After reading many many MANY blogs and reviews about traveling, and backpacks, and luggage, and looking at all the pros and cons, I have succumbed to living the life of a traveler, and have purchased a backpack.  A 55 litre backpack, with padded shoulder pads and a padded waistband, and so many other features it is mind boggling.  Some of the features I don’t even know what they are for!

I have fought off buying one. I thought that a suitcase would be more practical, I could carry more things, it has four wheels so its easy to push around.  But when it comes right down to it, I don’t need all the stuff I have.  I need clothes, my important papers, minimal footwear (boots and runners), and other small incidentals. The bigger the suitcase, the more you are going to bring. It’s all about minimalism.  

My life is so very different from 20 years ago, as I am sure most people’s lives are.  Back then, I had a house, a husband (haha) and so many things.  I was happy with all of that then, but as time went by, my mind shifted and I realized that things don’t make me happy ~ people and experiences make me happy.

I don’t need stuff. I need to travel. So a backpack is the way to go for me.  This does NOT mean I will backpack through countries (I still want to be comfortable!), but it does mean no baggage check in, and easier to get around the world with my possessions on my back rather than dragging along beside me.
So a backpacker I have become!!  A new era of Louise has begun!!