We Realize We Are Navin

Sedalia, MO - Monday, May 27th, 2013

I think it is inevitable that when you go on a three month road trip for the first time you are going to overpack. You may convince yourself that you will not. You may pack 30 shirts, look at the pile, then cut it down to 20, but at the end of the day you still packed 20 shirts. And only needed 10.

The problem is that you are so used to having all your possessions at hand that you have no concept of what you will need. And since you no longer have any income you cannot just buy it as you go.

Will it be really cold somewhere? (Packs heavy coat.) Hot enough to swim? (Packs bathing suit.) Mild with a cool breeze? (Packs light jacket and long pants.)

And it’s not just clothes. What about reading? (Box of books.) Writing? (Bag of notebooks.) Snacking? (Basket of crackers and nuts.) Learning a musical instrument? (Guitar we cannot play.) (Not joking.)

Where we might have taken this opportunity to simplify our life and learn to do without, we have instead taken a Steve Martin in The Jerk approach. The result is that every room we stay in looks like a baggage claim malfunctioned into it.

Because the one thing we forgot to pack is space.