An Older Athlete Can Travel The World At Any Time With A Small Backpack And A Little Planning

“One does not accumulate but eliminate. It is not daily increase but daily decrease. The height of cultivation always runs to simplicity.” Bruce Lee

Hi folks,

FitOldDog's backpack, from Mountain Hardware: http://goo.gl/JDQEW

As you get older you realize that you need less and less stuff to get by. My important belongings, apart from my bikes, can be collapsed into a small backpack. This enables me to travel the world with little preparation, as long as I keep what I need in or attached to my pack. Here is a list of what I carry for long trips:

1. Passport.
2. Money in an accessible and safe form (with 1 and 2 you can get by without anything else, at a pinch).
3. One set of clothes, which in my case is running gear (one to wear, one to wash).
4. Trail shoes (I wear my running shoes), which fit nicely in the side pockets of my pack.
5. Swim trunks, goggles, nose clips, and ‘light load towel.’
6. Warm and waterproof outer clothing, strapped to the outside of the pack.
7. Nook fully charged with books to read.
8. Mac Book Air (fast, light, and keeps my online business moving), with external backup flash drive.
9. Stretch cords (for lat work) and a tennis ball (for trigger point muscle relaxation, especially pyriformis in my case).
10. Electrical chargers and adapters.
11. International phone if I really must stay in touch, though pay phones work fine and they free me from my ‘leash (pda).’
12. Toiletries and medicines.
13. Glasses.
14. Warm hat and socks.
15. Sunglasses and running hat.

This system allows me to walk long distances and travel on public transportation easily, and it is safe from pickpockets (beware what you store in outer zippered compartments!!!). The lightness of my load does cause one problem, security. Officials at the international flights generally pull me aside and express their suspicion about my luggage, or general lack thereof. I say, “look, would you prefer to travel like them [indicating everyone else struggling with mountains of belongings], or like me?” They think for a moment, and then say, “That’s all, sir. Thank you for your time.” Sometimes they even smile!

-k @FitOldDog