Let me start this out to say, that I would have to have a suitcase to cry on it.
I leave for the World Race in 6 months. Yep you read that right 6 months.
I have no “suitcase” to cry on.
I haven’t bought a Backpack, tent, sleeping bag, or sleeping pad.
You could say I’m having commitment issues.
An average Internal frame Hiking backpack can cost anywhere $150-$400+
The one I want is around $300 retail. Yep. $300 on a bag. That will be my closet for the next year.
Not to say that I haven’t bought stuff. I’ve bought a lot of stuff. I have a basket sitting in my floor. Overflowing with stuff.
I was FaceTiming with a fellow racer and friend today. She’s on her third month. She was sitting in a hostel in Chile or Bolivia. I’m not really sure. I wasn’t sure what time it was there and she wasn’t sure what time it was here.
I showed her the box. The overflowing box. Of crap. That I apparently don’t need.
Wait a second. You took that same bag of baby wipes with you, and those shoes. You have the same version.
I helped you pack your bag. We nearly died laughing on your bedroom floor trying to cram what little you did have into your pack. I have less shirts planned to take that you. I have no desire for flannel. YOU recommended the flannel. I’m not even taking the flannel shirt.
She looked at me dead in the eyes (best you can with spotty third world internet) and said “Bethany, you don’t need it. You have way to much stuff already and you don’t leave for what like 6 months? You don’t even have a backpack to put it in!!! You go to training camp and then we’ll talk. We’ll see how much stuff you have left in that pack after you haul it around the Georgia mountains in July heat. We’ll facetime again and you’ll start to complain and I’m going to hang up laughing.”
In my defense, I come by my preparedness honestly. Any time we went on a family vacation or 10 miles down the road you could count on my mom having everything we would need. Before GPS’ were widely available (gosh I sound old!!) we had 2 maps in the truck. Of the entire U.S. We had a suburban full of stuff. If we were camping, there was a pop up camper attached to us carrying more stuff. There was a first aid kit, sunscreen, bug spray, snacks, several pairs of shoes for everyone, a clean outfit for every day for everyone, an extra outfit for everyone, and the list could go on. We were prepared. Except there’s this thing that happens on Martin vacations, something unexpected always happens and it always rains. and lets not even start with the fishing trips.
*Just a tip don’t forget the boat keys*
No matter how prepared and how much stuff we took with us. Something generally always didn’t go as planned. We leaped through Arkansas because of the carburetor, a roof support fell through floor in Missouri, the plugs had to be replaced in Florida, we got lost in Illinois, and a goose nearly took off my hand in Tennessee. I’m sure there’s more. (& now my squad is thinking oh no! I’m not traveling the world with her)
The point is no matter how much stuff I take with me, I will never be prepared for every situation that I run into. But me and my stubbornness is gonna have a go of it. hahahahahaha
So, me and all of my stuff will be going to training camp in July. In the Georgia Heat. I’m accustomed to the heat. In July, the air will be thick enough to drink. There won’t be air conditioning or maybe there will. She’s got secrets. 10 Days in July.
We’ll see who’s crying on a suitcase. Probably me. I’m guessing me. I’d put money on it if I gambled.
In the meantime, I’m going to have to bite the bullet and shell out the money for that bag. and tent. and sleeping bag. and sleeping pad.
***Oh course you can support me in this journey! as you an see by the bar at the top I don’t quite have enough to leave for training camp. I must have $3500 by June 12th to go to training camp. I have to have $10,000 to leave on the race. You can click support me button at the top to donate online, you can send in a check with MartinBethany in the memo line, or I can direct or help you send in money. You can also buy a t-shirt until March 9th!
