I am back now, safe and sound after a productive late-night train ride and a brisk pitch-black 2am walk home, in Siegburg. I am looking out at the same little gingerbread house with the same children’s toys strewn about its yard outside my window. Its comforting to know that I have this place, if only for another week or so. I have learned that consistency in a traveler’s life is not always such a bad thing.

Because I had this place for storage when I went to visit Braulio in Hamburg, I took with me in my pack even less than usual. I left the heavy things which were used rarely, and took only what I absolutely would need. This is supposed to have been what I had with me in the first place, but extra items slipped in along the way (people love to give gifts to people “passing through” for some reason, especially when their pack is light).

The items I took with me on my journey were:

1. My Lenovo Thinkpad X61 Laptop
   This guy is essential wherever I go. Keeping in contact via Skype, continuing my work (even if only monitoring work being done), writing. I’m not proud to say I can’t live without it, but in truth, I probably couldn’t.
2. My Canon G9 12.1mp Camera
   Not as essential as the laptop, but still pretty darn important. One time I forgot my bag at McDonalds, and as I was rushing back in a panic only one thought was in my mind: Oh dear god my camera. The idea of not having the opportunity to take photos of the amazing places I visit is a terrifying one.
3. My Packtowel
   I ended up not using this item, as my host Braulio had prepared a towel for me and I was only too eager to use it. Packtowels, while effective, can get a bit moldy and tiring when used frequently. Usually, it is a good idea to have this item on-hand as typically the way to impose the least amount on your host is to minimize the amount of laundry in-which they need to do following your visit.
4. My Chicobag
   This awesome little stuffable shopping bag must have seams of steel. I constantly pack it full of groceries when I visit the store (here in Germany there are no baggers to pack your things away, and no bags either). This item has proven consistently useful to me as a shopping bag, “overflow” bag for when you are transporting something (like surplus food) from one location to another, and more. I can’t recommend them enough.
5. My Sea to Summit Mummy Silk Travel Liner
   This I also didn’t end up using, as he had prepared a full bed for me. The night prior in Hagen, however, I did use it. I was sleeping on a leather couch and (this is the laundry principle again) didn’t need to bother my host about sheets or a blanket. I simply wrapped myself up in this, used my jacket as a pillow, and went to sleep. I have used this item on planes, trains, buses, etc to create a nice sleeping environment for my body. It works!
6. My typical clothes
   I’ll spare you the details, as it has all been covered before.
7. My Lonely Planet German Phrasebook
   I really should get rid of this. I haven’t used it EVER. I read it once on the plane-ride over, but at this point in my German languge skill, most of it is simply review (or antiquated and invalid to what the Germans actually SAY in the relevant situations). I’m gonna get rid of this. Its too slow to use.
8. My Passport
   In its typical waterproof casing, I always bring this with me if I’m going anywhere for a specific amount of time. If I am stopped on a border somewhere (they can be sort of indescript in Europe) I want to make sure I have my bases covered. They also help ALOT as a secondary ID.
9. My typical toiletries
   Including deoderant, travel toothbrush, full-size tube of toothpaste (the travel-sizes are such a waste of packaging), 8oz bottle of Dr. Bronners (half full at this point), and two hotel-shampoo bottles emptied and replaced with Head and Shoulders shampoo, and Garnie Fructis conditioner (I bought big bottles, and condense them into smaller ones. Much more economical this way). I also brought my drain plug for the sink, but Braulio’s sink came equipped with one already.
10. My leather jacket
    I use this jacket the most. It is still just getting to be the end of summer here, so it is still warm and, though the night air is quite brisk, I am usually walking when I’m outside, and warm up quite quickly despite the cold. I didn’t use my jacket once the entire time.
11. A CocaCola bottle filled with laundry detergent
    After a LONG struggle with piffling little plastic envelopes of “sink-sized” laundry detergents, I have tired of this game. I now simply purchase the largest container of detergent I can find (which isn’t that bag here in Germany, its MUCH less watered-down here) and then fill up as many empty soda bottles as I need to. Laundry detergent gets used quickly, and the economic savings (let alone the ability to use as much as you need without worrying about rationing) is worth the couple of days of extra weight. The soda-bottle packaging allows you to get rid of unused packaging quickly.
12. My pocket notebook
    Of course. I am always thinking and writing, and I have been known to remove my notebook in the middle of a conversation and begin writing while continuing a level stare with my peer.
13. My pocket watch
    A little bit of extravagance for me, this pocket watch was 48 euros and worth every penny. Not being one who likes to be late, I am at a constant battle with myself, for I just as passionately HATE time. This is a compromise, and lets me keep time in my pocket, instead of letting it rule my life.
14. My MP3 Player
    Long train rides (when there is no one to converse with, of course) are made surprisingly bearable by a well-read audiobook. I also use the radio function on my litle Sansa Express as a way to “tap into the local communications” as it were.

