Travel Light Live Light Hostelling International USA Travel

Travel Light, Live Light Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

Agenda • • • Introductions Why Travel Light Live Light Slideshow Q&A Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

Our Mission “To help all, especially the young, gain a greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling” Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

What does HI-USA do? • • Hostels Programs Activities & Outings Volunteers Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

Hostels • • • Dorms vs private rooms Breakfast Shared kitchen Sheets, towels, and blankets Laundry facilities Common areas Internet access Local information Book trade, DVD check out All ages welcome Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

Types of Travel • • Short walk in your neighborhood Explore a city for a day Weekend trip Road trip Short-term travel (< 1 month) - on vacation Long-term travel (> 1 month) - unemployed Live overseas Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

Why Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

Premise (After a point) there is an inverse relationship between possessions and experiences. (Own more = Do less) Goals Understand what your actual needs are. Minimize your needs. Have easy access to them to maximize experiences. Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

Cost of Possessions (Travel) • • Stress of carrying multiple bags Fatigue from carrying heavy bag(s) Possible lack of space on bus of train Concern about theft while in a bus or train Wait for luggage at baggage claim Risk of luggage loss on plane connections Checked luggage fees Require private room just due to possessions Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

Cost of Possessions (Home) • Financial – Cost of the item – Insurance – Ability to store it (larger home or additional storage) • Emotional – – Fear of theft or damage Change of behavior/experiences to use it Perception that a luxury is a necessity Clutter (time to find it, clean it, store it, etc) Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

Humorous Intermission #1 My language teacher asked me in Chinese, “nǐ xī huān chi shénme? ” (你喜欢吃什么), which means “What do you like to eat? ” Which of the following do you think I answered? Chinese English zhōng wén (中文) Chinese (language) zhōng guó rén (中国人) Chinese (people) zhōng guó caì (中國菜) Chinese (food) Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

Travel Light Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

Key Points • Go > Gear • Single piece of moderate sized luggage – Small on-the-go bag – Optional compressed bag • • Wear bulky items for departure and return Multi-use Track, review, adjust Inclusive vs exclusive technology Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

Case Study Dara and the travel “trunk” Location: Belize & Guatemala Duration: ~1 week Trip: 4 days in cabana, 4 days bus-hopping Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

• • • Matt’s List (< 1 week) Storage - day pack, compact grocery bag, “man purse” (opt) Clothes - underwear, socks, shirts x 1/day, 1 pair shorts, pants x 1, belt Wear to airport - jeans, white collared shirt, coat, shoes appropriate to area Entertainment - magazines, book, travel guide, Jambox stereo, camera (tough cam) Communication - cell phone, charger (split cable), external battery, earphones with mic Toiletries - toothbrush, bar of soap, razor, earplugs, clear bag (hair gel, toothpaste, sunscreen, cologne), Tylenol Misc – headlamp As needed - sarong, mosquito repellant, flip flops, small lock, power adaptor Entry – boarding pass, passport (with cover) and Global Entry card, visa if required Work (for biz only) - laptop and charger, power splitter, privacy filter Exercise (opt) - running shorts (doubles as swimsuit), shirt, socks, trail glove shoes Other –specific trip (climbing, horse riding, diving, nice clothes, meds, etc) Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

Matt’s List (long term) Same as < 1 week with following changes • Storage: Med-sized backpack, daypack or “man purse”, extra stuff sacks • Clothes: Pants with zip-off legs, 7 -10 pair underwear, 3 -5 pair socks, 2 t-shirts, 2 collared short sleeve shirts • Toiletries: Charger for razor • Extra layers: thermal top & bottom • Misc: Books x 2, small pack towel, camera charger, lighter • Optional: Travel tripod, small umbrella Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

I don’t bring • Hiking boots • Money belt • Passport carry bag Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

Remember • • Track, review, adjust (consider a list) Ugly & mine > Pretty & yours Imperfect > Don’t have it Push your boundaries once in a while Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

Humorous Intermission #2 Location: Busy bar in Bruges, Belgium Attire: My underpants Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

Live Light Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

Themes 1. Self-honesty 2. Own what you value, drop what you don’t (or can’t use); some duplicate are ok. 3. Everything's a tradeoff (life is finite and your ability to consume is finite) Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

Case Study Snowball Effects How moving some files to the internet emptied out a room • Music • Photos • Books & Notes Bonus - My Jeep - Reading Subsequently: Cookware, Sporting Gear, Clothes Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

Mind Games • Usual attitude: Getting rid of things is bad • Right attitude: Getting rid of things means I am living my values and don’t need this to do it Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

How to downsize (option 1) Go through all your stuff 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Think about the goal of the possession with the 80/20 rule in mind Ask yourself: If someone had stolen this, would I have known? If I lose it, will I replace it? If you haven't used it in a) b) c) 1 year – ask why you’ll use it next year 5 years – get rid of it, unless it’s sporting gear or tools 10 years - get rid of it period Get rid of nearly all of your books Downsize clothing to two weeks with dress up options appropriate to your lifestyle Be ruthless – if it doesn’t hurt, you’re not really trying Tips • Pay attention during your standard usage of a thing. What helps you about it and what hinders/frustrates you? • If you can’t bear to get rid of it, put in the attic and review in 6 months. You will probably have forgotten about it entirely, at which point, get rid of it. • Ask yourself – for every item you own, what is the simplest version of that would enable you to achieve the goal you bought it for. Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

How to downsize (option 2) Ignore what you currently own for now 1. 2. 3. 4. Write down all the activities you value in life (including “have to’s” like cleaning). Be honest about the person you actually are. (When did you use it last? ) For each item, make a list of everything you have no choice but to own in order to do it. Get rid of everything not on the list except decorations/art that you like. Keep a few extravagances as a reward. Tips • If this is too drastic, do this with one set of possessions (ex, cookware) • Goal is to not keep anything in storage long term. • Teach kids from a young age that there is a limit to what they can own Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

Technology Communication Fun – – What's App - Android Market or i. Phone App Store Skype (Skype to Skype free or Skype to phone for small charge) Google Translate Email - consider having two accounts - one for websites/services and one for human beings – – – John's Background Switcher -http: //johnsadventures. com/software/backgroundswitcher/ Pic. Folio - Client for Picasa on Android (includes a randomized slideshow feature) Gallery on new Android phones (Picasa) Virtualizing – – – Utility – – – Evernote - www. evernote. com (also get the Android or i. Phone app) - One. Note in MS Office is similar Google Docs - Web Browser and Android Dropbox - Share files after trips with friends Google Music or i. Cloud - music. google. com or itunes. com Free. OCR (need a scanner) - www. freeocr. net Google Maps – Android, i. Phone (Android phones have built in GPS with real time traffic) Calendar software – Google, Outlook Minutely – great weather app Hipmunk, Kayak - search websites for cheap flights Tasks – Google Keep Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

Key Points • Go > Gear • Build your career as an explorer traveler • Be honest with yourself (but push your boundaries sometimes) • Accept the finiteness of life - life = trade offs and making trade offs means you’re prioritizing your values • Develop a mindset of exploration (career as a traveler) • Remember your accomplishments • HI – www. sandiegohostels. org, www. hiusa. org Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

Final Words “El Camino no tiene fin. El Camino es interior. ” The journey has no end. The journey is inside. Please feel free to contact me with any questions Matt Clapp – mattclapp 1@gmail. com Download this presentation at ilivenow. com/downloads Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light