Retirement Discussion

As the week draws to a close and I think to update the blog, I’m reminded that the cycle of life much resembles the various ups and downs of the stock market. This because the eager young man at the bank seeking to convert our meager post tuition investments into his sales stats showed us a chart of the various bear markets which reached back to our birth dates. As we reviewed the dates and remembered having made it through the various downturns we were heartened. And we all agreed that we were in better shape hoping to retire in 10 yrs (the life partners words not mine) than having just done so. I firmly asserted to the helpful young man that I had no intention of remaining in the position I filled at present but would likely be slowing down in 3 ½ years myself but the two of them could talk amongst themselves about possible dates. This prompted the shore captain to assert that he likely would never be able to retire from self-employment, which led to my reassertion, that 2012 was my exit from torture date as this would be happening when I was 55. We moved on from there as that was my story and I was sticking to it and… the eager young man was into investment counseling not marital, but I digress.

By mid-week I’d received an email from ‘my agent’ with the message from Princess saying that the date of the Feb 21st cruise was no longer open. So I replied with a wheedling message that I was seeking to escape this rotten winter and were there any other dates open? Today’s reply suggested March 21 – April 4 or April 4 – April 18th same ship, same itinerary as alternatives. A quick message to the travel agent to seek air fare for the first dates (the second being too late for a lobster fisherman) brought a reply of $550 return, taxes in Halifax to Bridgetown – a definite bargain and a savings of $500 from the earlier date! After consultation with the life/travel partner as to whether to pursue the above option or the Royal Caribbean Chile to Argentina run which had surfaced today – no to South America as that would be two separate, expensive air fares and the itinerary didn’t include the Falkland Islands. I mean really, if you’re going to go to that much trouble to sail around Cape Horn you should do it all. The only concern mister expressed was that “it was a bit late in the year” but I assured that this end of March travel eases into spring. So I eagerly await word from the agent as to my proposal’s success.

The possible travel partner has been ‘getting with the program’ and has shaved (second time within a week – that is noteworthy) and had his passport photos taken. So he is gaining in the quest of being my assistant. There are a number of available understudies and he is aware of that so on his very best behavior.

Speaking of travel and packing I’m including some tips I surfed across which include info, links to other sites including check in tips and even a packing list generator:
Expensive fees and heavy bags weighing you down? Lighten up your luggage with these tips for packing smart.

"Will I need this?" It's the question that plagues every traveller when they tackle the chore of packing for a trip. These days there's plenty of incentive to keep your baggage down to one bag: imagine yourself hauling multiple bags onto a train and stowing them in often-crowded compartments (usually without help and while other passengers are doing the same). Lugging suitcases around on a road trip is no fun either.

And then there's air travel ... lost luggage and stolen items are a constant problem, and increasing fees are making people rethink their packing skills. American Airlines' new charge for the first checked bag has many wondering just how much they can fit into their carry-on instead -- especially if other airlines decide to follow suit.

Time for a packing make-over? Whether you want to try the carry-on only route or simply travel with less, here's how to lighten your load:

Know your limitsIf you're looking to avoid extra fees, you need to know about the restrictions on the size, number and weight. If your journey involves more than one airline, or more than one mode of transportation like a bus or train, go with the strictest rules. Remember that the size measurements include handles, side pockets and wheels. This is especially important if you plan to skip the check-in process and carry-on. Go over these measurements and your luggage is bound for the cargo hold.

Take advantage of local resourcesWhy pack it if it's already there? Try to find out what's available where you are staying such as beach towels, a hair dryer or an iron, etc. Check if laundry facilities or services are available. If you're taking an extended journey, consider picking up toiletries and personal items at your destination rather than carrying them with you. The weight of liquids and gels alone, not to mention the hassles of airport security, can be a real burden.

One of the pitfalls of packing is the dreaded "what-if" scenario. Let your imagination take over and suddenly you're packing for every possible contingency. How can you fight the instinct? Packing guru Doug Dyment of Onebag.com has this advice: "Simply ask yourself what the local populace would do if they needed whatever item(s) you're missing!" Chances are you can purchase, rent or borrow items you "might" need.

Make a listWhat you pack or how much you pack depends on the person, the type of travel, climate, itinerary and destination. Regardless of the length of your trip, you'll want at least two pairs of shoes and two pairs of bottoms. How many tops, pyjamas, socks and underwear you need will depend on your preference, activities and whether or not you plan to do laundry.
A list can help you set priorities and make sure you have everything you need. What items are "must-haves" (passport, underwear, medications, etc.) and what are "nice-to-haves" (dress shoes, extra shirts, etc)? Pick out items that can do "double duty" such as a sarong or shirt than can be worn as a day jacket.

