The Packing Challenge

One thing I recall from studying abroad in the past is that packing to study abroad is like spring cleaning for your life. My packing process progresses in stages: 1) what categories of clothing (based on predicted weather/activities) will I need? 2) of these categories, what clothing do I want to bring? 3) of these clothes, what am I certain I will actually wear? 4) or what is left, what is too big to fit in my suitcase?

I would, of course, also like to bring half my book collection. However my books shall be condensed down to my usual must-carry-them-with-me-everywhere collection, mostly comprised of spiritual reference guides, if you will, and certain beloved epics.

• Raven Kaldera and Galina Krasskova's Northern Tradition for the Solitary Practicioner
• Scott Cunningham's Magical Herbalism
• my Celtic tarot cards
• my runes
• Jesse Byock's translation of the Volsunga Saga
• Seamus Heaney's dual-language Beowulf
• the Mabinogion
• and, last but not least, Marion Zimmer Bradley's The Mists of Avalon (one of these things is not like the other...)
  

But then there are the maps and the reference books. I have crammed into corners of my suitcase my foldout map of Europe, my foldout regional map, my Netherlands-specific map, my Netherlands guidebook (accompanied by more maps, naturally), my Europe by Rail guidebook (complete with three foldout maps!), and my Dutch phrasebook. I am a walking AAA service for Netherlands travelers.

Alas, a less-cluttered existence seems to result in a rather cluttered suitcase. I haven't even put in some of the REAL essentials like clean underwear and socks and already it seems full. In addition, given that I will be living by the North Sea, my current challenge is SWEATERS.

SWEATERS VERSUS SUITCASE: ROUND 1 - The suitcase is winning. By next Wednesday, however, the sweaters will be victorious.