My Life in 8 Suitcases

Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

1111

Abstract

the next few weeks. Then I had to go back through it all because we need a detailed list of what was in each suitcase. I now believe I have packed too much and I haven’t even gotten to what I consider to be essentials.Letting go can be difficult. We’ve listed things on FB Marketplace, had a yard sale, and given a great deal away to Goodwill. At first, I was in a bit of a panic. I have sold or given away most of my kitchen items and I realized I don’t have a mixing bowl or a container in which to make baked beans. These are items I have had for at least 10 years if not more. Now, they are gone.But I gave it some time and realized that I can get by on way less. When I pack for a trip, I limit myself to a carry-on and a backpack. I can usually find things I need where I am going and can do a load of laundry when needed. So why can’t I load my life into 2–3 large suitcases or even 5?It all comes down to survival. I have been taught that having these items means safety. I have enough t-shirts to not have to wash for 3 weeks but I have a hard time l

Options

etting them go. I have packed 8 baseball caps and I know I am never going to wear them all.There is a wet suit and flippers which I swear I will use living so close to the coast where the diving is supposed to be amazing. I’ve packed books — some I know I will read again but a few I may never read and I justify this with the argument that it is difficult to find English books in Portugal. But really, it’s not.But if I am really honest with myself, these items can be replaced if they need to be in Portugal. I am not moving to a third-world country. And people survive on WAY less.So am I going to go through these suitcases and repack them? No. We leave in two weeks. I know that is plenty of time to redo it, but I am not feeling it yet. I know it sounds ridiculous to spend the money to ship something I may not need or want once I get there, but right now, it makes me feel safe. Ten suitcases are plenty…right?Follow our adventures (coming soon) at <a href="https://wwforus.com/">Wandering Works for U</a>s</article></body>

Ok…Maybe 9

Yes, there are more than 9. But some of these are my wife’s! Photo by Shelley Rohm

It’s hard to imagine that I can fit everything I own into 8–9 suitcases. But truth be told, it should probably be less.

Since my wife and I decided to move our lives to Portugal, everything has been a whirlwind of paperwork, travel, and organization. We are moving from a modest 2 bedroom house with a large backyard to a very modest 2 bedroom apartment in a small village east of Peniche. We know that all of our stuff was not going to ship and we would have to purge as we have never before.

But you really have no idea how much you can accumulate in 50 years until you have to get rid of 99 percent of it.

I started packing a few things about a month ago. I started with some books, clothes, and a few items I knew I wouldn’t need in the next few weeks. Then I had to go back through it all because we need a detailed list of what was in each suitcase. I now believe I have packed too much and I haven’t even gotten to what I consider to be essentials.

Letting go can be difficult. We’ve listed things on FB Marketplace, had a yard sale, and given a great deal away to Goodwill. At first, I was in a bit of a panic. I have sold or given away most of my kitchen items and I realized I don’t have a mixing bowl or a container in which to make baked beans. These are items I have had for at least 10 years if not more. Now, they are gone.

But I gave it some time and realized that I can get by on way less. When I pack for a trip, I limit myself to a carry-on and a backpack. I can usually find things I need where I am going and can do a load of laundry when needed. So why can’t I load my life into 2–3 large suitcases or even 5?

It all comes down to survival. I have been taught that having these items means safety. I have enough t-shirts to not have to wash for 3 weeks but I have a hard time letting them go. I have packed 8 baseball caps and I know I am never going to wear them all.

There is a wet suit and flippers which I swear I will use living so close to the coast where the diving is supposed to be amazing. I’ve packed books — some I know I will read again but a few I may never read and I justify this with the argument that it is difficult to find English books in Portugal. But really, it’s not.

But if I am really honest with myself, these items can be replaced if they need to be in Portugal. I am not moving to a third-world country. And people survive on WAY less.

So am I going to go through these suitcases and repack them? No. We leave in two weeks. I know that is plenty of time to redo it, but I am not feeling it yet. I know it sounds ridiculous to spend the money to ship something I may not need or want once I get there, but right now, it makes me feel safe. Ten suitcases are plenty…right?

Follow our adventures (coming soon) at Wandering Works for Us