While watching my beloved Gators pull one out against Texas A&M this weekend, I began to wonder about what I would need to take with me on this trip.  Her and I have often joked about things we would or would not take with us, but I hadn’t seriously considered what I would require for 6 months of living out of a backpack.  During the commercial breaks of the football game, I assembled a list of what I believe would work for me:

Technology (I can’t live without technology…)

Lugging around a laptop will be a pain in the butt at times, but it will also make it possible for us to keep in touch with family, update this blog and start preparing for our eventual return home  (sending out resumes and looking for jobs!).  My iPhone doubles as my camera, so I don’t think I could live without it.  Additionally, the iPhone will make it easy for us to call home or make hotel reservations using Skype minutes whenever we have a wireless internet signal.

  • MacBook Pro w/ charger
  • iPhone (not pictured) w/ USB cable
  • Power adapters/converter
  • Digital watch
  • Headlamp
  • Dry sack (this isn’t an electronics item, per se, but it is essential to keeping the electronics working!)

Clothing

From what I read, this is where long-term travelers tend to overpack the most.  I knew I wasn’t going to bring any jeans with me (they are simply too bulky and don’t dry quickly enough), but I also knew that I wouldn’t be able to survive wearing the same pair of pants for 6 months.  I opted to bring a few pairs of pants that would work well in different weather types.  I am also bringing some items that are a little dressier since we are going to a wedding in New Zealand, but they might also come in handy when we want to dress up a for a nice restaurant or a club.

  • 3 pairs of pants
  • 3 T-shirts
  • 4 pairs of (quick drying) underwear
  • 4 pairs of socks
  • 1 button-down plaid shirt
  • 1 semi-dressy, button-down shirt (for wedding/going out)
  • Athletic shorts (for lounging or sleeping in)
  • Hat
  • Hiking shoes
  • Sandals
  • Jacket/windbreaker
  • Gloves
  • Belt

Miscellaneous

This includes some of the smaller items I’m bringing.  Some of it is essential, some of it we will have to replace along the way and some of it will likely prove useless.

  • Prescription meds
  • Insurance (comprehensive health, travel)
  • Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.)
  • Portable toilet paper
  • Rubber sink stopper/clothesline (for doing laundry on our own)
  • Packtowl (portable, viscose towel)
  • Playing cards
  • Passport/Vaccination card
  • Earplugs (for noisy hostels and planes)
  • Wallet/money belt

And I’ll carry it all in my…

At first, my packing list didn’t seem excessive, but after placing each item into the bag, the collective load was a tad heavier than I anticipated.  I estimate the total weight around 15 pounds.  Yet, it’s not too bad, and I think I can manage.  I’m sure I’ve forgotten something important.  I just hope I remember it before we leave…