When we go away, I often think of George Carlin and his famous skit about stuff. At home, it’s amazing what you think you need to hang onto and not donate or give away, but when you go away, you see up close what’s important to you and what you can get by without. What’s the stuff you bring with you?

I brought three books with me, current reads: John Irving’s Last Night in Twisted River, Novella Carpenter’s Farm City and Michael Chabon’s Wonder Boys. I brought my laptop, several issues of the Authors Guild bulletin, phone, chargers, a few knitting projects, clothes, food, and that’s it. Travis has his guitar, clothes, phone, and a book (I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings). We share a camera.

We’ve been here almost a week and not once have we said, Oh, we should have brought…..

When we go home, will that mean we clear out our closets, bookshelves, garage? I hope so, but probably not. When you’re there with your stuff, you’re sure you need all your stuff or might need it. It’s when you go away that you see how so much of the stuff you live with could go bye-bye and you wouldn’t even miss it.