Travel Used to be Easy

I used to pride myself on my ability to travel at a moment's notice. Give me half an hour, I'd brag, and I could be out the door.

Now, I'm preparing for a short trip to San Francisco for the Macworld conference... and I'm appalled by how much stuff I have to bring along, and how many decisions to make. Digital camera, check. BlackBerry? Got it. Charging cable for the cell phone? Don't forget that! (I often do.) Business cards—oops, almost left them behind!

And that's without regard to packing decisions: how many gizmos do I need to bring? Will I use the camera? Should I cart along the reader for the camera's memory card? How 'bout that new voice recorder I just got? Should I bother bringing my iPod? This is only a three-day trip, but I'll have far less weight in clothes than I do things with blinking lights.

I could still get myself packed and out of the house in half an hour... if I knew my destination was a WiFi-free desert island. But for a typical business trip, the complexity of packing is approaching the ridiculous.—Esther, BlogMom who used to spend a week living out of her checked baggage

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Mon, Jan 14, 2008 14:55 EST

I can totally relate to

Posted by: Erik
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I can totally relate to this. When we went on vacation this past summer, I had a suitcase almost dedicated to electronics and cords. If you think its hard traveling now, try it with two small kids AND all that electronic gear!

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Tue, Jan 15, 2008 5:04 EST

Scary people...

Posted by: Sven
Rating:

You people scare me. Did you never hear about downshifting? Do you really need all that crap?
It's relevant to the fact that we live in a society (especially in the US, which struck me when I went there for the first time) where we are guided by the principle that you can "buy your happiness". Can you? What are you actually living for? It may sound a little weird to some of you, but I stopped buying these gizmos and I feel so much better now!

Tue, Jan 15, 2008 16:52 EST

A Comment by a Scary Person:

Posted by: MEK
Rating:

I would have to agree that Americans and their gadget obsession can be scary. Although frankly I consider myself only mildly obsessed compared to my experiences in Japan…

As a member of the “25lb Backpack” society I certainly cannot claim to be anything other than a type A personality. Information and having it is my obsession, ranking only slightly lower than the drive to strive for continual improvement in life and career. (I was depressed for weeks after CNN changed headline news from a continuous news feed format to more of a newsmagazine for example – I want news NOW dangit).

While not really the point of Esther’s post here (and unfortunately getting somewhat more philosophical than I likely should) I think people spend too much time debating the happiness/material rewards issue. Happiness comes from within and if you don’t like yourself or your life, you aren’t likely going to be happy, material rewards or not…

Am I gadget and connection obsessed? Absolutely without any doubt and I suspect I could give Esther a run for her money in any packing contest. Do I let it define my life and is it the yardstick by which I measure my contentment? Not hardly.

Thu, Jan 17, 2008 12:19 EST

AGREE!!! now consider overseas travel!

Posted by: ronB
Rating:

I heartily agree...all of the tools, plus the entertainment e.g. iPod, then if you're going overseas, you have to add the converter...and maybe more than one if the number of devices can't charge during your waking hours!!!! Maybe I'll become a Luddite when I retire!!!!

Thu, Jan 17, 2008 13:09 EST

Travel is easy again

Posted by: C Crowley
Rating:

Ever since I got an iPhone, these concerns disappeared. Since it typically charges in the time I leave it attached to my USB port to synch calendars, I leave the charger in my travel case. For everything else -- phone, ipod, texting, camera, etc. -- it's only the one device.

It really is as good as people say. And now it's not just the best mapping software -- GPS arrived today.

You have to love a quantum improvement that actually takes complexity out of your life.

Travel Used to be Easy

Topic: Personal Management

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