You may find it easier to work from a generic list and subtract the items you don't need. Independent Traveler has an interactive packing list tool that will generate a customized list that you can print or e-mail. The Universal Packing List generator also includes accommodations, activities and mode of transportation.

Choose items that play well with othersThe key to variety in your travel wardrobe is coordination, not volume. First, stick to neutral colours for basic pieces like pants and skirts, jackets and sweaters. Choose colours and fabrics that suit your travel needs. Denim is versatile and can be worn multiple times before washing, but lighter weight fabric will launder and dry well on the go. When in doubt, choose a medium shade that won't be too hot in warm climates or show dirt easily.

Second, pick an accent. A brightly coloured shirt or scarf can spruce up an outfit. Many colours such as pink, aqua, rust, blue and teal will work equally well with brown, black and denim.

Third, pack a few key accessories. Nothing dresses up a men's outfit like a well-chosen tie. For women, a pashmina can serve as a scarf or stole, and can be used to cover the head and arms when cultural norms dictate. An inexpensive beaded necklace can be worn with a blouse, t-shirt or dress.

A good rule of thumb: If an item doesn't go with at least two outfits, leave it behind. Limit your shoes.Shoes are bulky, heavy and take up room so try to get your list down to two pairs. One pair of good walking shoes is a must, and your second pair can do double duty as dress shoes if you pick the right ones. Many brands such as Naot and Mephisto offer dressy versions of their styles -- think patent leather or burnished textures combined with arch support and cushiony foot beds. Choose shoes that go with your neutral colour scheme, and make sure they are broken in before you travel.

One possible exception: an inexpensive pair of foam-rubber shoes or "flip-flops" will protect your feet from fungal infections. Not only are they light-weight, you can give them a quick wash and dry before packing them up.

Lay it outIt's tempting to start emptying your drawers into a suitcase, but you'll have a much better idea of what you have and what coordinates if you lay it out on the bed or a table first. Separate items that should always go in a carry-on bag, such as medication, a change of clothes, small amounts of toiletries, electronics (especially those with lithium batteries) and any valuables you must travel with. Start removing items until you've got a manageable amount for your suitcase.

Wear it on boardWhile you're in the process of laying out your clothes, select any bulky items like a sweater and walking shoes to wear on board. Layering lets you adapt to warmer or cooler temperatures on board, and you'll have better protection in case of an emergency.

Pack a clotheslineWhile it seems counter-intuitive to suggest packing something you might not normally carry, a sturdy travel clothesline and clothespins can actually help you to pare down other items. Many daily-use items such as socks and underwear can be quickly rinsed in the sink and hung to dry overnight. The more you wash, the fewer items you have to pack. If you're going to skip the hotel laundry and opt for the sink, pack lightweight fabrics that will dry overnight and look for items that won't wrinkle or that look good wrinkled, like a crinkly shirt or broomstick skirt. Soap and shampoo can be used on many fabrics, but you might also want to pack a packet or two of your favourite detergent as well.

Give and takeYou want to fit everything into one bag, but what about souvenirs? You can make room by shedding some of your unnecessary items as you go. Pack clothes you plan to get rid of anyway and donate them while away. Leave your book or travel guide behind for someone else to enjoy.

If you're still determined not to check luggage, try using a shipping service to send some things home ahead of time. You'll be able to track your parcel and have more recourse if there are any problems.

Want more help? Check these resources:- Onebag.com: Even if you plan to check luggage, this site has great tips on what to pack and how to pack it. You might want to give "bundling" a try to prevent wrinkles.

- For advice on packing a carry-on for easy passage through airport security, take a look at the Transportation Security Administration's SimpiFLY web site.

- Look for packing lists with your travel information, or on tourism web sites. These sources can help you narrow down your items and ensure you've got what you need.

In the end, a missing item of clothing or gadget seldom makes or breaks a trip. Chances are when you return home your packing list might even prompt a chuckle or two. If you're looking to improve your skills, do a post-mortem on your old list and keep it for next time.
One final word of advice: Resist the urge to leave this chore to the last minute -- a little time and thought will save a lot of hassle later on.

Why Travel Light?
Simply because it's the most relaxed, stress-free way to travel. There are several reasons for this, the principal ones being ...

Security: With a greatly reduced need to check baggage (or otherwise entrust it to the care of others), you are much less likely to lose your belongings to theft, damage, or misrouting. You likewise foil those who would enlist your unsuspecting aid as a conveyor of contraband goods. Would that peace of mind were always so easily acquired!

