Black, Yellow, Red or White, the entire human race has one thing in common; no matter our social status, our economic capabilities, our hereditary background or our educational opportunity, we are each programmed to desire the best of everything. It’s not a natural tendency, but rather a learned practice, with lessons beginning earlier than we really even realize. Media drives our attention to the newest, the flashiest, the loudest, the biggest, the fastest, etc. You haven’t “arrived” if you don’t have a certain model; you won’t fit in if you don’t wear a particular brand; you won’t be healthy if you don’t eat a specific variety.
It is this way of thinking that constantly evolves our global market, changing the availability of certain products, goods or services to meet public demand. For instance, in the livestock industry, producers are constantly “culling the herd,” eliminating animals that do not possess characteristics desired by buyers. Farmers have likely said “goodbye” to more animals than they can count over the years simply to stay in business and bring about what people want. I would NOT make a very good livestock farmer…
I come by it honest, but I’m definitely a packrat. For me, there is sentimental value everything. A strange purple cow figurine, a broken rubber band with six pieces of yard tied to it, a beat-up softball, a dozen tattered notebooks… my list of mementos goes on, and on, and on, and on. It is almost painful for me to part with possessions (sometimes even clothes I haven’t worn in years) so you can likely understand that this type of mindset does NOT make for a very easy job of packing for The World Race. My past few days of constant “organizing” and “weeding out” for the betterment of my sanity (and my back) have not-so-affectionately been referred to as “culling-the-herd.”
I’ve been ever so appreciative of the fantastic packing lists made available by former Racers, and early on in this journey I vowed to return the favor. Therefore, my Incredibly-Whittled-Down-But-Probably-Still-Not-Light-Enough list comes to this:
Clothing:
1 pair blue jeans
1 pair capris
3 pair athletic shorts 2 pair athletic shorts
1 pair zip off pants (These go in my daypack on travel days!)
1 dress
1 long skirt (grey)
1 knee-length skirt (multi-color)
1 pair athletic pants
2 pair Bermuda shorts (I swapped a pair of these for a lighterweight, less bulky pair)
1 long sleeve quick dry shirt
4 “dressy” shirts 2 "dressy" shirts (and they're not really all that "dressy")
2 tank tops 1 tank top
1 cami
3 dry fit t-shirts 2 dry fit t-shirts
5 cotton t-shirts 4 cotton t-shirts (One of these goes in my daypack on travel days!)
1 pair leggings
6 pair Patagonia underwear
4 pair cotton underwear (One of these goes in my daypack on travel days!)
4 sports bras
2 regular bras
4 pair “footies”
1 pair tennis shoes
1 pair North Face flip-flops
1 pair Keens sandals
1 pair TOMS
1 tankini
1 bikini (Yay for All-Girl team!!!)
1 pullover rain jacket (lined)
1 zipup hoodie (lightweight)
Gear
Pack – 60 liter, front and top loading (THANKS CHARLEE!)
Osprey Airporter (*note – I don’t like it, but it’s too late to order another. I can finagle it to a “manageable” functionality, but I can already tell I’m going to wrestle with it! GET the Sea-to-Summit convertible pack cover and thank me later!)
Kelty Cosmic Down Zero Degree Mummy Sleeping Bag (THANKS DAD!)
Sea-to-Summit Insect Shield Coolmax Sleeping Bag Liner
Mosquito Net (THANKS SHANNON!!!)
Eno Hammock w/ Built-In Mosquito Net (THANKS NANA, SISSY, HOPE, DEE and Daddy J!)
REI Passage 2 Tent, with footprint
Granite Gear compression sacks (Large and Small size)
FUI Daypack
Thermarest Medium Pillow
Toiletries
60+ Pads Probably around 50 now. Word on these street is you can buy these around the world.
80 Tampons (compact)
1 bottle Head and Shoulders shampoo/conditioner combo Poured into a travel-sized bottle
1 tube hair gel
1 bottle leave-in-conditioner Poured into a travel sized bottle (3 fl. oz)
3 sticks Certain-Dry antiperspirant (These are 1.2 fl oz each)
3 sticks Secret deodorant
1 tube Clean and Clear face wash
Assorted “general” medication – Pepto-Bismol, allergy relief, Tylenol, nasal spray, neosporin
Malaria medication – six month’s supply
Prescription medication – year’s supply
3 packs cottonelle baby wipes 1 pack cottonelle baby wipes
10 individual packs Tampax sport wipes
1 travel toiletry kit (includes deo, small shampoo/conditioner, toothbrush, etc. and fits in my day pack.)
3 toothbrushes
3 travel toothpastes (stuff in random places!)
50+ hair ties
4 bandanas
5 headbands
Electronics
iPhone
13” Mac Book Pro
Kindle
Olympus “Tough” TG-610 camera
6 pair ear buds
1 set portable speakers
chargers for all
3 headlamps (stuffed in random places, figure I’ll lose one, lend one, keep one) 2 headlamps
ALSO REALIZED I HAD A SOLAR POWERED FLASHLIGHT
Belkin power-strip
2 flash drives
1 TB External Hard Drive
Miscellaneous
4 pocket notepads
16 cards and envelopes for “love notes”
4 small notebooks
1 medium notebook
4 coloring books 3 coloring books
1 pack coloring pencils
1 Bear Grylls heavy duty knife
1 all-purpose knife (includes bottle openers, etc. – THANKS, CELESTE AND AARON!!)
Patterson, the miniature Pillow-Pet Pig
50+ singles water flavor packets
25+ Emergen-C packets
2 flat sink drain stoppers
1 jar multiple spices (curry, pepper, salt, garlic, etc. – Walmart camping section)
1 jar Nutella
1 jar Marshmallow Cream
2 packages David’s sunflower seeds
12 Natural Valley bars
1 deck cards
2 hackysacs
1 yoyo
3-5 braclets
2 “simple” finger rings
2 “kids” card games (Old Maid and Crazy 8) – planning to leave behind at some point
Assortment of ziplock bags (sizes varying)
7 sticks of chapstick
2 bottles sunscreen
1 bottle “Off”
Bible
Daily Devotion
Experiencing God workbook
Personal Journal
Collapsible bowl
Small first aid kit
Eye Mask
10 pair ear plugs
2 travel locks
1 miniature roll of HOT PINK duck tape
1 bungee cord
There is probably a LOT more that could go into the miscellaneous category that I am simply overlooking…
My clothes are all rolled and packed in thin material, drawstring bags (they lay really flat and I figure they will be really multi-purpose as I go!) Four in all, plus a packing cube for t-shirts and a mesh zippered back for underwear.
Also have important docs in a ziplock bag stored in my day pack, and a second copy in the main pack.
Have a passport/airport wallet that goes around my neck for travel days. Have copies of all these types of documents!
I downloaded several movies to my computer and copied them to my external hard drive. I bought a 32GB SDcard for my camera (also have a couple of 1 and 2 GB cards.)
No telling what I have left off, but seriously, packing you entire life is TEDIOUS! And NO TWO PEOPLE WILL DO THIS THE SAME. Priorities pull rank here! I have tons of clothes, but I’m prepared to leave most of them behind along the way. I recognize that I am starting off HEAVY and have intention of shedding weight (at least of toiletry items) as I go (we’ll see about that!) For any Racers using this blog, take what is important to you, and my best advice is start the packing process EARLY!!! I would be stressed to the max if I hadn’t (not that I’m not pretty stressed as is it – less than week until LAUNCH!!!)
Check back soon for the second half of this series (including my Top 10 “Gonna Miss” List!)
Until then, the herd is looking strong!
Be Blessed,
Ashlee
