I had a very lucid dream a few nights ago and I managed to remember some of it! #gettingold (That could say ‘gettin gold’ and, in a way, also represents getting old.)
I had flown back home to the states in the middle of my Spanish adventure to visit my family. I barely remember the part about my family now, but I know throughout the dream I was there for them. I wasn’t in Houston, but the city looked like some kind of metropolis. Perhaps a place fabricated by equal parts imagination and cinematically induced memories. I remember it was my last day there and a few friends (also fabricated) accompanied me to this enormous multi-level, futuristic looking airport mall to see me off and do some shopping. We arrived several hours before my flight was due to leave, so we were just bullshitting around. I had gone out the day before and bought some art supplies to take back to Spain. I also was really excited about the opportunity to update my wardrobe for the remaining time abroad. The overall feel of the dream was pleasant until there were 2 hours to go before takeoff and it suddenly dawned on me I didn’t pack anything I wanted to take back to Spain. It’s weird because the suitcase was heavy in all that time I lugged it around the airport mall, but when I opened it my fear was confirmed. The bag was nearly empty. I flustered and asked my two friends if they could watch my luggage while I took the bus back home super quick to grab some clothes and the art supplies I just purchased. One of them said she was about to leave and the other was too busy. He didn’t say why he was busy, but we were sitting in a play area, so I suppose he was busy watching his children. My final moments in the dream were spent feeling panicked, cursing my friends as I hurried to the bus stop with my baggage.
I think the symbolism here runs deep, but we’re not going to dwell on that! This in depth look into my strange psyche is my introduction to: what did I pack for a 4 month stay in Madrid?
Most of the travel blogs I’ve read encourage taking the most minimal of items which is good sense for short trips and backpackers on the move. We really don’t need as many things as we think we do for basic self-care and I have adhered to the minimalist travel approach myself as much as possible. Having said that, I opted to pack quite a lot bulkier than the norm for my 4 month stay in Madrid for a few different reasons. Most importantly; for comfort. Next importantly; no income. The best advice I can offer on packing is to really consider what’s important to you. Less truly is more sometimes, but if you can carry it, then take what makes you happy.
Don’t Leave Home Without It:
- Phone, wallet, keys
- Passport and copies
- Driver’s license
- Money and credit cards
- Travel insurance
- Travel adapter
- Phone charger
- Earbuds
- Lots of earplugs
Toiletries:
- 1 deodorant stick
- 1 travel size shampoo
- 1 travel size purple tinted shampoo (for “natural” blonde hair, of course)
- 1 travel size conditioner
- 1 travel size conditioning hand lotion
- 1 travel size suntan lotion
- 1 full size perfume lotion
- 1 full size B&BW body scrub
- 1 travel size hand sanitizer
- Handful of Q-tips
- 1 pair tweezers
- 1 nailclipper
- 3 disposable nail files
- 1 small nailpolish
- 1 full size toothpaste
- 1 travel size toothpaste
- 1 travel size Listerine
- Floss
- 2 toothbrushes
- 3 months of contact lenses and cleanser
- 1 bar of soap (that turned out to be hand soap, whoops, but! It works beautifully as a shaving cream substitute so I didn’t have to buy any when I got here)
- 3 disposable razors
- 4 travel size perfumes
- 1 small Tide stain remover stick thingy (because I brought a white t-shirt)
- 1 small makeup bag including a few lipsticks, an eyeshadow palette, mascara and such
- 1 small medical bag including Band-Aids, Neosporin, allergy meds and such
- 1 travel sewing kit
- 1 small brush
- 1 full size hair straightener (my travel size straightener’s only temperature choice is ‘burnt to a crisp’)
- A few hairpins and clips, 4 scrunchies and 1 headband
Clothes and Accessories:
- 6 bras*
- 13 pairs of underwear*
- 11 pairs of socks*
- 3 pairs of jeans
- 1 pair of dress pants
- 2 pairs shorts*
- 1 pair gym shorts
- 1 pair winter/pajama pants
- 1 dress
- 1 skirt
- 1 swimsuit
- 7 tank tops (may sound like an absurd number, but they take up so little space and are so versatile)
- 9 t-shirts*
- 3 blouses
- 3 fall/winter tops
- 1 small umbrella
- 1 Trilby
- 1 sweater
- 1 cardigan
- 1 petticoat jacket
- 1 scarf
- 1 winter hat
- 1 pair of mittens
- 2 belts
- 2 pairs sunglasses
- 1 thermal top (so I can wear my t-shirts through fall/winter)
- 2 pairs of tennis shoes*
- 1 pair of nice shoes
- 1 pair of sandals
- 1 pair of boots
- 1 purse
- 1 backpack
- 1 small knapsack
- 1 small waterproof case*
- 1 travel size jewelry case with pieces that mostly coordinate with any outfit
*Starred items in this category make up my La Tomatina outfit and were intended to be thrown away. Everything but the t-shirt and shoes were salvaged.
Happiness and Personal Essentials for the Trip:
- Holga (has seen more places than my digital camera – the homepage title pictures are Holga shots, btw!)
- Digital camera
- 1 small book for entertainment
- 1 journal
- 1 Tarot journal
- 1 Tarot deck
- 1 small sketchbook
- 1 larger sketchbook
- 1 notebook
- 1 piano lessons book
- 1 Spanish book
- 1 travel tips book (and I’ve since acquired 2 more books… )
- 3 small canvases
- 5 small Winsor and Newton oil paint tubes plus a printout of this (curious to see if they would get confiscated – they didn’t!)
- A small storage case with a set of pastels, watercolor sticks, charcoal sticks, paintbrushes and some oddball pens, pencils and markers
- 1 4 oz. bottle of blue hair dye
- 1 4 oz. bottle of purple hair dye
- 1 laptop and power adapter
- 1 gaming controller
- 1 jar of peanut butter
- 1 jar of cookie butter
I think that’s everything?!
