I’ll admit I’m a bit of a homebody sometimes. But as of today I have no official address, so that’s obviously going to need some adjustment time. This is a compliation of things I like to bring with me when I’m somewhere unfamiliar. More than others I would say — being an introvert — I need recovery time at the end of a long day of interaction and travel. So i’ve included a few recovery tools as well. (See the interactive set of items here.)

What else would you add to this list? Or, what do you bring with you to make you feel more ‘at home’ in a new place?

Further reading for sensitivity questions:

• Why it’s hard to be a highly sensitive (HSP) introvert (psychologytoday.com)
• The Introvert’s Survival Guide to Conferences. (dancurtis.ca)
• When Networking Is Painful (psychologytoday.com)
• The Secret Life of Introverts (psychologytoday.com)

I need to fess up. I’m a shopping addict. But I’m in recovery so it’s okay. (Currently reading: Your Money Or Your Life by Vicki Robin & Joe Dominguez) What does this have to do with travel? Well, a lot actually.

The temptation to shop while on vacation is huge. Heck, some people vacation with the sole intention to shop their little hearts out. And that’s alright if you’ve got the money, do whatever brings you happiness. But for me I need to look at it from a different angle. So far I’ve already indulged in a few things it seemed I “needed” before heading out anywhere.

1. Incase grey backpack
2. Keen sandal shoes
3. Sam Edelman Sneakers
4. Several travel books
5. A new digital camera
6. Journal
7. Outdoor Research Jacket
8. Travel sheets
9. Swiss Army Knife
10. Eye-Fi Memory Card (+ hotspot subscription access)
11. Cargo Pants

Yikes! I’m working on holding back more. While I’m happy with my purchases now, I know there will be a lot of gazingus pins along the way pining for my attention and money. It’s clutter. It’s usually cheap, low quality, and for some reason we’re convinced we need it. I’m attempting to avoid souveniers altogether and just buy essential items while I’m traveling, in keeping with a new, more clutter free lifestyle. It’s hard. Really, but I’m glad that’s off my chest. Now I have a question for you.

Do you buy souveneirs? If so, do you collect a certain type, and what do you do with them when you get home?

If you don’t buy souveniers, what’s your policy on shopping while on vacation?

I’m not 100% sure why I find “gear lists” so fascinating, but it probably has something to do with the similar “whats in your bag ” phenomenon on Flickr. Here are some of my favorites…

Go Backpacking: Packing List

Never Ending Voyage: What Do You Pack When You Are Leaving Forever

Ridiculously Extraordinary: How To Pack Ultra Light

Matador Goods: Packing and the Mantra of Minimalism

Live Uncomfortably: Travel Through Life Light

Chrissyfer: Packing List 12 Day Trip

Plus Two Bonus Before-You-Leave Posts!

Airtreks: 101 Things To Do Before Your Trip

One Bag: To-Do List

Oh boy I have a lot of paring down I need to do before I can get away with TWO suitcases!

I am getting so ramped up and ready to move right now. Making decisions about everything I own. What I’ll need for a month. What I can’t part with for storage. Not to mention all of the junk I need to donate and recycle. Honestly, I don’t know how this all happened! Where did it start? How? It’s somewhat baffling.

In the past my blogs have been very personal and I’ve had no qualms about sharing random details in my posts. But that’s not my goal here. I’m aiming to be of some value somehow. To do something for other people. Since finishing the 12 week creative recovery program (The Artist’s Way) I feel very focused and open to new creative things happening in my life. Note: Creative being anything of creation, producing and building. The times when we’re not consumers.

I’m most excited about going on this vacation because in-part it’s totally random, and also there are a lot of beautiful things I’m going to see on the way. I just trust that there are.

Trusting

I’ve been asked countless times  “Why Seattle?” and the best I’ve come up with has been, “I found a place I could afford for a month there.” Also, “Why not?” Neither answer seems to fully satisfy people but the beauty of this adventure is the fact that reason is not steering the ship. My heart is. When an opportunity opened up and fit for me I had no reason not to jump right in. Staying stuck here, after losing my father just didn’t feel right. In fact, when being totally honest with myself it seems like it would be impossible NOT to act/move/do things at this time. When your goals are simply to absorb beauty and to reconnect with yourself it really doesn’t matter where you go.

But I’m going to heal. I’m going because staying doesn’t produce any internal movement. With such powerful emotions riding me through the ups and downs Seattle seemed to choose me. It was towards the bottom of my list of cities I might like to see. But now it feels completely right and I’m absolutely thrilled to see what happens.

Healing — A Choice

To continue my creative recovery I’m planning to do a lot of journaling and blogging. I just finished reading up “Globejotting” by Dave Fox . I even did a video review of the book here.

In short, I’m practicing not letting my vacation destination define what happens to me while I’m there. Traveling is such a tiny thing built up into lots of big overwhelming pieces sometimes. But in truth just choosing a destination in the future, that you can move towards, (anywhere really!) is the only part that truly matters. Any sort of movement and growth skip along hand in hand into the sunset of our dream vacation. (Oh yeah right, that vacation we’re actually going to take! Hell yeah!)

By the way I have a beautiful new TV page up for all of my book reviews. The collection should be growing steadily from now on and it’s a project I’m loving.