Taking inventory
I am about three and a half weeks out from leaving on my travels. There is a tension that is building in my mind and body as the days tick closer. This is not the first time I have packed up my life and hit the road but something about this trip feels different. It might be that this time there is nothing to come back to so when I leave then that’s me moving on from my life here. I suppose I will find out as time goes by. Until then I need to actually take stock of all my stuff and decide what I store and what goes in the bin.
This week I need to actually sort everything out. I need to buy whatever it is I need for my trip and see what works and what doesn’t. What clothes I need, which sleeping bag will be best to take,how will I pack my life onto a bike and do I really need a dengue vaccine? The list of things to do is either really short or really long and that depends on my headspace on the day. Since I am volunteering for three months before I cycle east I will actually need a few more things than if I was just cycling. I am actually packing for two separate adventures or at least that’s how it feels to me.
As I start to pack up my life I can actually take stock of what I have acquired and which of these things have some value to me. Besides some clothes that I would need if I come back there are a couple of books and a few trinkets but otherwise everything must go. The process is almost like that of a monk giving up their earthly possessions. Its still early days of this process but I hope that as things make their way to the bin or the storage box my mental state will shift into gear and any doubts or worries will fade away.
While all this is going on I am also trying to sort out a new pannier rack for my bike as my current one sits a bit high for my liking. I need to figure out whether I need some extra travel vaccines which while not essential are still worth considering even though they aren’t cheap. While on that topic I also need to research a decent travel insurance provider which I am loath to do as they always seem to try weasel out of paying or refuse to cover anything outside of the basics. Then there is all the stuff I need to sort out for the actual volunteering. I also need to meet up with friends to say goodbye as well as finish up my last few weeks of work. Some days I actually think that I would like to have left already and just be on the road where life might just be simpler.