Just One Bag

I don’t know how our fascination with minimalistic living started. It could have been a topic of discussion on one of our first awkward dates after we were “matched” online. Or it could have been born of necessity when we lived together in a 400 sq ft apartment. We haven’t quite gone as far as the Marie Kondo-inspired decluttering purges. But we do fantasize about getting rid of all our “stuff” to live in a 21ft Class B recreational vehicle. For now, we are starting with packing lightly for trips. For our one month trip to New Zealand, we will each have one 40L backpack to carry-on.

We’ve spent a considerable amount of time researching the best fabrics and brands for clothing that can be worn multiple times before needing to wash, and then can be hand-washed and line-dried easily. Wool is magical. Most of my casual shirts, leggings, socks, and underwear are wool, from a company called Icebreaker (based in New Zealand). They’re super comfortable, and non-scratchy!

The terrain changes quickly from the beaches of the North, to the mountains of the South. It will be the beginning of autumn for the Southern Hemisphere, so we are preparing for chilly nights. I can layer on tank top, t-shirt, long-sleeve shirt, fleece, Uniqlo vest, Patagonia down jacket, and Patagonia waterproof shell. The down jackets and shells can be packed into their own little built-in stuff sacks.

After much trial and error, Won found a pair of sneakers that can work for city sightseeing, long walks on the beach, and the gym. They’re called Astrals, marketed as “technical amphibious footwear.” I like that they are cute enough for a wine bar, comfortable for my bunions, and waterproof.

The most challenging thing about minimalistic packing for women is the need to be comfortable on the trails, yet still be presentable in the evenings in establishments that require reservations. I’m trying a thing from Encircled, a Canadian company that designed a piece of clothing that can be transformed into multiple pieces. It’s part origami, part MacGyver. I can wear it as a wrap dress, a cardigan, or a Grecian tunic. It can pass for a little black dress for evenings out.

Minimalistic wardrobes are easier for men, but since their things are bigger, it evens out in the end. We will share one toiletry bag, and one case to hold all our chargers and electronics.

As part of our trip, we will join Backroads for a 10-day supported cycling tour from Christchurch to Queenstown.  The itinerary looks amazing: I like the idea of wine and upscale B&Bs, while Won is excited about the 50 miles/day of uphill cycling.  We have to also fit our cycling gear into our backpacks: pedals, saddles, cycling shoes, and kits.  Luckily, the helmet will be provided, as well as the bike.

When everything is packed, there’s plenty of room left in the backpacks for souvenirs (read: bottles of Sauvignon Blanc!).

March 6, 2018