purpose. I had been gathering together the perfect ‘capsule wardrobe’ for months before this trip. Collected minis from my dermalogica skincare routine, planned for the weather (Springtime - much like Wellington’s mild), limited my expectations of lavish glamorous nights out, no beach attire as I was going inland, predicted that I’d be walking on cobblestones for most of the trip, etc.

Experience was at the forefront of my mind when I planned the contents of ‘little blue’. Not my usual anxiety of worrying about what could happen. Probability wise, I wasn’t going to be meeting anyone ‘special’ whom I didn’t already know. I wanted to be free in my clothing and possessions to explore and navigate, without lugging a 30kg suitcase behind me at every turn. That would, indeed, have been a burden.

Instead, what came with me was a carefully curated collection of clothing, shoes, toiletries, and a little spare room for gifts to bring home.

Here’s what’s inside little blue (photographed while in my groovy hotel room in Leiden):

5 tops (a mix of short and long sleeve and one merino wool), hoodie, trackpants, pyjamas, 2 pairs of sneakers, Burks (which I didn’t use), wedge heels, 2 mini skirts, 2 pairs shorts, silk scarf, black lace dress, leather jacket, 2 pairs leggings (one is fleece lined), cap, umbrella, and underwear. In case you are wondering how I laundered during the trip, I didn’t really - only my underwear which I washed each week by hand in the basin and hung to dry.

I had a ‘moment’ in Leiden, when I finally decided to ditch my hoodie and trackpants - what I’ve termed my ‘depression clothes’ after wearing them for the last few years which have not been my greatest. The hoodie was so soft, worn through, with holes in the sleeves. The trackpants were a unique style that I won’t find again, but, worn through at the knees and waaaay too comfortable. They were keeping me in a rut. I had planned something grand for their farewell, like a fire in a dumpster kind of thing, but in the end I just left them in a brown paper bag in my hotel room with a note to staff - “you can throw these away, they are old”. I can imagine the staff looking at the duo with amusement and disgust. These are not clothes you would pick up off the street if they were free, and you wouldn’t give them to a charity shop. Why, why did I bring them to Europe? I think it was part of my emotional journey perhaps. Plus they were so comfy to travel in.

That said, I knew I needed another warm top. It was soon to be King’s Day when everyone wears orange. All the op shops in Leiden were full of mandarin hues so I purchased an outfit for King’s Day. The jacket was particularly helpful when I didn’t have the comfort of my old hoodie. 

I was micro-planning down to the final day and final packing - which I could have increased to 30kg but it would have required me buying a new suitcase, and a tonne of shopping which I didn’t really want to do. So I kept within the limits of little blue, all the way home. Discarding things here and there as necessary.

Little blue was a marvel at trundling through narrow wonky streets, tucking in beside me on trains, being easily spotted at baggage claims, being carried through stations when we were about to miss our departures. He became a bit of a minor celebrity.

It was with great pride when, back home, he went on another overseas adventure within days, with my daughter, Georgia. She took him to Brisbane and Gold Coast, Australia. I think he has many more adventures ahead of him, despite almost losing his wheels. I had to cut the tyres off his front wheels so he could keep going.

Of course, I also had a backpack and handbag. Backpack carried my Ipad, headphones, and Magic Keyboard (which these writings have been composed with), daily requirements like food and water, clothing layers and extra shoes. The handbag was essential, it housed my passports and notebooks, medicine, tickets and maps. I kept it close to me while using public transport, in galleries, on walks and at restaurants. Although Phillippa can probably attest to my near miss at the pasta restaurant in Rome when I slung it across the back of my chair, and a waiter pretended to swipe it. I had a few lucky grazes with bags on my trip - twice my backpack was left behind and twice it was still there when I went back for it. Goes to show that people aren’t all that shitty on the whole.