Above 63

Without a doubt, this is the question I’ve gotten most often.

I probably didn’t notice the question the first 6 or 7 times it was asked. It didn’t feel like an important question so I said “stuff.” It also didn’t seem like an important question but upon reflection I think it was. I realized that my friends were worried about me and whether I would be o.k. They were concerned if I would have the right things with me. I realized I wasn’t terribly worried about what I was bringing and others were. Although I’m a well-prepared traveler, I keep things to a minimum. As proof, see the photo of me in the Valencia train station this spring with all my luggage for six weeks in Spain. Travel light and all is easy. If I really need something I can buy it.

My friends’ worry is well placed though. This isn’t six weeks, it is 5 months. I am planning to bring more this time because I’m going to “need” a little bit more gear. Spring in Spain is sunny, warm, with little rain. The weather in Iceland is a bit more challenging. All the travel guides work hard to let tourists know this. As a result, I’ve retrieved my winter coat, my fall coat (which I will be my “summer coat” when I get there), and rain gear from the downstairs closet. My wool sweaters are sitting there ready to be packed in the middle of July! I’m packing winter boots. I live in a city (Milwaukee) with shoveled sidewalks. I never wear boots–but there they are–ready to be packed! This stuff takes up room. I’m going to need more than just the carry-on bag and the backpack!

Still, I’m not bringing a lot of things. Most of my work is digital and I don’t need to bring many books or large pieces of research equipment. I can access data sets from all over the world with my laptop. I have a few more gadgets than I usually travel with so my apartment will be comfortable. I’m bringing a decent camera–because I’m in Iceland for 5 months–I need a decent camera. My phone has a good camera, but there is a lot of distortion that I don’t want if I’m shooting the Skogafoss Waterfall.

The reality is that I don’t need that much and I’m living in an advanced country where most of the things I need can be purchased nearby. I’m also more relaxed because I’ve been there twice before. The hotel we stayed at during our last visit is around the corner from my new apartment. I know where the grocery store is–I’ve already shopped there. There are good restaurants in the neighborhood. There is a Vietnamese place I wanted to try the last time I was there–but didn’t get to.

I love my friends because they worry about me. They fear I will be somewhere and not have the right things with me when I might need them. What they fear is a real thing, but it happens less often than we believe. For the most part, travel is that moment when it matters less about what we have with us and more about what is in front of us. I’ve had some real travel disasters–and they all work out (ask me sometime about the ferry that sunk). The Icelanders use a saying: Þetta Reddast (pronounced thet-ta re-dust). Which means it’s all going to work out in the end. Don’t worry my friends. I’ll be ok.