Vagabonding Packing List (with a baby) (and 2 dogs)

Listen, you're not gonna find a bigger clothes horse than this girl. So fitting everything I needed for 6+ months into a duffel (that I had to share with Babs) was pretty daunting.

Before:

 there's more crammed into every corner

up next on Hoarders...

After:

basics

indulgences

I started with the basics. Things I would need if I were camping, or the car broke down on the side of the road. Bare-bones, essential survival gear. Mr. Go assured me we could thrift more clothes when we arrived at our destination and re-donate them when we leave, which put my mind at ease. I would not have to go naked--or worse.

• comfy sandals
• comfy sneakers
• base layer top and bottom
• jeans
• shorts
• T-shirt
• zip up fleece
• rain jacket
• smart wool socks
• exofficio underwear
• nursing & sports bras

The rest was all indulgence. I could've parsed this down a lot, too, and I'm sure I'll have to for the next venture.

• nice dress & heels (for the one day a year I need to wear something nice)
• climbing shoes
• hiking boots
• this prAna dress (literally the best thing I own)
• several camis (the kind with the shelf bra. A-cup ladies know what I'm talking about)
• several over-cami tanks
• jean shorts
• 2 more pairs of workout shorts
• workout capris
• lounging sweats
• cotton shorts
• a nicer pair of jeans
• backup T-shirt & a couple casual tops
• this prAna tank
• 1 bag of jewelry & a small purse

It was important to only bring things that were versatile. None of this "these shoes only go with this one outfit" that I like to do. I can wear my sneakers with pretty much everything I brought. Same with my sandals. Mix and match. These are good principles to live by anyway.

Babs' packing list was tough, since she's growing so fast. I packed things she needed daily right now and one or two things she could grow a little bit into. Baby clothes are small, so they were easy to pack, but it's also easy to thrift baby clothes.

• 7 onesies (including 1 long sleeved and 1 tank style)
• 2 sleepers
• a ton of washcloths
• 4 burp cloths (to put under her when changing diapers)
• 3 pairs of shoes
• socks
• sun hat
• 4 sweaters/jackets 
• 4 pairs of pants
• 2 T-shirts
• shorts

Her gear was the toughest to pack. For such a small baby, she certainly requires a lot of bulky equipment.

• stroller
• booster seat
• car seat
• pack n play
• baby bjorn
• Cuisinart baby food maker
• diaper bag
• exercise ball (for bouncing crabby baby)

Other things we packed for our upcoming car camping trips, like a canopy, tent, sleeping bags, small backpack, etc.

The dogs came with their own bulky equipment, like their crates that they sleep in and a big bag of accoutrements like balls, bones, treats, leashes, etc.

It's been fun living a more minimal life than what we're used to. We still have it really, really good, but going without some of the luxuries (read: distractions) we've had in the past makes it easier to put the focus on experiences and being together.

It's sort of cathartic; freeing in a way. You feel lighter without all of your stuff weighing you down. Like you can do anything and go anywhere. Because you can.