bag lady

there are two kinds of people in the world: those who enjoy packing and those who don’t. maybe that’s not entirely true. there are also people who don’t really care about what they bring on their travels and are content with just throwing things in a suitcase and figuring everything out later. they don’t make lists, or tearfully distribute belongings among friends and family (you’re welcome, victoria!), much less write about it.

i belong in the first category. boiling down what to bring for a year-long sojourn has been difficult to say the least, but ultimately, so freeing. getting rid of things i haven’t used or even looked at in months, and being able to say “i don’t need this” to nearly everything i had hauled to my parents’ home from montreal.

while rain boots and dulce de leche snacks are important, i’m happiest about bringing along my favorites:

hitchens, bukowski, carver, didion. a little piece of america. they may weigh down my carry-on, but i can’t imagine not bringing any books with me. considering my original list of tomes to bring overseas, these really are the bare essentials. the rest of the collection will just have to chill in their suitcase here until i return (thanks, dad!).