Steeped in Stories: Sipscript 2

Tales Yet Told: Getting Ready to Go

Brewing the Itinerary

Though I have yet to set out on my upcoming adventure, I wanted to share some about my process of getting ready to go. Even with all the places I have been, I learn something new every time I am prepping.

Every trip, I begin to gather items up to a month in advance. The biggest downside to traveling so infrequently is that sometimes I forget where I put things I need, or the things I find are too old. Then I start my shopping list, what I need, what I want, and what looks interesting. Stuff I already have might have been improved since my last outing, and the newest ones are so tempting.

Scratch off World Map. (I am behind. So much needs to be scratched off!)

Bears Don’t Travel Light - They Travel Right

There are so many things that I love having with me, and so many more that just don't fit into a bag. I make sure to have the fundamentals, clothes, toiletries, shoes, but then I have more specialized things and, of course, some favorites that always come with me.

One of the most important, and underrated, items is a comfortable pair of sweat or lounge pants that are just nice enough to wear out if needed. To most people, this might seem silly. I don't mind if I get a chuckle from those I suggest this to. Having fibromyalgia means that even the simplest of things can make the world of difference. Both the sweat pants and getting a laugh from people are like that for me.

The material of the pants is soft on my sensitive skin and warm enough to stave off the worst of the chills that precede and persist through a flare. It also makes me feel more like I am at home, where I am most comfortable when in extra pain.

The next item is a small memory foam pillow. Sometimes I need more support and others less, but I always need something to curl up with, though. So the pillow gets packed last but is grabbed and put in the pile first. I have since found perfectly sized pillow cases from Walmart. They keep the pillow clean without a ton of extra material that will irritate me.

Up next, and super important to my activities, is a notebook and pen. This item set has changed over the years. Originally, I had a full-sized notebook and at least three pens in different colors and one pencil. I wanted options for writing and space to do it. Then the notebook got smaller and the pens fewer.

Now, I have graduated to a "fancy tool," the Freewrite Traveler. This little device is amazing. The size of a laptop keyboard, the screen is a paper white style that won't hurt my eyes, and all it does is work as a word processor. The perfect drafting tool to keep me focused and moving forward in my writing.

The Freewrite Traveler has been one of the best investments I have made for a while. I still tend to carry a very small notebook and pen in my purse, not the easiest or fastest to whip out the Freewrite in the middle of a tour. To travel lighter, I have been using my cell phone and a note app as a replacement for the notebook.

One of the last things that gets a guaranteed spot in my bag is noise-canceling headphones. With how sensitive I can get to sound, I have trouble sleeping on planes, trains, and automobiles (oh, my). The headphones let me play some soothing, slow classical music when I want to sleep and drown out the sounds that keep me alert and awake. This trip, I am adding a blackout, weighted eye mask. We will see if it will make the future cut for must-have on trips.

Blankets, Brews & Bear Logic

Depending on where I am going and how I am getting there, my luggage can look vastly different. Staying in the States means I don't need all the international-specific items. A cruise means I might have to set things up like an international trip, but I don’t need the physical items. And, international trips require the most "extra" pieces to go in the bag.

I still have the first electric plug converter I got, and it is my trusty travel companion when I go to Europe, the UK, and even Australia (still on my bucket list). This awesome item even has the ability to switch between a converter and just an adapter.

On this upcoming trip, I wanted to have more than just one plug option. The old one only allows one plug-in. I found this great adapter that has multiple spots for plugs and even some USB-A and USB-C ports for charging. One of the items that has improved over time and is well worth getting new ones now and again.

Now, normally, when I land in a foreign country, I exchange my currency for the local one. Often, if you have a large enough quantity to exchange, you don't get charged a fee. This trip, I am trying something new. I ordered my foreign currency through my bank for pickup. The process was super easy and even quite fast. This time, I will be ready to spend from the moment I land. Maybe not the best for the wallet, but I am quite happy with this.

The Bear’s Last-Minute Forage

I always like to try to find new things that make travel easier for me. This time I found something quite interesting to take with me. My preferred brand of toothpaste is Boka. They had a little surprise for me. While on the hunt for travel-size tubes, I found the brand's version of travel mouthwash.

The mouthwash is in the form of tabs that you chew and use your saliva to activate and swish with. I have tested it once and have a good feeling about it.

Boiling Over with Possibility

As my trip inches closer, I find myself second-guessing if I have everything I need. I can't wait to take my next steps to learn more about soldiers from World War II. Even if I forget to pack something, which always happens.

What are some of your must-have travel items or things you discovered that make travel easier?

Every great adventure starts with overthinking your packing list and a spark of excitement—mine’s currently blazing. What’s lighting your path these days? Got a must-pack item that’s weirdly essential or a travel ritual you swear by? Share it below—I’m always curious what others sneak into their suitcases. And hey, don’t just wave from the comments—subscribe and come along! I’ll be posting daily updates, steeped in story and probably a little tea.

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