Packing

I'm back in Idaho.  The last week of Quail Camp went off without a hitch.  Saw some large animals throw their bodies out of the water several times--humpback whales and basking sharks.  I'll miss being out on the water.  Now I'm hanging out in my parents' house, the basement mostly, trying to get everything packed up and loose ends tied up before I head out for what feels like forever right now.

Packing is challenging. Peace Corps gave me a four page list of things to bring.  The items are broken down into groups "Required", "Essential" and "Not Essential, but Highly Recommended".  Four pages of stuff that I shouldn't leave behind (what happens if I forget something? will I be eaten by a lion?) is overwhelming.  If I were going backpacking I would know exactly what to bring.  I would know my gear-weight down to the ounce (because, ounces add up to pounds and pounds add up to misery).  Out on the trail, folks with over-packed bags are scared of something.  People pack their fears into their bags.  Giant first aid kits, bear spray, heavy tents, fool-proof stoves.  Obviously I'm not packing for a hike.  I'm allowed to have 100 lbs of luggage and I'm not really sure what I'm getting myself into.  Instead of asking myself if I can do without toothpaste for a few days and if I really need more than one pair of underwear I'm asking myself what a two year supply of toothpaste looks like?  Three tubes?  Ok.  Weight?  Doesn't matter.  Looking into my bag right now:  It looks like I'm afraid of being hot (lots of tech-dry tshirts) and running out of q-tips.

I'm also spending my time here in Idaho trying to 'shut-down' my US life.  Turning off my cellphone, closing some bank accounts, getting my absentee-voter ballot.  OK, it's not that much stuff, but it's a drag and a lot of ridiculously long calls to customer care and bureaucratic nonsense.