Packing for Adventure

If I lost all my possessions, I wouldn’t be too upset. I’m guessing I lost them in a fire, or maybe my house/car was robbed. I imagine insurance would be of use in recouping funds to get new possessions, though maybe not as much as I would like.

As long as my family and pups are safe, losing my possessions would be more of an annoyance than it would be devastating. And to be honest, I’m due for a new wardrobe. It would even be kind of nice to get a fresh start and clear out all the clutter.

Of course I do not want to downplay the horror of losing everything you own, especially in a fire. In this hypothetical situation, I know I’m not happy to have to clean up wreckage and start over. But at the end of the day, stuff is just stuff. All I REALLY care about is my husband, children, and dogs.

There is one exception: my travel souvenirs.

Our Souvenirs

Chris had a healthy collection of souvenir shot glasses before we even knew each other, so naturally we get a new shot glass everywhere we go. We even made a cute mountain shelf to display them.

My favorite souvenir item we get is a new Christmas ornament from each place we visit. I love this because we don’t have to find a permanent spot for display, so it doesn’t add to clutter. Each Christmas we get to reminisce about our travels.

We also usually try to get a piece of art from a local, and Chris will usually frame it himself using wood local to the area. This tradition started in 2017 with our trip to Peru. He used Katalox wood, local to South America, to frame a painting of Machu Picchu. This eventually became the namesake of his company.

I usually try to get a souvenir shirt as well. That’s really the only time I get new clothes. For big hikes I treat myself to a hoodie, such as when I hiked the Grand Canyon and the Half Dome in Yosemite. Chris has the world’s largest head, so he has trouble finding hats that fit, but he gets himself a souvenir hat on the rare occasion he finds one big enough.

So maybe I wouldn’t be devastated to have to replace my furniture, clothes, office supplies, documents, and home decor – but I would definitely mourn the loss of my treasured souvenirs. Or maybe it would be a sign to create more travel memories?

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