Preparing for the Trip...What a Trip!

I left the U.S. 3 years and 3 months ago thinking I was going on a brief trip to make space in my marriage for repairs. For the first year I was in a new place every 2 weeks to a month (except for moving every week in Peru and staying for 3 months in Guatamala). I lived out of a carry on suitcase and a backpack because I didn't want to pay for luggage and it was easier to move that way anyway. Once I found my job I got to wear the label, "Digital Nomad!" So much so that when Chelsea and I got our first apartment in Colombia we qualified for the Digital Nomad Visa!

After living here for 2 years and 3 months we don't feel like D.N.'s anymore. We've gotten very comfortable in Cali but we have the itch to do it again! This time we're going to Asia and we'll be hopping around just as much as that first year. The thing is, this time I know I'm going and it has made one thing more complex...PACKING!

It turns out that Aisian airlines are stricter about carry ons when it comes to size and weight and of course every airline is a little different. But I'm still the same and I don't want to pay for luggage! Nor do I want to check a bag because I'm always scared the'll lose it. So I'm scheming. I've thought about the ethics of what I'm about to do and I feel pretty okay with it. If you disagree, I welcome the conversation.

So, the first flights get us from Cali to Paris on Avianca, a Latin American airline. Carry on can weigh up to 10kg, personal item must fit under the seat (no weight requierment). My carry on backpack is weighing in at ~9.05kg and my personal (backpack) item at ~2.45kg. I should have no problem wearing my purse under my hoodie and there is plenty of space in my backpacks to put it in one once I'm on the plane. I opted to buy these backpacks because the small rolling carry on I bought weighed too much!

After our full day layover in Paris (more on that coming up soon!) we board Air India for Sri Lanka! With their stricter restrictions of 7kg carry on and 3kg personal item, I'm weighing in at ~6.65kg and ~2.45 kg, still with my purse under my hoodie! "But Marina, that math doesn't add up! Where are the other ~2.4kg?" I hear you. I'm wearing them in a vest made for travel. There are so many pockets and I even had an extra large one added to the back for my ipad.

Here's where it gets crazy. The airline we use a month later for our next country says I can only have 7kg in my carry on and personal item combined. Here are the numbers...

Technically the vest is clothing. Am I wrong for filling my pockets? Is it wrong to put a vest in your backpack when you get to your seat? You can tell me if you think so. Might they stop me and make me pay extra anyway? Maybe. If they do, I'll pay.

The picture on the left is how I will look getting on the Air India flight. On the right is the vest loaded to 4.7kg for the following month's trip. It's definitly conspicuous. Also, sometimes airlines make you check your bag at the gate. It's complementary of course but that could really complicate things because I don't want to wear all my stuff for a whole flight! My plan is to have a great sense of humor if things don't go as I planned!

Another thing that has happened in two years of living in one city is that I have accumulated stuff! Even though I've been in fully furnished apartments I bought some things...some kitchen items, some art supplies, some exercise stuff, some clothes, just a few things here and there but it sure adds up! I'm giving most of it away, throwing some of it away and storing my old carry on suitcase with a few things inside at my son-in-law's mom's house.

We leave in 1 week...I think I'm ready!