Summer go bag

“My “Hey, Summer” tote reminds me to keep my summer free and open. Relaxed and unstructured, but not shapeless. Well-supplied yet easy to carry. Simple. Near. Light.”

Let’s pretend that United Airlines called to tell you that you had won their Grand Prize—an all expenses paid trip anywhere in the world for as much of the summer as you want to stay there. They will get you an apartment (or yurt or treehouse or cabana), give you a small living stipend, and fly you out and back first class.

There are only two conditions.

1. You have to leave on the next flight out to your destination—which is probably taking off in a few hours.

2. You can take only a carry on bag.

Can you accept the prize?

Don’t get real

While we are at it, let’s pretend that family and work and houseplants all do just fine without you—in fact, they (houseplants included) conspired together to submit your name to the contest every day to make sure you won the Grand Prize, and you just need to take the next hour or so to figure out what to bring.

So what do you need to pack to take advantage of the summer the universe wants to give you?

It’s hard to pack for bliss—I’ve little experience with that kind of baggage—but I know how to prepare for disaster, so I started there. According to Goodhousekeeping, a well-appointed “Bug-Out Bag” will keep you alive when the world is crashing down. To last for 72 hours (which is apparently the optimal apocalypse survival period), your bag should include about 80 items ranging from a fishing kit to a small shovel to cash. You can check out their list here.

Since the summer I am preparing to experience will not include foraging for my own food nor digging holes for any purpose, I left those supplies and took inspiration from the basics.

1. a water bottle

2. a picnic knife/cork screw

3. sun protection (hat & sunscreen)

4. hand sanitizer/anti-bacterial wipes

5. small toiletry bag (toothbrush, floss, lip balm, face wipes, & moisturizer)

6. cash ($100 in small bills)

7. cell phone charging cord/battery

8. Passport

Next, I laid out a signature summer outfit that would take me from tarmac to taverna: denim jacket, black graphic tee, army green cargo skort, and white sneaks. Done.

Finally, my summer’s work: what will keep me busy on those long days at the sidewalk cafe?

1. one (stocked) pencil case

2. one dot grid notebook

3. Audible.

4. Kindle.

5. Pride & Prejudice.

On the outside of my summer go bag is printed “Hey Summer.” My packed go bag is a not-so-subtle shout out to the universe that I am ready and waiting for this summer’s grand prize.