One Bag (Black)

On Sunday, Lifehacker published an article on packing light for long journeys. This reminded me that I had taken this photograph before my sabbatical. It is a photo of every single thing I took with me on a three-month trip to Europe. It all fit into one carry-on. Books were responsible for most of the weight. Once I reached a place where I could store most of those books, it was a light load. My advice for packing light? Don't take cotton. All my clothes were synthetic so they dried quickly and did not need ironing. They were all blue, gray and black--dull, but easy to match. And they straddled the fence between formal and casual so they could be worn walking around town or in a church service. I debated taking running shoes along. In the end I didn't. I think I got enough exercise walking. I was glad to have the shorts and T-shirt to wear while I was washing the other clothes, though. I think I packed well. I didn't miss anything I couldn't buy in Switzerland and I never regretted anything I took.

Everything I Took With Me on a Three-Month Sabbatical in Europe:
one duffle bag
one messenger bag (for day trips)
one small bag/shower kit
one pair pants (black)
one pair pants (gray)
one shirt (blue)
one shirt (gray)
one pair athletic shorts (black)
one athletic T-shirt (blue)
two pairs of socks (wool, black)
three pairs underwear (I splurged here)
one jacket (black)
one cap (gray)
one belt (black)
one pair shoes (black, Ecco walking shoes--the most expensive thing I took, they got a lot of use)
one rain jacket (green)
one towel
one toothbrush holder, with toothbrush
dental floss
nail clippers
mobile phone (quad-band, unlocked, GSM)
mobile phone recharger
digital camera (not shown in photograph for obvious reason)
digital camera battery recharger
European electrical plug adaptor
one money belt
passport
photocopies of important documents
train passes
train maps and timetable
Books:
"Lagenscheidt Pocket German Dictionary"
"German: Verbs & Essentials of Grammar"
"501 German Verbs"
New Testamtent Bible (with Psalms)
"Walking in the Footseps of the Anabaptists"
Servas Directory for Switzerland
"Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Moleskine notebook
one glasses case with spare pair of spectacles
one pair of glasses (on my face)