Shoutout to the guy I met at a cafe in Chiang Mai who changed how I pack

I was working from a spot near the Tha Phae Gate last year, and this guy next to me had just a small backpack for what he said was a six month trip. I asked him how he did it, and he said, 'I just stopped packing for 'what if' and started packing for 'what is.' He showed me his bag, and it was just two shirts, one pair of pants, his laptop, and a charger. It made me look at my own huge suitcase and think. Has anyone else had a simple chat that totally flipped a basic part of your routine?

2 comments

2 Comments

spencer_thomas44d ago

Ever think you needed a whole different outfit for every little thing? I used to pack like that... but after a trip where my bag broke, I tried that "what is" idea and it just works.

davidwright4d ago

That "two shirts, one pair of pants" thing for six months sounds a bit off. Even with washing, fabrics wear out, and you'd need something for different weather or a nice dinner. The mindset is solid, but the example might be stretched.