We learned some valuable lessons last year after transitioning from RV travel to traveling via Airbnb. We learned to read between the lines in Airbnb listings so that we don’t end up with a dump. (Two helpful hints: Insist on no less than a “5” for cleanliness, and be suspicious of anyplace described as “quaint” or “rustic.”)
We also learned that we needed to pare WAY down on the amount of stuff that we haul with us.
It’s A Learning Curve
This time around, we decided to trust that our Airbnbs will have most of what we need for daily life. We also figure that we’ll be close enough to good grocery stores so that we don’t have to bring along a fully stocked kitchen.
It’s an adjustment. Traveling for so many years in an RV meant that we had everything just the way we liked it. This winter trip is going to be the deciding factor in whether we stick with Airbnb travel or invest in another RV.
Decisions, Decisions
What got left behind: The coffee grinder and gooseneck electric kettle. Almost all of our pots, pans, dishes, and cooking utensils. My CALM mug, which has played an important role in my life for years. The gigantic electric cooler. The gas grill. My hair dryer. Eric’s pillow (no way was I leaving my pillow behind). Sheets, bath towels, kitchen towels, cloth napkins, placemats, and throw blankets. My guitar. Kettlebell and dumbbells. Tools.
In case you’re wondering why in the world we had all of that stuff with us last year, it’s because we sold our truck and trailer in Gainesville, and unloaded everything into our Airbnb. It was an eye-opening experience, LOL.
What We Brought
We allowed ourselves one medium-sized (25″) suitcase each. We’re sharing one tote bag of shoes, and one tote bag of jackets. Last year, we had three times that amount of clothing. It was ridiculous.
For entertainment and to get some ideas, I watched some videos and read a few articles on packing light.
The New York Times recommends the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 rule: Five sets of socks and underwear, four tops, three bottoms, two pairs of shoes and one hat. But that’s for a weeklong trip, and we’re going to be away for two-and-a-half months. And we need clothing that takes us from winter to summer, because even though we’ll start off with chilly temps, we’ll have 85 degree days in Florida, even in February.
I pulled clothing out of my drawers and closet at home and started mixing and matching with the intention of creating a minimalist wardrobe. And then I added more. And more. Finally, I decided to just bring whatever I wanted, as long as I could fit it into my suitcase.
It’s amazing how much can fit into a suitcase
I have at least 20 various tops and 9 various bottoms plus 2 dresses and more. Some of you expert long-term Airbnb travelers are undoubtedly laughing. But it’s a LOT better than last year. And it all fits into my suitcase. (Barely.) I guess I’m not really a minimalist at heart.
Believe it or not, our suitcases are the same size, LOL. Guess whose is whose?
Other Stuff We’re Hauling With Us
We have one medium tote box of kitchen necessities that holds a ceramic non-stick egg pan, our favorite wooden spoon, and a good chef’s knife with a built-in sharpener in the sheath. We also brought our fish spatula. I’m telling you, if you don’t have a fish spatula, get one. Fish, burgers, chicken, vegetables, tortillas…anything a regular spatula can do, a fish spatula does better. (Update: One month into our trip, we’ve added an OXO vegetable peeler, because all of the veggie peelers in Airbnbs are crap. And a small bamboo cutting board, because every Airbnb has horrible plastic cutting boards.)
We brought a small selection of what we consider essential herbs and spices (adobo, chili, cinnamon, cumin, dill, garlic, oregano, smoked paprika, saffron, good salt, and a small pepper grinder). Stuff for making pour-over coffee. Basmati rice, quinoa, gluten-free crackers, honey, dark chocolate, fire roasted tomatoes, coconut milk, tuna, Earl Grey tea and jasmine green tea. Another small tall tote box holds olive oil, balsamic vinegar, gin, tonic, and one bottle of wine at a time.
