As the closing weeks of summer and summer vacations are upon us:
As part of the introduction to her recent collection of delightful essays, My Kind of Place: Travel Stories from a Woman Who’s Been Everywhere, Susan Orlean (author of The Orchid Thief, staff writer at The New Yorker) confesses that despite many years of travel to varied destinations, she tends to overpack on trips.
Later on, she reveals a few of the lessons she’s learned from her travels, including her thoughts on successful packing:
"Never go anywhere without a sweatshirt, a string of pearls, and a big elegant scarf, which can be used as a dress, a shawl, a skirt, a shrug, a blanket or a tent…"
I loved this list for its straightforward practicality and its humor, and the ability of the items to cover a wide range of needs and situations (warmth, style, shelter)!
What’s essential to pack for your life’s travels?