Meanwhile Back in the Jungle (I mean at the farm) 😂

A life in two parts. You would think that farming and traveling are mutually exclusive. Maybe? But I do it anyway! And today - you will too!

Aug 11, 2024

A little on travel then we will pop back and see how everyone is doing on the farm!

Traveling Light. (as promised)

When my son in New Zealand had a medical emergency a few years ago, I was on the farm in Illinois. I booked a ticket and hit the road with my hair still wet. With only a tiny carry-on and a handbag, I ran between terminals and planes and trains and arrived out of breath and on the other side of the world with no more than twenty pounds of stuff. I had packed two of everything and moved fast!

And after the family emergency calmed down and I refocused on my travel I realized how little I truly needed. By applying the "rinse and repeat" method and staying frugal, I had discovered the perfect balance. Once I proved to myself how little it takes to function well and move freely, I began packing lighter for every trip, focusing on essentials rather than "just in case" items.

I have a system now and am always ready to move fast again. Having children in four different countries demands this. My carry-on sits in the corner of my study, partially packed—not completely, just mostly. The toiletry bag is ready, the chargers bag is ready. (I have chargers that travel). My wardrobe is kept lean, with some items I only wear when I’m away, and these are stored in the bag itself.

When I’m on the road, I relocate every few days. You know what they say about house guests and fish! So I am the only one who is bored by what I wear over and over again.

So, let’s talk packing: less is best when leaving home for a while. Whether you're packing for ten days or ten weeks, I pack exactly the same amount of stuff. If you have access to a washing machine, you need no more than two of everything. I’ve trialed this theory in winter, summer, international, and domestic travel—in planes, trains, and automobiles- through seasons and hemispheres.

It works.

I pack the same items for winter as I do for summer, just swapping out short-sleeved t-shirts for long-sleeved ones. And a light hoodie for a lined one. I choose items for their layering qualities. (Think about investing in a couple of merino T shirts. Everything they say about merino blend clothing is true: a clean person can wear them for days without stink or wrinkles. Emphasis on clean—a smelly person will still smell, though a little sweat never hurt anyone, just not on a plane, shoulder to shoulder.)

There are very few journeys where I’ll pack a bag to check. It’s not that I fear losing it—out of all my travels, that’s only happened once—but because I’m like that little fish: if I have space, I’ll fill it. Overpacking is not cool!

Coats

I always travel with a coat. A long coat either to the knees or to my ankles is my style.

A long stunning coat over a T shirt and jeans with heels or heavy boots goes anywhere.

So I bring one full length beautiful big coat and one light layer or heavy hoodie. When I board I wear the light coat inside the big coat, and a cardigan inside the light coat, then take it all off so it looks like one coat. These items spend most of their travel time in the bin above my head anyway. I never pack them. When walking between terminals, they’re slung across my carry on wheelie bag looking like one long coat.

Divine your style and go there!

Carry on Wheelie

Get a good strong wheelie bag,

With zippered inner compartments and good strong wheels. Soft or hard shell is up to you, but good solid bad ass wheels is a must. I pack half the case using packing cubes. Not because they take up less space but because it organises my clothing and makes my travels easier on my brain. The other half of the case is jeans, bulky items and my keyboard, camera gear and charging cables.

Take a laundry bag. No I am not kidding. This is super useful. There is nothing worse than having to sniff test your way through your bag in a dark morning with the Uber waiting outside. The laundry bag can also double as a shopping bag.

A small clothes brush. If you are visiting people with dogs, I also pack my little old clothes brush. This is good for your coats too - a little mud can dry and be brushed off.

My toilet bag is transparent for obvious reasons. This can make finding stuff easier and covers any over zealous security demands. (Security regulations in every country and actually different airports in the same country are often different - just be prepared. Do not be hurried by the security personnel, be calm and efficient, smile, have anything you need to take out in the security line handy then work at your own speed. Things get left behind when we are hurried and chances are you will never see them again. So relax. Count the number of trays you put on the belt and count them all out).

Packing cubes.

I put my underwear in a packing cube and my T shirts, tights and walking gear in another packing cube then my nightwear in a tiny one. (In the night wear bag I also pack my toothbrush and nightime cream.) This is the bag I carry to the bathroom when I arrive anywhere.

Grab and go.

Packing cubes don’t save on space but they do add an element of organisation that help a tired Celi get dressed in the morning.

How I choose what I want to take.

Be strong; this is the hard part. I put everything I want to take on my bed, including what has been loitering in my bag since the last trip. Even though I don’t own a lot of clothes it is always too much stuff. Now edit ruthlessly. Right down to two of everything. ONLY take what you wear. I mean it. Anything you are saving for GOOD will still not be worn. Anything that cost heaps but never quite felt right is a waste of real estate. That top you love but seldom wear - leave it behind.

I reduce the pile to two or one of everything.

My List

2 pairs of leggings (black)
2 big work T shirts (I garden or bake bread all over the world plus they double as night wear)
2 good T shirts: (one white, one black)
2 button down shirts: (one white, one black)
2 pairs of jeans: (one white, one black)
Two skirts: one short and one long
One maxi dress.
One stunning drop dead fuck off blouse or little black dress - because - you know - you never know! (But make it small - we don’t have a lot of room.)