What we think is essential
We have two small coolers (one folding) for carting around the basic goods that we always need for breakfasts and lunches (butter, cream, eggs, feta, spinach, lettuce, corn tortillas, and kombucha) and fixings for at least one dinner so that we don’t have to shop immediately when we arrive at a new locale.
We carry just enough groceries so that we don’t have to shop immediately when we move to a new Airbnb
We left most of our condiments at home. The other night, Eric asked, “Where’s the mango jalapeño barbecue sauce?” We haven’t been able to find it in local stores, so from now on we’ll add it to the small cooler that holds the items that made the cut (avocado oil mayonnaise, dijon mustard, kalamata olives, pickled onions, raw sauerkraut (we eat it every day for the probiotics), salsa, and tomato paste in a tube).
We also have a small lunch cooler with our trusty stainless lunch boxes. They have accompanied us on countless hiking, biking, and kayaking adventures. Now that we no longer tow our kitchen behind us, we make lunches before we set off on a travel day. We usually eat lunch in the car at a rest stop because we can’t abandon Magnolia. But at least we have decent food.
Salad with butter lettuce, shrimp, avocado, pickled onions, feta, and kalamata olives. Pickled onions make every salad better.
Of course, we also have all of our toiletries, herbs and vitamins, and a first aid kit. And our computers, cameras, Kindles and the tangle of cords and batteries they require. A water filter pitcher. Exercise bands. And our bikes and bike gear.
It’s a lot. But unlike our experience in Gainesville, everything fits into the car with room to spare, and we can even see out of the back window.
Magnolia Is Her Own Category
Magnolia has more paraphernalia than both of us put together. She travels with her cushy pet carrier, small folding screened catio, folding multi-level cat tree, scratching post, litter box, litter, blanket, her preferred wet and dry cat foods, treats, and toys.
She deserves all of it. She’s such a good little traveler.
She makes herself comfortable anywhere. This was our Airbnb in St. Augustine.
Bluffton, SC
Our first stop was Bluffton, South Carolina. We visited for nine days last May, and spent quite a bit of time exploring the charming, historic downtown and surrounding area.
The Church of the Cross overlooks the May River. It was built in 1857 and survived the Civil War.
We stayed in the same Airbnb as last May, and it was just as nice the second time around. The location, a short walk to historic downtown Bluffton, is perfect.
Bluffton Airbnb
We were only in Bluffton for four days this time, and spent most of our time with our friends Ed and Diana. They know all the good birding spots in the area. Like most of the country, it was cold in early January, and there weren’t many birds to see. Nonetheless, we had fun exploring. And we had a great time spending cozy evenings enjoying delicious meals together.
Click on photos for a larger image
Another fun visit with good friends!
St. Augustine
Our next stop was St. Augustine for a week. We’ve visited St. Augustine several times and have always enjoyed it. This time, we stayed in nearby Vilano Beach.
I’m adding “eclectic” to my list of adjectives that warrant suspicion when booking Airbnbs. Our apartment was huge (two bedrooms!), comfortable, and reasonably clean. But there was WAY too much stuff in it, and it was scary to open any cabinet, closet, or drawer. We’ve stayed in a couple of Airbnbs now where the owners apparently have serious yard sale and thrift store addictions.
On the surface it was cute. Just don’t open the cabinets, closets, or drawers.
A Relaxing Visit
We loved the location. We walked a couple of blocks to a peaceful beach and the Vilano Beach Pier. It was wonderful at sunset watching the dolphins hunting fish and the twinkling lights of St. Augustine across the bay.
Vilano Beach Pier at twilight
In previous visits, we’ve done everything we’ve wanted to do in St. Augustine (the historic fort, the lighthouse, the distillery tour, Flagler College, Memorial Presbyterian Church, the Lightner Museum). We’ve explored the historic downtown on foot, by bike, and by trolley. This time, we enjoyed strolling the historic and beautiful city, but stayed far away from the overly touristy area around St. George Street.
