Solo Traveler: Habits

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on August 29, 2014
- 6:17 pm

Solo Traveler: Habits

By SHERRY HARDAGE

We all have valuable habits, like brushing and flossing our teeth, or putting things back where they belong after using them.

Habits are quite valuable while traveling, too, though it’s easy to forget all habits when you’re outside of a comfortable routine.

I experienced a couple of disorganized trips before discovering that I needed to come up with some habits, practice them so they would actually BE habits, and then use them all the time at home as well as on the road. Life got a lot easier when there was a system in place.

I used to take several bottles of supplements and pills until it dawned on me that I could easily recognize them! Now I dump whole bottles into one large Ziplock bag. It just takes a few seconds to grab the gold fish-oil capsule, the pink Vitamin A, the fat white Glucosamine, etc, and gulp them down with a drink of water. No more opening and closing containers, and I don’t have to remember where I tucked each bottle in the suitcase.

When staying in a place for a week or more, I used to unpack, put clothes into dressers, and hang things in the closet. More often these days, I just leave everything in the open suitcase. When it’s time to pack up and go, everything is already in place, there is no need to check around and nothing gets left behind.

The key to making new habits while traveling, and therefore making life on the road easier, is organization.

Before a long trip, I often keep a sheet of paper with me for a few days. I write down things I’ll need or want on the trip. Since there is only the one small suitcase, I have to be very careful not to take too much. In the days before packing, I take some time to think carefully about each item. Do I really need it, or could it be purchased when I get to my destination?

Soft-sided toiletry bags that zip open and can be hung from a hook, a nail in the wall, or a towel rack are great for travel. They usually have zippered compartments and small elastic holders for toothbrushes, little bottles of shampoo, razors, and mascara tubes. While these bags keep everything together in one spot, I still had to develop the habit of putting things back where they fit. When it’s time to go, it’s a cinch to zip it up, and stick it in the suitcase.

Organizing the suitcase or backpack is essential. It’s smart to pack everything a few days before the flight so there’s no last minute panic. Each item should have its own place, and be put back in that spot. It will be easy to find when needed, and harder to leave behind. That unfilled hole in the bag will be so obvious!

Of course there are many other habits that keep us safe. Most of us practice them at home too, like guarding our purses, wallets, and jewelry from theft. Heavily touristed areas provide many opportunities for experienced pickpockets. Most are so good you won’t even notice you’ve been robbed until you need to pay for something.

It’s a good idea to keep valuables in a travel pouch next to the body or locked up in a hotel safe. Use purses and bags with straps long enough to go across the chest. If you want to spring for a new bag, buy one with a steel wire reinforced strap that cannot be cut.

Watching the path ahead is a habit we should all have no matter where we are. It’s very easy to be looking at sculptures, signs, or people, and forget that the ground can be quite unforgiving.

Travel can be frustrating, and occasionally dangerous, but good habits minimize the risks. Safe travels!

Editor’s note: Sherry Hardage lives in Los Alamos and has been traveling solo in the Americas, Europe, and Asia since she retired from Honeywell in 2009. She is a photographer, writer, and guide who organizes tours of Chiapas, Mexico through her website: www.mexadventures.com