What Are the Joys and Advantages of Minimalist Travel?

By

You can travel first class and spare no expense.  Pack a whole new wardrobe in a pile of suitcases, visit every high-traffic venue, and commemorate your once-in-a-lifetime experience with plenty of souvenirs.  This requires careful planning, a lot of money, and someone to schlep all that luggage.


Or you can travel light, with a backpack or a carryon, prepared to interact with your destination as authentically as possible.  As you walk the streets, or ride on public transit, you can be curious, observant, and free to follow a whim.


travel light


You can be weighed down, or you can enjoy the agility of minimalism.


I love the minimal completeness of packing for travel.  You consider carefully which clothes you'll need, which toiletries and accessories.  You might bring a book or a journal; you'll probably bring your phone.  But you carry only what you've chosen to take with you.  It's the ultimate in decluttering.


It's liberating to live with a fraction of your possessions.  You've mindfully curated a collection of the things you won't be able to do without, whether that's clean socks and comfortable shoes or your favorite necklace and a beautiful pashmina.*  And because you travel so lightly, you can be ready and on your way with a minimum of fuss.


* This blog is reader-supported.  If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.


If you travel this summer, take the opportunity to go through your closet and remove items you don't love or wear regularly as soon as you return from your trip.  When you live for a week with a small suitcase of clothes, you're reminded of how little you truly need, and how much freedom you gain when you live with less.  You've traveled with clothes that fit well, flatter your body and your coloring, and are comfortable and easy-care.  So now you can pare down your wardrobe with confidence.




There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.


But maybe you agree with Jane Austen.  Maybe you're not a fan of crowds and security checks, layovers and long waits.  I actually find long car or plane trips extremely uncomfortable.  Since I have sciatica and Restless Leg Syndrome, the confinement can be unbearable after more than a couple of hours.


I can relate to feelings shared by Coco Chanel, who said, "Traveling is so complicated.  There are so many people everywhere.  I make my best journeys on my couch."


Yes, armchair travel can encompass the world, and books can also take me into the past, or on a voyage to imaginary realms.


And when I stay closer to home, I can afford perks like theater tickets or visits to art museums.  I'm fortunate to live less than an hour away from my state capital, and just a two-hour drive from the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area, a travel destination for people from all over the world.  Why would I need to go further?  There's wine tasting, all types of world-class musical performances, historic sites, pro sports, hiking, picnicking, strolls on the beach at sunset, and a lot more.


I know there are those who live for travel, but I'm not one of them.  Even though I went to England during my junior year of college, while there I lodged in a small town in Leicestershire.  For ten weeks, it was my home away from home.  From that base I made day trips to ancient villages, churches, castles, writers' homes, and beautiful gardens.




Making the most of the least is one way to be happier every day.


Maybe you think that keeping plans simple and becoming well acquainted with a relatively small region seems boring.


But I think it's one of the secrets to happiness.


Because I don't have to wait until I can afford a first class ticket around the world, and I don't have a huge bucket list of must-see destinations, I can enjoy smaller adventures quite often.  How many of us long to travel to the tourist spots of the world, yet have not experienced many of the attractions that are practically on our doorsteps?  I know there are hundreds of places and events in my part of the world that I have yet to enjoy.


I loved the sense of history in England that is so much deeper than what we have in the U.S.  I loved the rolling green countryside crisscrossed by footpaths, and the weird and wonderful place names.  I love British English, the fantastic literature, and yes – the weather!


I may never travel there again, but I can still make a big mug of Earl Grey tea, find gorgeous photographs online, read travel memoirs such as Susan Branch's A Fine Romance or Bill Bryson's The Road to Little Dribbling, listen to music by British composers and bands, and binge-watch Foyle's War or The Crown.


But if I want to travel, a night at The Pelican Inn (one of my favorite spots) near Muir Woods and Muir Beach will give me a little flavor of England, and it's only 135 miles from home.


And for that, I only need to pack a tiny bag, including my indispensable travel items – something to read and something to write in.  Even if I went for a week I wouldn't need much more, as previous experience has taught me.


If you want to try short jaunts nearer to your home this summer, there's a wonderful resource called Within Hours that can provide suggestions an hour or two away, or within a couple hundred miles.  (By the way, the website is international, not just limited to the U.S. and Canada.)  I'm sure you'll find interesting places you've never been.


Travel light and enjoy the adventure.