Founded in 1565, St. Augustine is the oldest city in the U.S. It has a lot of “oldest” things, from the oldest house to the oldest street. I love the Spanish architectural influence.
Click on photos for a larger image
We chatted with locals in shops off the beaten path. We went to the Saturday farmers’ market where we enjoyed delicious arepas while listening to the weekly music jam, and bought a linocut print from a local artist. We ate yummy tacos at Osprey Tacos and had a superb dinner of fresh mahi at Caps on the Water at sunset. We visited my sister in Jacksonville for a wonderful reunion and lunch, and explored the trails at lovely Washington Oaks Gardens State Park and Mantanzas National Estuarine Reserve.
Click on photos for a larger image
It was a full, delightful, and relaxing week. We’re getting back into our traveling groove.
Nice, Laurel. I can relate to this very well because Sue and I have just left for Borrego Springs again with our trailer (an Escape 19, now) so loaded to the gills that I believe the sides are bulging outwards. I think we’re all beginning to question the amount of stuff we have in our lives and the idea of letting a lot of this stuff go seems appealing. As long as it’s the “right” stuff*. Right now I have so much stuff (there’s that word again) that I didn’t feel I had room for my sax… and it’s a soprano!
OK, safe travels, nice to read your story again.
Hi Doug, I’m so happy to hear from you! I laughed at your description of your trailer bulging at the sides. We “maximized” the storage space in our trailer so that we could bring along everything we wanted…and our truck was our rolling storage unit. It really is an adjustment learning to travel for months without our trailer. Having less stuff is both freeing and annoying, haha. I’m missing my guitar…are you missing your sax?
Knowing that you’re in Anza Borrego brings back wonderful memories of our winter trips there (except for the time we high-centered our trailer on that boulder). Have a great time, give Sue a hug, and say hello to everyone for us!
You’re doing great with minimalizing…just to make traveling easier on you, not because minimalism is any better than “maximalism” LOL
Loved reading all this.
St. Augustine reminds me totally of Cuenca, Ecuador which was also founded in the 1500s, very similar architecture. What I do love about Cuenca is that although it is modern in many ways, in El Centro you can still see the “ancientness” of the city, with broken cobblestone roads and broken marble and tile sidewalks and tile roofs in various states of disrepair. It’s all beautiful in its natural way.
Miss you guys!
Hi Chris, how fun to know you’re traveling along with us! I’m still hoping you’ll write a blog about your new life in Ecuador. Cuenca looks so beautiful. I’d love being surrounded by all of that picturesque Spanish architecture! We’re happy you and Nate are so happy there. But we miss having you as neighbors.
There’s a balance somewhere to be found between minimalism and maximalism…LOL. (I miss my CALM mug, our gooseneck electric kettle, and my guitar.)
So wonderful to see you back in the groove. Thank you for the Airbnb tips. St. Augustine looks wonderful.
Hope to catch up with you at the end of June.
Happy trails to all three of you.
Thanks, Sheila! We’re having fun. It definitely takes a week or so to get back into our traveling groove, but I think we’re there! We’re really looking forward to seeing you at the end of June. Hugs to you three! 😻
No wonder we don’t travel more, if we had to take all that stuff with us well I just would
stay home. Of course most of our travels involve air flights so we don’t pack like you. We
still have serious issues of taking too much in suitcases probably thinking we’ll never see a
place to do laundry. BUT your travels do sound amazing and happy you’ve missed any
severe weather problems. We are seeing sun today after five days of rain but oh how
beautiful the hills are now starting to bloom in greens and golds.
Happy travels!
Penny, somehow I managed to travel in Europe for a year with just one small soft-sided suitcase and a backpack. I obviously have lost my ability for simplified travel, LOL! I’m blaming it on the cat.
We did a pretty good job of packing for this winter’s travels. We seem to have most of what we really need, and most important, we’re having a great time. We’re very happy to have missed the crazy weather that has plagued so much of the country. Florida is a good place to be in the winter. I’ll bet San Diego is gorgeous now. Love to you all!
