"Wow!" she exclaimed. "You're here for the whole weekend and that's your only bag? I'm impressed!"
"Yup," I beamed with pride.
"I've seen overnighters come with steamer trunks," she laughed.
I thought long and hard about what and how to pack for these 2-1/2 days on a pedestrian-only island. I started by paring down the contents of my camera bag, choosing my lenses and accessories carefully. In my roller suitcase, I packed a pair of jeans, sandals, four tops, toiletries, my beloved laptop, journal and a novel.
However, I grew concerned reading some of the literature describing the crossing and the island terrain. The word "hills" came up several times. Intuitively, I knew flip-flops weren't going to cut it, so I purchased an inexpensive pair of yellow Topsider sneakers at my local consignment shop. I had time and opportunity on Friday night to consider my options as I was staying in a quaint cottage about a mile from the parking area. Did I really want to drag my roller suitcase behind me from the parking lot to the dock and then from the dock to my Airbnb?
I decided to splay out the contents of the roller bag on one of the double beds in the cabin, and in doing so, I opted to consolidate. Ever-present in my mind was the burning question: "How much do I really need this item?"
So, in addition to my two camera bodies and 1/2-dozen interchangeable lenses, here's what I selected: my laptop, my hotspot, my charging cables, my journal, my comb, my toothbrush/paste, meds, one sleeveless top and a lightweight hoodie. I left behind the current book I've almost finished reading, shampoo, a pair of jeans, flip-flops and all the extra tops.
Was the pack on my back heavier? Well, yeah, because I added my laptop to the mix, but I'm grateful that my minimalism kicked in, allowing me to lighten my load on this very hilly island paradise.