Updated June 2023


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Beat 3 Blocks that Keep You Cluttered

By
Image
You may not realize it, but you could be harboring some beliefs that make it difficult (or even impossible) to declutter and stay that way.  These are common mindsets that can hold us back.  If you're struggling to declutter, it's time to identify the thoughts that are making it so hard. Decluttering block #1: I hate tossing things out. I think we can agree that throwing things out feels wasteful and bad.  Especially if your parents or grandparents lived through the Depression or the World War II era, this mindset runs deep.  The urge to keep everything (even things that are broken) will be stronger if you or your family have a history of trauma or hoarding.  You might not even be aware of how strong this inner compulsion is until you start trying to declutter. If you find it hard to get rid of broken, frayed, outgrown, neglected, or otherwise unused things, see if one of these reminders can help: 1.  The reprimand might not be coming from you. Your aversio...
Read more

Why You Should Try Wearing the Same Clothes Every Day

By
Image
Wearing the same clothes every day would get boring, wouldn't it? A long time ago, I had a job that required a uniform, and I have to say it did make life easier .  I had three copies of my work outfit, and there was never a question about what to wear.  I never worried whether my clothes were stylish or "right," because everyone else wore the same thing. The same argument has been used in public and private schools in favor of student uniforms.  Rather than constant worries about fashion and comparisons and dress codes, a uniform makes everything simple.  It's one less thing to think about in the complex life of a student. Many people argue that clothes make a statement about who you are.  "I express myself through my clothes" is a comment I've often heard, usually from women.  The idea of a uniform scares them, because how will they make themselves noticeable or unique ? I think we might be imagining some sort of Handmaid's Tale society, where we...
Read more

Why You Should Make "Less is More" Your Mantra for Life

By
Image
Maybe you've heard the saying popularized by architect Mies van der Rohe in 1947:  "Less is more." It's an oxymoron – a phrase that seems to contradict itself.  Others include "old news," "open secret," "unbiased opinion," and "awfully good."  Or the lament, "Parting is such sweet sorrow." What does "less is more" mean?  It's wonderfully open-ended.  Answers to that are as varied as the people who reply.  Consider: Less anxiety, more peace. Less debt, more savings. Less busywork, more substance. Less clutter, more space. Less comparison, more contentment. Less sugar, more vegetables. Voluntary simplicity Back in the 1990s, a fair number of Americans realized that the continual quest for more and better was stressing them out and keeping them from creating lives of purpose.  After the consumerist binge of the yuppie-era 80s, some started wondering if the big house, flashy car, exotic vacation, and Rolex we...
Read more

Share the Joy - Giving the Gift of Hygge

By
Image
The international interest in the Danish lifestyle hygge (pronounced "hoo-gah") has been co-opted by retailers who want to sell to us.  Of course, we do need items to make life more comfortable, such as beds, tables, chairs, clothing, and food.  I happen to think we also need books, flowers, and candles.  No one – not even a minimalist like me – can stop consuming while they're alive. But what we can control is how much we buy that's unnecessary, and how much we waste.  And since hygge is an experience you can create, not a thing you can buy, we don't really need to purchase anything to have a more hyggeligt life.  A sunrise, a crisp and juicy apple, birdsong, the scent of rain, or a long, strong hug can provide that. 13 great hygge gifts So how do you give the gift of hygge?  What can you offer a loved one that will truly add to their stock of  comfort, joy, and life satisfaction ?  Here are some ideas, large and small, that shouldn't add to yo...
Read more

6 Quick and Easy Steps to Declutter Before the Holidays

By
Image
The holidays are just around the corner, and as you shop for and cook your Thanksgiving feast and prepare to put up Christmas or Hanukkah decorations, you'll enjoy it all even more if you do a quick clear-out while you have the chance. Not only can you make room for the Christmas tree, but you can help the whole family feel less overwhelmed by holiday bustle, and give yourself more space to savor what the season has to offer.  You'll feel better prepared for holiday guests, and more ready for a fun and relaxed celebration. I know you're extra-busy, so this is not an intense purge.  It's a quick, refreshing chance to set the stage, with the added benefit of beginning the New Year with less clutter and more freedom. So set aside 15-30 minutes for each step in the process, and let your success in one area carry you to the next with renewed energy! The quick clear-out 1.  Start in the kitchen. Many holiday traditions involve food.  Crowded counters and crammed, hard-to-a...
Read more