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Hostelling International USA – Travel Light, Live Light

Travel Light, Live Light

Hostelling International USA

Agenda

• Introductions• Why• Travel Light• Live Light• Slideshow• Q&A



Our Mission

“To help all, especially the young, gain a greater understanding of the world and its people

through hostelling”


What does HI-USA do?

• Hostels• Programs• Activities & Outings• Volunteers


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


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


Why


Premise

(After a point) there is an inverse relationship between possessions and experiences.

(Own more = Do less)

GoalsUnderstand what your actual needs are.

Minimize your needs.Have easy access to them to maximize experiences.


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


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)


Humorous Intermission #1

Chinese English

zhōng wén (中文 ) Chinese (language)

zhōng guó rén (中国人 ) Chinese (people)

zhōng guó caì (中國菜 ) Chinese (food)

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?


Travel 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


Case StudyDara and the travel “trunk”

Location: Belize & GuatemalaDuration: ~1 weekTrip: 4 days in cabana, 4 days bus-hopping


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)


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


I don’t bring

• Hiking boots• Money belt• Passport carry bag


Remember

• Track, review, adjust (consider a list)• Ugly & mine > Pretty & yours• Imperfect > Don’t have it• Push your boundaries once in a while


Humorous Intermission #2

Location: Busy bar in Bruges, BelgiumAttire: My underpants


Live Light


Themes

1. Self-honesty2. 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)


Case StudySnowball 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


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


How to downsize (option 1)Go through all your stuff

1. Think about the goal of the possession with the 80/20 rule in mind2. Ask yourself: If someone had stolen this, would I have known? If I lose it, will I replace it?3. If you haven't used it in

a) 1 year – ask why you’ll use it next yearb) 5 years – get rid of it, unless it’s sporting gear or toolsc) 10 years - get rid of it period

4. Get rid of nearly all of your books5. Downsize clothing to two weeks with dress up options appropriate to your lifestyle6. 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 that would enable you to

achieve the goal you bought it for.


How to downsize (option 2)Ignore what you currently own for now

1. Write down all the activities you value in life (including “have to’s” like cleaning). 2. Be honest about the person you actually are. (When did you use it last?)3. For each item, make a list of everything you have no choice but to own in order

to do it.4. 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


TechnologyCommunication

– What's App - Android Market or iPhone 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

Fun – John's Background Switcher -http://johnsadventures.com/software/backgroundswitcher/– PicFolio - Client for Picasa on Android (includes a randomized slideshow feature)– Gallery on new Android phones (Picasa)

Virtualizing – Evernote - www.evernote.com (also get the Android or iPhone app) - OneNote in MS Office is similar– Google Docs - Web Browser and Android– Dropbox - Share files after trips with friends– Google Music or iCloud - music.google.com or itunes.com– FreeOCR (need a scanner) - www.freeocr.net

Utility– Google Maps – Android, iPhone (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

http://johnsadventures.com/software/backgroundswitcher/



http://www.evernote.com/

http://www.freeocr.net/


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

http://www.sandiegohostels.org/

http://www.hiusa.org/


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 questionsMatt Clapp – [email protected]

Download this presentation at ilivenow.com/downloads

mailto:[email protected]

travel light, live light hostelling international usa hostelling international usa – travel light,...

Documents

travel trunk location

vacation longterm travel

types of travel short

week trip

luggage fees

days bus

week storage day pack

shirts x