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Indefinite Backpack Travel

jeremymaluf.com

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Re: Indefinite Backpack Travel

#161

Post by et-al »

nadermx wrote: post #49

Before being a digital nomad was cool I went full nomad. I remember being in a hostel in Thailand and just throwing away everything I had brought, going down to the basics. Ended up with a similar setup. The thing is, after years of doing it, learning new languages, making friends all over, and then leaving knowing you might not see them again for ever or for long stints, you start to feel the yearning to be able to…

Yup, we all go through difference phases of life.

We have a nice airbed (oxymoron?) in our apartment that gets used maybe 3-4 times a year. It takes up more space than the author's backpack, but it's also great whenever a friend or family member would like to visit on short notice (along with a set of sheets, towels, collection of hotel toothbrushes...).

Re: Indefinite Backpack Travel

#162

Post by bryanhogan »

plastic3169 wrote: post #107

I am surprised one bag crowd seem to pack so many computing devices with them. Some have phone, laptop, ipad and kindle and pride themselves on being minimalists.

I'm living as a nomad currently, laptop and phone feels mandatory, but I also pack a tablet. I find it useful for hand-written notes, so I carry no pen and paper, and as a second screen for my laptop.

Re: Indefinite Backpack Travel

#165

Post by kakacik »

pythonaut_16 wrote: post #128
kakacik wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Merino shirts are literally the only shirts I've worn through to have holes on various places. Its not that great and vastly overpriced material for many active uses, but marketing is strong with this one. To quote some mountain guides I talked about this - its a great second layer in snowy sports, ie ski touring. Wicking of sweat ain't great compared to synthetics (and thus drying takes also much longer), but when w…

From what I've seen merino tends to be more delicate than synthetics, but much more odor resistant. Merino is the only fabric I've found that can handle multiple sweaty days or even workouts without a hint of smell.

Yes that is true, forgot that part. Doesn't help much in colder situations with more layers but for a single layer case, with nothing carried on the back/waist its fine even long term. I just don't do such things much.

Re: Indefinite Backpack Travel

#167

Post by bluehatbrit »

coffeebeqn wrote: post #75
doctorhandshake wrote: post #51

I’m all for minimalist travel but I feel like I picked up a number of cues that the author is buying and disposing of (somehow) items seasonally or even on an as-no-longer-needed basis. Hopefully that means donating the item and maybe even buying used to begin with but it’s not mentioned here. I don’t want to make assumptions but in the worst case this could be a very wasteful kind of minimalism.

Funny thing is the list is not at all far from “latest Apple and arc’teryx” which I’d consider the consumerist side he’s complaining about but - some of those items are objectively really high quality and durable

I found this a bit odd, especially when the author mentioned they lose their apple watch a lot so buy an older one. It feels peculiar to buy such an objectively expensive high end item when you know you constantly lose it, and barely use any of it's features. To me that is continual overconsumption.

I can't pretend I don't have my own contradictions going on, so I'm not having a go at the author. But I did find it a little funny when reading it.

Re: Indefinite Backpack Travel

#168

Post by octo888 »

dalke wrote: post #104
octo888 wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Back when you could bring the more fun stuff back from Europe (meat, cheese etc) my big suitcase would be well over half empty on the way out. Quite a bit heavier on the way back ;)

On the return from my first trip to South Africa I carried 12 bottles of wine in my luggage. That was back when flights included two free checked items. On my second trip to Europe one of my suitcases was full of T-shirt swag to give out at a conference. Lugging both up the stairs, across the train tracks, and back down was a hassle. Both of these were over 20 years ago. And then there's the story at https://notalway…

> On the return from my first trip to South Africa I carried 12 bottles of wine in my luggage.

Totally understandable! Amazing wine - I didn't want to leave Constantia. But I picked myself up and dragged myself to Stellenbosch !

And at the end of the trip, I didn't want to return home. Such an incredible country that still holds a very special place in my heart

Re: Indefinite Backpack Travel

#169

Post by throw744848484 »

harrall wrote: post #157
dijit wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ever think about writing some of those habits down? Might be able to impart wisdom without the mess of backpacking days on end; or maybe the lessons have to be hard-earned?

I have written it down but it is a checklist and there are thousands of those. Checklists are very personal so that’s why I suggested that you “do it for yourself.” That said, these are the 3 main lessons I got: - Everything needs a place. I need to picture that place before I even buy the thing, while at the store . When you are trying to fit everything into one backpack, you practice this a lot. - Occasional I go l…

> USB cables but I would always throw them out during these “spring cleanings” so now I throw them when I first get them.

Funny. One bagging travel turned me into USB cable hoarder. This stuff always breaks, gets lost on the road, and it is quite handy to have stash of spares at home.

I hate shopping for random stuff, ordering cables from Amazon is a lottery and fire hazard these days.

So I buy good stuff in bulk and discounts. If I find good shoes, I buy ten pairs, before they are discontinued.

My living room wall is now covered with stacks of boxes with supplies. Look does not matter, I do not live there most of the time anyway.

Re: Indefinite Backpack Travel

#170

Post by DiscourseFan »

I do like a mix of this and just being more flexible about where I can live. Like, I'm leaving where I am in a few days, but that's after staying here for most of 6 months, also flying to various locations for conferences, to meet up with old friends. I use a suitcase these days with fashionable clothes and I will stay in airbnb rentals instead of hostels, especially if I'm already meeting up with friends or if I need to make sure I have a quiet place to work. I also, perhaps, am fortunate that my family still owns their own home, so I have a place for long term storage in case I need it, since I have accrued a pretty large collection of physical books, for instance, some of them more rare than others.

I think if I were ever to get married I would probably buy a house or something, but ideally my partner would also be as mobile and flexible as me.

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