Whenever I watch survival and adventure movies, I imagine different scenarios. Things like what if I needed to go on an adventure or something happened and I needed to live out of a backpack? Personally, I think it’s quite possible to live out of a backpack for a year, excluding water, food and shelter. My life is quite simple that I could manage this, although I wouldn’t be entirely comfortable or have many choices, but I would still enjoy my life.
I’m not the type that loves having a lot of stuff. Whenever I go somewhere, my go-to bag is my tote bag and a small cross bag for my money and little essentials. I don’t actually have a backpack. My sister makes tote bags for me, and I have a few of them. When I spend a week or so somewhere, I take these bags with me and pack all the essentials things I’ll need.
I take things that I know that I can’t do without for a week. It might be generally essential but if I can do without it for a week then I don’t bring it. If I were to live out of a backpack for a year, I would use the same idea.
Let’s get realistic and see what I can’t do without for a year..
First is my clothing. Clothes is one of the basic need of man, so I will definitely need some clothes to cover myself and to adapt to weather changes. I will a pair of trousers, a pair of shorts, three light t-shirts, a hoodie, a pair of socks and a few pieces of underwear.
I prefer dark-coloured clothes in case of stains. I will include a small-sized towel for personal hygiene. I have a flat slippers that can even fit in the side of backpack, which are good for rainy season.
With these, I’m pretty sure my backpack will be more than halfway full.
Water can, I am a big fan of water and I drink it a lot, not solely because it is good for you but because not drinking water affects me. I drink water few minutes before going to bed and when I wake up to use the toilet, I drink water before going back to sleep. otherwise, I will wake up with a dry throat or sore throat. So, my water can is carrying water to keep me hydrated and active. But this can easily fit in the side of my backpack.
I am a religious girl, so my Bible is one important thing to me. Do I have Bible on my phone? Yes! Will I still love to carry my hardcover Bible? Yes! Using a e-bible for a year will make me inconsistent in reading and gradually I might stop reading altogether.
While I can do without my Bible for a week or month, I wouldn’t want to go without it for a year. I am a big fan of hardcover books, because they help me concentrate more. So, I will take my small-sized bible to maintain my spiritual life.
Also, I would bring along my journal and pen. I love Journalling or just brain dumping especially with my pen and journals. It improve my mental health and helps me relax, although I can without it for a week but not a year.
My Phone, powerbank and charger is my day to day need. I use my phone for almost everything, to make calls, to access the internet, my powerbank and charger are for charging my phone. I will include an earpiece to listen to music or podcast. I don’t have a laptop yet, neither do I have a iPad or tablet, so this is basically all my gadget.
Self care is important for one year, so I will needing my Body and Hair cares. I don’t wear makeup and I don’t have much product; most of my care routines involve natural remedies. I will bring body cream, body wash, sponges, face cream, lipgloss, an eye pencil, perfume, sanitary pads, all of these are to make me feel and smell good for the year. I’ll also pack detergent to wash my clothes.
I have a 4c type of hair, which is not very easy to manage. I have had it in natural twist for about 3months and I think I can go a year with twist, I just need to re-twist them when I feel like or better still I might lock my hair.
For hair care, I’ll bring a small and big comb, hair wash and hair cream, to take care of my hair for the year.
Lastly, my Debit card is essential for buying food and maintaining myself. Yes, by now, my bag is pretty full but I am good to go.
I would have loved to carry some of my novels but they aren’t necessary. Although, I love hard covers but a friend invited me to a group where I got more than 100 e-books, so that will do.
If there is no shelter, then, I can tag along a tent.
Living out of a backpack for a year is possible with careful planning and a focus on essentials.
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