Packing for a Month

To take a trip for a month is something I've never done. In many ways, this trip will be my first taste of what it feels like to be retired. My sister, who moved to England after being four years in Germany; four years in which I never made it there to see her, I might add, said, "You can get a 90-day travel Visa. Why don't you come and stay three months with me?" My first thought was "Oh, I can't do that." But she countered with "You're retired! Why not?" And I thought why not, indeed. That was three months ago. Now, I'm three days away from arriving in England to spend a month with my sister.

Expectations? I"m not sure. I believe you grow not only by learning something new but also by rediscovering things you've let go. Things like noticing and hearing, like really seeing. That's my expectation I think. To really see, to notice, to be where I am. What better person to do that with than a sister.

As much as I traveled in my work life, I never mastered the art of packing. I hate to pack. I agonize. I redo. I make lists and then I make more lists. For this trip, although I have unknown weather conditions, I've tried to be more systematic than before. As I stacked things up, my open suitcase began to seem smaller each day. I finally put everything in the suitcase to test my space. Success. Then, I got the message that the Brits were enjoying a heat wave of sorts and of course I had packed following my sister's admonition of "We haven't broken 64 yet." I began to unpack and rethink my entire strategy. I'm forced to be practical and efficient with my space simply because I want to take only one suitcase. Tomorrow will be the final packing. I'm ready.

Part of the impetus for starting this blog was my upcoming trip. I wanted a way to stay connected with family and friends, to share things immediately, and keep a record of my impressions and discoveries. Facebook is okay, but I need to be able to say more and show more. I recently read an article about the birth of the postcard and the uproar it caused. Who would be willing to forgo their privacy for convenience, they asked. Some blamed the postcard for the decline of literacy, creating a need for abbreviations and initials. I think how they would cringe to see how we communicate via texting today. The article ended with the thought that we seek communication that is easy and effortless, hoping to foster genuine connection, but what really matters is the trouble we take. My goal is to take the trouble to stay in touch. Hope you join me.