A last-minute packing change…

It’s hard to believe we leave for Europe in less than a week!

Sara and I have been planning this trip for the last three years—about as long as we’ve had Wombat, our little chihuahua-something. Somewhere along the way, we made the decision we wouldn’t take any trips without her. So she’s coming. Which has added a few complications and taken up a third of our luggage space. But could you leave this face behind?

Ironically, Wombat is not the one causing our last-minute packing issues. No, dear friends, that honor belongs to moi. Through a combination of clumsiness and vanity.

Clumsiness

First, let’s talk about lack of coordination. I split my ankle open in February and gave myself an nice little bone bruise. Five stitches, four of them doubled up. I’ll leave it to you to consider how I managed to do this while swimming. What can I say? I have a talent.

Anyway… I just started wearing proper shoes again last week. So comfortable. Nothing like constant pressure on an ankle bruise beneath partially healed skin. As we have quite a bit of hiking planned for this trip, that means a treasure trove of moleskin, kinesiology tape, bandages, compression wraps, and various physical therapy devices including a full size yoga mat.

We will be checking a bag, which we hate to do. A small yoga bag. And I do mean small, because our entire luggage burden needs to remain train-friendly. But bonus! Those hiking poles slowly rusting in the back of our closet are coming with us! And Wombat’s food is stuffed inside my rolled up yoga mat! It’s almost like I did everyone a favor by getting injured. (I’m going with that.)

Vanity

For the last decade I have sketched almost exclusively with grey markers on toned paper. I like this method. I’m good with markers. And if I’m going to share pictures… well, you know. I like to share the good ones.

But… I don’t know. Sometime around Thanksgiving I started to get a little bored with the markers. Sara was playing with a set of colored pencils. She was drawing maps in her journal with them. It looked fun. She wasn’t worried about perfection. She was playing. I wanted to play too. (I mean, maps. My inner 16-year-old Dungeon Master was drooling.)

And yet, I resisted. I haven’t used colored pencils since 1998. Not colored ones. I have been known to sketch with a black one from time to time. Maybe a burnt sienna if I was feeling a touch of Renaissance. But, ooh, color. More than one color at the same time. Mindblowing. So deliciously yummy.

Yeah.

Vanity. Definitely my favorite sin. (Hey look! An Al Pacino quote!) When Sara and I did a test pack, I included the markers. So safe. So comfortable. So not playful. I’m not proud of it.

Seneca would have sadly shaken his head at me. How far from the path I have fallen. Oh, Lucilius! He warned Lucilius that travel wouldn’t fix his life. To paraphrase Seneca: wherever you go, there you are (and you thought it was Buckaroo Banzai). Problems in your life won’t change with the scenery. At best, a trip presents an opportunity to try something new. But you have to take advantage of that on your own. Not everyone does that. Perhaps not even most.

No judgement. I love a good roller coaster. I binge-watched Lidia Poët in preparation for this trip (Ammazza! The clothes!). I like a good beach read—even when there isn’t a beach. Sometimes you need a break. Have a Kit Kat.

But I don’t want to be afraid of playing around with ink pens and colored pencils simply because I’m already good with markers. So, it’s off to the art store for new supplies! Damn you, Seneca!

I sketched a quick palette in my new journal. No more beloved toned paper. Then again, new art supplies! (I even got a new pencil case, not pictured.)

Here’s the new kit:

  • Moleskine art journal (the paper’s smooth and ink doesn’t bleed through)
  • Small yellow Leuchtturm pocket journal
  • Pigma Micron pens (01, 08, Brush)
  • Faber-Castell Pitt Big Brush Pen
  • Jelly Roll white pen
  • Bic ballpoint pens (yummy)
  • Prismacolor Landscape Set
  • Olfa knife (because many of the Prismacolor leads are too soft for my long-point sharpener)
  • Sandpaper and drywall screen (because if I have to carve pencil tips…)

I’m not taking the ruler. Not even sure why that’s in the picture. These sketches are going to be loose, sloppy, unconstructed, and playful. At least, that’s my intention. You’ll have to let me know after ten weeks.

Thankfully, these are about the same weight as my markers. I get to keep my extra pair of pants! Take that, 17 lbs carry-on limit on Lufthansa!