That’s it!

And it was quickly proven that that is all that was needed.

What I didn’t bring with me, and left in the apartment was:

1. My portable chinese-checkers playing set
   I LOVE Chinese checkers, and will play a game with anyone who can spare a moment. I searched high and low for a portable magnetic Chinese checkers set before coming across my current beauty in a tourist shop at Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco. I am really at a battle within myself with this one. The space it takes up is not so great, and the spectacular (though unfortunately rare) games of Chinese checkers really almost make this little guy worth it. What should I do? Should I keep it or not?
2. The two physical books I had with me
   I am a frequent reader, but more recently I have been moving into reading eBooks and RSS items instead of physical books. I didn’t miss these at all when they weren’t there, and are WAY too heavy to justify their weight. I am going to have to either ship these back or leave them with someone who will read them.
3. My now defunkt cellphone
   This thing is completely pointless for me now. The joys of being able to enjoy the present without the constant ringing of cellphones or vibrations on my thigh have convinced me many times over that my cell-phoning days are over. I don’t ever use this and would love to sell it, but am not sure how to do it in Europe (Craigslist is dead here). I suppose I’ll ship it to my parents or give it away.
4. My eagle creek shoulder-bag
   Grrr…I’m undecided about this one. I didn’t need it when I was with Braulio, and that says something. Usually, I use this shoulder bag as a “day bag”. When I was in the US I carried my laptop with me to use at Cafes with WiFi, etc. Here, WiFi in public places is FAR less prevalent and this is not a necessary or useful practice anymore.Furthermore, I’ve noticed that Cafes simply aren’t a good environment for me to work in. I love to examine the interactions of people and their personalities, and this study can keep me entertained for hours while I sip at a tea. This isn’t a particularly work-enhancing trait however. I find I do my best work at “home” wherever that is at the time, and shouldn’t be lugging a laptop around anyways.
5. My external CD/DVD player
   Another internal battle with this one. A recent client requires some DVDs to be ripped to be put on her website (its legal, they’re hers). This is the first time, however, that I have needed a DVD player since leaving Maui. Does this justify bringing one with me? My laptop (thankfully) does not have one integrated into it. This keeps the weight down signifigantly, and as the compact disc is a dying media, it is the “right” way to go. Unfortunately, this means I have to carry around an external (albeit small) DVD drive. I think I’m going to send this to my Dad who can really use it.
6. My Black Diamond Gloves
   These were a moment of weakness when I saw them in the clearance bin at REI in Santa Monica. I had thought about getting some gloves, and this rock-bottom price convinced me. I haven’t used them, and judging by the items which get cold first for me in my experience, I don’t think I’ll have any use for them in winter either. I suppose I should give these away.
7. My computer lock
   In the US, this was an imperative item. Theft is a trend in those big US cities. Here in Europe, however, I have seen laptops left unattended in trains, cafes, and more for more than AN HOUR with not even a slightly suspicious looking onlooker. I simply don’t need to be that paranoid in the rest of the world. This is getting trashed.
8. My laundry line
   I’ve used this thing maybe once since I’ve left Maui. It seems like a good idea, but is rarely practical as the chance of a “loopable” or “hookable” item to hang this up on being in the place where the sun is the most beating is next to nothing. Furthermore, the more its used, the more tangled and stretched out it gets. I’m getting rid of this one too.
9. My titanium rain jacket
   I don’t mind rain, and I never have. In fact their’s something wonderful about feeling the raindrops against the back of my neck, or my hair. Perhaps this is why I was a bit sceptical when my mother offered to buy me this bright red rain-repelling jacket. It has rained every day since I arrived in Siegburg, hard and light respectively, but I simply don’t use this jacket. When its raining, I wear my leather jacket out to repell the liquid (it does a great job, and doesn’t look like I’m trying to be rescued from the ocean) or nothing at all. All of my clothing is engineered to dry quickly and I don’t mind being wet in the least. I told my mom (who bought it for me) I would give it a fair try, but I have and its not worth its weight. I’m going to send this back.

And that’s that. I am tired of feeling like The Digital Freighthauler. When my backpack is light I feel impressive, limitless, confident. When my bag is heavy, all I can think about is getting to the next destination, and don’t give myself the chance to enjoy the wonderful scenery in-between.