For three and a half months; One-hundred and four days; 2496 hours, our bags will be bearing on our backs. Like the Greek titan Atlas who carried the weight of the heavens so it shall be our duty to carry our packs through our epic journey. Luckily, with our bags weighing in at about 30 pounds our load is a little more manageable...
For those of you who don't know, packing for a three month excursion is a rather delicate process. The task at hand truly boggles the mind: How is it that I can carry every item I need for a 104 day journey in a sack about twice the size of a school bag? At first, completing this process seems impossible. Perhaps its being brought up in a consumption driven society that made me think this. "What do you mean?!??! I cant pack my PlayStation in that thing!" After about an hour or two of trying to figure out how I could jury-rig my bag so that I could comfortably carry my dresser on my back, I regained my sanity and started to think small. At first I was dead set on bringing at least six pairs of shoes, but I forced myself down to one pair that will suit me for all my needs. As I tossed extra items from my bag that I thought I couldn't live without I came to a profound realization; I don't actually need all the crap in my room to get by from day-to-day. When I realized this a great feeling of satisfaction came over me.
There is no greater meditation on minimalism than packing for a extended trip.
G'day!
