A couple weeks into our adventures we were discussing how and what we packed. Was it right? We each brought 2 medium size bags for our 4 months in Chile.  The final packing list was certainly small and based off efficiency, inevitably leaving quite a few things behind in Tuftonboro.

Through our discussions we recognized  that we had each at some point not followed the optimized packing list and brought down what we have ended up calling our luxury item- an item that the rest of us did not bring.  Our luxury items are clearly an item that is important to each of us.  For example, Noah brought -  a pair of thin gloves he can wear for biking/sailing, Tobin brought a drum pad (ok and also a stuffed animal). 

But when we really started to think about it.  We don’t need much more than we brought.  This has been liberating.  If you only have 5 shirts, you get really clever about re-use and not washing.  If you have less stuff and smaller space, we get to clean less. 

And even better, if you don’t have something than you get to be more creative and resourceful/environmental.  Frankly having less stuff also draws us to spend more time with people.   Noah and Tobin have no toys or games and what do you do when you don’t have it, you create it.  The number of sticks and magical journeys has been incredible and numerous!  And Tobin has created a drum set with buckets, tops, some tape and wire.  And man, his “Macgyvered” drum set actually sounds good. The other morning Tobin initiated a whole discussion about closets and how to make them have levers and claws to move things around and drop them where you want. We have “different” closets here.   This level of creativity just does not happen at home when you have games and technology right in front of you.

We have seen this concept at camp for years.  And in fact one of the main reasons, we chose to remove sending packages a couple of years ago was after watching the thousands of packages come in each summer. We have everything we need at camp to seek the joy- the people and the place.  In the end cardboard boxes fill our landfills and the stuff ends up shoved in a trunk.  When a cabin doesn’t have a game- they create one.  Just think about the cabin night activities that adventure around camp without any real known end except you know you are having fun with a group of guys in the woods.  

Feels good to be on an adventure here in Chile that allows us to enjoy a stuff reduced time in our everyday lives!