TRAVEL: My Minimalist Basics for Summer Vacations and Other Travel Adventures

 
As someone who lives with less, traveling light is still a concern for me. I took a weekend trip earlier this month and learned that even the few things that I'd packed in a backpack were still more than I really needed (or wanted to lug around) for the short time I was away from home.

With just a few weeks of summer left here, my family is gearing up for a week-long road trip and each of us is planning to pack like a pro using some of the lessons I learned on my recent weekend away. Did I really need three tank tops and two t-shirts in case I changed my mind about what I wanted to wear? No, I just needed to make sure everything was comfortable, flattering, and could mix and match.

This time, it's just the necessities--no frills--in one small bag per person.

Since the trip will be taking us to several different places, we'll need to make sure we're equipped for lots of city walking, some rural outdoor activities, a nice dinner out, and a short stay at the beach. Here's what we'll each be taking:

TRAVEL: Becoming a Nomadic Minimalist

Like many people the minimalist lifestyle attracts, I yearn to live simply and to travel light. In fact, the idea of cutting my roots and moving anywhere at any time was one of the key motivators to parting with the bulk of my material things.

When culling my possessions even now I stop and ask myself, "If I packed up tonight to move across the country, would I take this with me?"

There are a few things that make the cut, but most things that have served their purpose in my life and no longer add beauty or benefit are donated to charities.

Living anywhere you want at anytime requires self-discipline when it comes to both working independently and curating your material goods. If it's something that truly appeals to you, then the learning curve can be a very short one.