What Should I Pack before Going on a Trip or Living Abroad?

Today I’m leaving with Cindy to Mexico City, planning on living there for a month. What’s goes on in my head before my trip? This is an insight:

Traveling vs living abroad

Living abroad is quite different from traveling.

Usually travels are constrained to a few days, to perhaps 2 weeks maximum. In Mexico City, we are renting an Airbnb apartment for a month. Thus, it is almost like living in America — semi-settled, but in a foreign country.

What to pack?

This is always the tricky thing:

What should I pack?

Or perhaps more importantly:

What shouldn’t I pack?

It is a bit tricky because from Mexico City, we are flying into the (cold) East Coast. Thus our bag will have to accommodate both warm weather and cold weather clothes.

But generally speaking:

When in doubt, pack less.

Why pack less?

I treat it like a fun game: pack less to see what “simulated poverty” looks like. Traveling is more fun, challenging, and interesting with less equipment, tools, and stuff.

Of course I’m still a sucker and still sucker-prone to overpacking stuff. Generally speaking, packing light is beneficial because:

  1. Fewer headaches and less stress: Fewer chargers to pack, less hassles at airport, and less strain on your neck and back when you’re in-transit or traveling around.
  2. The mental lightness of having fewer possessions: You recognize you don’t need much physical stuff to live happily and productively. When you return back home you’re gonna have a bunch of stuff anyways — experiment traveling or living abroad with less.
  3. You can always buy it there: If you really need anything when traveling or abroad, you can buy it there. Don’t let fear cause you to overpack.

Tools

What is in my bag:

  1. Laptop: 13’’ MacBook Pro
  2. iPad Pro 10.5’’
  3. Digital cameras: Lumix G9, Leica 12mm f1.4 lens, Rode video microphone and RICOH GR II
  4. GoPro Fusion
  5. Shirt: Merino wool black t shirt 2x (Outlier.nyc)
  6. Socks: Merino wool socks 2x (outlier.nyc)
  7. Pants: Black jeans and black Merino wool leggings paired with black gym shorts

Why Mexico City?

I think Mexico City is one of the most underrated places to travel to or live. Reasons I love Mexico City:

  1. Culture: Friendly folks
  2. Spanish: I can speak Spanish semi fluently (second language in high school).
  3. Uber: You can Uber anywhere in the city for around $2 USD or less.
  4. Low cost of living: month rent for Airbnb only $500 USD.
  5. Ease of travel: Los Angeles to Mexico City is direct and relatively fast.
  6. Food: Best food in the world (Street food and fancy restaurants)

Cindy and I went for our honeymoon, and currently Mexico City and Saigon are my two favorite places to live in the world.

Living nomadically to be more creatively productive

For myself, living nomadically is beneficial because:

  1. I get more and better creative ideas
  2. Fewer distractions, thus more creative output
  3. Less stress: Fewer possessions, lower cost of living. More convenience — eating out, not having to really cook or clean much. Taking Uber or taxi everywhere instead of having to drive myself.
  4. More photo opportunities

And going on trips and traveling is useful to “shake things up a bit”— I feel this anti-static way of living is more fun, interesting, and enjoyable.

Will keep you updated

Adventure awaits. Will keep you posted with everything!

If you haven’t been to Mexico City yet, definitely recommend it!

ERIC

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