The Red Bag

So as I was packing for the move to Corpus Christi, I was struck by inspiration when I came across my red duffel bag from REI.

I took my backpacking tent, traveling clothes, swimsuit, towels, lighters, lamp, potable speakers, toothbrushes- everything I would need to disappear for a weekend. Now I call it the Red Bag, which has a permanent place of honor in the back of the car. Without warning or reason, I could grab my bag and be gone for an impromptu three days of camping. I can’t quite explain why the idea is so appealing, but it is.

Living spontaneously wasn’t something that came easy. It took a few years of cognitive dissonance to get used to. In other words, forcing yourself to do things out of the ordinary will change your behavior to be more flexible. You know family and friends that have to have an itinerary of the coming week when they’re coming to visit. They’ll drive past something interesting and say “Oh, that looks interesting. We should come back sometime.” Instead of pulling over and changing their lunch plans.

Years of pulling over for these opportunities made my Australia trip last Spring unintimidating. I was at ease, despite the fact that I literally arrived on my own in Sydney at 6:30 in the morning without any idea where I was going. I found my way to a train station, and was told I should take the ferry to Sydney’s popular Manly Beach. So I did. On the boat I ran into an American traveler who was going for some surfing lessons. I decided to join her. Less than three hours after hitting the ground in Sydney I was in a wetsuit trying to catch my first wave.

It’s easy to rationalize sticking to the arbitrary plans we made for the week. Having the bags already packed though, that doesn’t leave a lot of room for excuses.

“We’re so busy watching out for what’s just ahead of us that we don’t take time to enjoy where we are.”

-Calvin and Hobbes