Shoes: black flat jandals, converse, black high heels. (If I am going into Canada I wear my heavy boots).

A scarf for all occasions.

I am always going from one season to the opposing season which adds difficulty to the equation. So - think layers.

Two hats - a beanie and a cap. Put the cap and big sunglasses on when you leave the plane and walk like you own the world. Everyone will think you are famous and you will get great service.

Underwear. Pink of course!! I hand wash my underwear as I travel. Sometimes drying bras on top of my suitcase in the back of the car as we drive - naturally you can pack more than two pair of knickers.

Hair straightener plus hot cover so it can be packed at the last minute while still hot.

Chargers (Oh Chargers) - Chargers are the bane of my life. The cords AND the blocks.

Buy charging blocks for the country you are in when you enter. Get them at the airport. Label them with your black marker. It saves a lot of hassle. Write all over your blocks and label the cords. Family members are the worst for stealing your charging cords and they all look the same so what can you do!

Or buy yourself a multi block and charge everything through the laptop.

Chargers:

Laptop
Phone
Speaker
FitBit
Ear Buds
Camera
Battery Pack

Keep all these cords in one little travel bag. And return them to that bag throughout your wandering. Chargers and cords about drive me mad!

Personal Bag

I have found that an oversized leather tote bag is best for me. I have a nice back pack and I hardly use it, I have concluded that I am not a back pack person. When I am tired there are too many zips. And I hate carrying stuff like a donkey. And it ruins how my coat drapes, darling. A big old NZ leather handbag works perfectly - right? My small cross body bag travels everywhere with me and when boarding I tuck it down into my big leather tote handbag. The cross body bag holds my sunglasses, my cards and my phone.

My personal bag holds:

My documents satchel with my passport and green card, important documents, etc

Battery pack and earbuds.

A napkin. I always travel with a cloth napkin. You will not believe how handy this will be.

Make up bag A good hydrating face cream for the long flights, plus toothpaste and brush and lip balm. And a few items of make up for a touch up before you land.

Aspirin

One baby aspirin before you fly can save your life.

Phone Charger. Some planes have a USB portal some planes only have an electrical socket that will need a plug so take your cords and the block. I seldom see USB-C portals.

Books and writing necessities. Of course - these have to be handy at all times

My pencil case. I feel anxious if I don’t have multiple pens handy.

Long Hauls

Adidas slide sandals in a plastic bag (the toilets in planes can get horrible so these slides need to be washable (hence the bag)

Loose pants to fly in. I change back into my jeans after breakfast.

An eye mask with room to blink. Plus a face mask (in case your fellow travelers are coughing).

A pillow case

I fold a pillow case and pop it in my hand bag for long hauls. A pillow does not count as a bag so I take the pillow case and stuff my warmies and big scarf into it for a nice pillow for my head. And if the pillow case has your sweater in it even better. Neck pillows are a huge waste of real-estate in my opinion. I buy them and leave them all over the world in disgust.

Scarf

I often travel long haul with a big woolen scarf - as big as a small blanket, it can even be worn as a skirt in a pinch and used as a blanket. I fly with it stuffed into the pillow case as a cushion.

That is all. And is a LOT!

As I travel from place to place I excuse myself from company every now and then to Spend Time with my Suitcase. Keep it packed neatly. Set it up like a chest of and tidy it every day.

Always put everything back where it belongs. Pens in your pencil case. Passport in its passport bag. Crossbody bag back in the tote and sunglasses (lord help me from sunglasses) in their cases back in the tote bag.

Be intentional.

I think that is all. I am traveling at the moment and it works - I promise!

Now! Meanwhile back on the jungle.

The Cows

I call one of my girls the cow girl - she was very against coming out to the farm preferring to spend her summer lying on her bed but the powers that be thought differently so I gave her responsibility for the biggest animals on the property. She is to report back to me on each cows eyes and bottom. And she has blossomed.

The cows literally nudge her now. Like horses. Looking for the bread she stuffs in her pockets.

The Big Pigs - Tima, Wai, Jude and FreeBee

All great. Tima has gotten used to being in with the cows. She and John do not get along so she is best kept out of his way while I am away.

The Middle Sized Pigs - the Charlottes

I think they have grown!

The Baby Pigs - the PopPop

No escapes so far! Thanks Gods. They look pretty good don’t they!

The Turkeys

Are taking over, as the most entertaining birds!

Here they are roosting in my sleeping porch. Uninvited! We lost one to a hawk since I left so they are only allowed supervised walks with Boo in attendance until I get back.

The Chickens

Lots of eggs and lots of noise!

Cats and Dogs

I wonder if dog people say Dogs and Cats and cat people say Cats and Dogs.

I asked Aunty Google about the expression ‘raining cats and dogs’ and here is one of the theories of its origin.

Some scholars believe that the phrase is a corruption of the Greek expression “cata doxa,” which means "contrary to experience or belief." If it’s raining cats and dogs, it’s raining unusually or incredibly hard.

SO. What are your tips for travelling light? Do you travel much?

Because I bet you have some good ones!