10 plus one to go… the final countdown but still so much to do. (Sat 12 Sep, -11days to go)

Sitting at my desk in my apartment or what is left of the “my” part, since I’ve already started to move most of my stuff into storage. My new tenant and her friend are already here, using the guest room and we’re trying to “transition” my stuff into boxes, suitcases etc. Not a great feeling from my side, although they’re doing all they can to help. I wish I didnt have to do this – it would be so much more convenient but paying rent for 3 months in Geneva without income is way too expensive for most people to afford.

I am making progress though: I’ve emptied my big closet and the 125 t-shirts I have; it’s ridiculous how many clothes one can accumulate and even forget he ever had them – you don’t believe me? Try moving apartments and packing/unpacking and you will see what I am talking about. The other thing you realize is that you probably need about 10% of all the stuff you ever bought just to go by. I will prove this: I am taking 12,5 T-shirts(…) with me for this trip – now this will be interesting. If I have to stay out for 106 days, assuming I change one every day (yes I aim to have a shower once a day hopefully) that means I need to wear (and wash) them about 8 times for the next 3 months. Why would you need to carry more? Why would anyone need more stuff to walk around and see the world? And if you can do this while travelling the world, why can’t you (at least consider) doing it living a normal day-to-day life? Ok the question is rhetoric – let’s see how you answer it if you feel like it. I see no reason to have more but it also remains to be proven…

Carrying my stuff… I have the greatest back pack in the world now J I had bought one in the US (really good and great deal as well) but it was a true “backpack” that means it’s got straps and clips to tie everything together: very practical but no locks. It assumes I live in a perfect world where no-one steals and no-one needs your things. I wasn’t happy travelling alone with that on my mind. So yesterday I went with Andriana and “cashed in” my belated (May…) birthday present from her and Aris and got the coolest carry-pack money can buy. You can actually wear it on your back but it works with side-loading zips (that lock!). So no more: “¿perdóname puede cuidar mis cosas hasta que vuelva desde el servicio? (“Sorry can you look after my stuff till I get back from the toilet?”) Let’s see how that works. Everybody knows I am absent-minded; I tend to loose my stuff or misplace it. As my brother clearly said before I left Greece: “I will be very surprised if nothing happens to you during your trip” He didn’t mean getting hurt, he’s just referring to my inability to manage my stuff properly. Well, that’s another test for this trip.

I have mixed feelings currently. I’ve kept telling people that have been asking me where I am going/what the plan is and haven’t had time myself to sit down and digest the implications. I wrote about this previously but it’s still something that bothers me. I now have a Lonely planet guide for Argentina – but I think I will start reading it on the flight to Buenos Aires. I will just roam the Earth for the first few days. The idea is to book a cheap hotel for a couple of days to get my bearings and then get to know the city a bit better. No rush. The Latin America adventure will last almost a month… A bit too long vs. what I had originally planned – but you try to book a flight from Santiago to Sydney almost 2.5 months in advance and let me know if you manage.

I am sorry that this is not one of my deep-thought entries. It might seem a bit superficial versus some of the others but it also reflects my current mood. Not too happy, not too sad. I have a couple of stories to tell you – they are “work in progress” but I haven’t made much of it recently…
There’s also a lot of change happening on the work side for me but this is not the place or time to discuss it.
Does proximity (or the lack of it…) make things seem different? This whole expression of “step back and see the big picture…” does it apply to travelling as well? Because then I am really stepping back big time. Back across the Atlantic and the Pacific, back below the Equator, back about 12 time zones. Let’s see how my friends, my job, my city, my whole life seem through this kaleidoscope of destinations, images, tastes and smells… Let’s see how the people I’ll meet shape the way I see things when I am back and how I will relate to those that are the closest back home…
And with this little tidbit of philosophical questioning I leave you to rest – big day tomorrow – my last big presentation to management in my current role – don’t know if it will be good but will make it a fun one, promise.