Economy: You don't have to pay porters and others to carry and store stuff for you. You eliminate extra baggage charges (and many airlines now charge for all checked baggage). You are more able to take public transportation (even from airports, just like airport personnel and flight crews), rather than taxis and limos. You can even walk. All of which also bring you into more intimate (hence rewarding) contact with the people and places you have come to visit.

Mobility: You needn't arrive at airports as early. You can board trains, trams, and coaches with alacrity. You can more easily deal with delayed transportation and missed connections (because you can choose alternatives without worrying about what will happen to your belongings); you can also take earlier flights when space is available. You can sell your seat (by volunteering to be "bumped") on full flights. You can travel as an air courier. You will be among the first to leave the airport for your destination, while others wait for baggage delivery and long customs inspection queues. And you won't feel compelled to take the first hotel room offered: you can comfortably walk down the street should the reception counter person quote an unreasonably high price.

Serenity: If there is a bottom line, it's that travelling light is simply a better, more hassle-free way to go. You have more time, because packing takes little. You waste less energy hauling stuff. You know what you have, and where everything is (as you pack your bag the same way every time). We've all seen those hapless folks at the airport, with too much baggage and panicked expressions, worried that they have lost track of something, or left something behind. Foreign travel in particular can be challenging because it is unfamiliar and unpredictable, but the one-bag traveller copes by operating from a solid, familiar foundation, with fewer unnecessary things to worry about.

Ecology: All of the above are concerned with short-term benefits to you. But travelling light also yields long-term benefits to the planet. Less stuff to manufacture. Less use of vehicles and other machinery to move things (including you) around. Less fuel needed for the vehicles that do move you. Less greenhouse gas production. Less damage to our celestial home. Greater likelihood of upcoming generations being around to do some travelling of their own.

O sancta simplicitas!
I'm Convinced! How Can This Site Help Me?
He who would travel happily must travel light.
Antoine de Saint Exupéry

If there is a "trick" to travelling light, it's the understanding and proper use of a packing list. Apart from that, however, there's no particular magic, no specific secret. Travelling light is a skill comprised of a very large number of very small considerations. Individually, many of them might seem relatively unimportant; collectively, they make it possible to journey for extended periods of time carrying no more than will fit in a surprisingly small bag.

If you're a typical traveller, don't expect the transition to happen overnight (unless you are unusually diligent). The expert one-bag traveller will have learned a great deal about:
what to pack, avoiding the temptation of lugging around too much stuff; what to pack it in, understanding what to look for in efficient & effective luggage; and how to pack it, particularly the management of clothing so that it doesn't get wrinkled. But there's no need to become an instant expert. Feel free to meander through this site, taking inspiration where you find it. Every single topic detailed on these pages can help you become a better (and happier) traveller, but it's unnecessary (and probably counterproductive) to tackle them all at once. Start with those that most appeal to you, and leave the others for when you seek to further hone your skills.

Where To Begin?
The main sections of OneBag.com cover each of the above three topics in considerable detail. Start with Using A Packing List (under the What To Pack menu). After that, continue where your interests lead you; don't feel compelled to assimilate everything immediately. If you came here looking for luggage tips, you'll find much on that topic under the What To Pack It In menu. Appreciate, however, that merely acquiring a bag, no matter how "perfect", will no more turn you into a one-bag traveller than owning a superb violin will turn you into a concert soloist!

You'll also find detailed analyses of all the items on my personal packing list (under the Packing List menu), a checklist of things to take care of prior to leaving on a trip (under the Departures menu), and a variety of supplemental information (under the Resources menu), including:
contact information for suppliers of specialty items mentioned on these pages a (very) few recommended books on related topics a collection of links to a carefully-chosen assortment of sites that One Bag enthusiasts are likely to find interesting my own compilation of travel industry links for airlines, hotels, and rental automobiles, with handy lists of country/airport/airline codes, plus tools for checking real-time flight status, airport delay conditions, and aircraft seating arrangements

And don't miss the TraveLetters page, featuring representative comments from people who have put these ideas into action, thus offering reassurance that this site isn't merely (or at least, entirely!) the ravings of some geek with a packing fixation

Check in tips:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/simplifly.shtm

Packing list generators:
http://www.independenttraveler.com/packing/
http://upl.codeq.info/

And speaking of travel, I have a Page a Day Calendar, which is of (what else?) 1000 Places to see before you Die. My eureka moment of the week was when I discovered that the pages from a page a day calendar fit very nicely into CD jewel cases to make great covers. A good use of the 3 Rs.