So many chuckles as I thought about what to take and what to leave behind. And thanks for the Airbnb words of concern. We have stayed at places that the owner clearly lives in and just steps away for the day. But the place in Vancouver, BC that had so much stuff that you literally couldn’t take anything out and have any hope of putting it back takes the cake! The closets were jam-packed with clothes. We were told not to park on the street for fear of annoying the neighbors but they had a trailer parked in the driveway. The yard next door was a literal junkyard and rats were running back and forth on the fence. I want my money back!Now I check out the aerial view on Google maps before booking. Happy travels. I see a new trailer in your future, something smaller than our Arctic Fox just like yours.
Hello! I love hearing of your travels with Magnolia. A sweet tabby found her way into our hearts and we want to include her as often as possible in our travels. It’s good to know you can bring her to some Airbnbs and to hear about the kit that makes it work. I’m guessing you leave her there as you go out for the day?
I always love to read and see what you’ve been up to. Thanks for taking the time to share your adventures!
Joanne
Oh, how sweet that you’ve added a tabby kitty to your family, Joanne! Traveling with a kitty via Airbnb is more complicated, obviously. There are many places that don’t allow pets, and some that allow pets only allow dogs. I’ve started writing private notes to owners asking them if they’ll accept Magnolia. We have stellar reviews on Airbnb, so that helps! I’ve only had one person turn us down, and that was because they are allergic to cats.
Magnolia adores her outdoor screened catio! We look for places that have patios or decks so that she can be outside with us. She’s beyond the tearing up furniture stage (thankfully!!) so we don’t worry about leaving her indoors while we’re away. We place her folding multi-level canvas cat tree near a window so that she can see out. And we always make sure to give her playtime in the morning and again in the late afternoon. She’s an interactive kitty, LOL. Have fun! 😻
Nancy, your experience with your Airbnb in Vancouver sounds similar to our experience in St. Augustine. (Except we didn’t have a junkyard with rats next-door! Yuk!) We left everything in our suitcases and tote bins because there was no room to unpack anything…and I didn’t want our stuff to get lost! Your idea of checking out places with an aerial view is great. I’m going to do that from now on.
We’re still trying to decide about whether or not to get another trailer. We loved our Arctic Fox! (And our Bigfoot before that.)
We had to chuckle from the been-there-done-that perspective. We’ve moved from minimalist packing to mini-minimalist and travel with one carry-on sized bag for months. If we feel that we need something we buy it along the journey and are not afraid to leave it behind when we return.
Happy trails!
R&K
Haha, yeah, minimalists we are not! RV travel totally spoiled us. Honestly, we could be minimalists if we had to be. But as long as we’re traveling by car, we like having at least some of the stuff that we enjoy for daily life. And of course, traveling with Magnolia means LOTS of stuff! Gotta keep the kitty happy! Hope you two are doing well. Come visit us in NC!
Thanks for writing this post — now I can just link to this when I’m done with my winter travel posts LOL! The similarities are so many, from the pour-over coffee supplies (and even the same brand of coffee) to the essential spices to the pillows. And deciding what clothing to take when you’ll run the gamut of temps, lordy!
All that aside, it looks like you had some pretty nice housing choices overall, sunny days, good food, good friends, and family — the perfect ingredients for a great travel recipe. And a sweet cuddlebug kitty for dessert. ❤️
Well, Sister Wife, why am I not surprised that our travel packing list is similar? 😂 Even down to the brand of coffee! Now all you need is a kitty! Packing for long-term car travel is vastly different from RV travel, as you know. We’re actually doing pretty well this time, but there are still some things I miss. (Our gooseneck electric kettle, for one.) We bought an instant read thermometer so that we can get the correct water temp for our pour-over coffee. We made some pretty awful coffee before we got that.
Most of our Airbnbs have been great, we’ve loved the locations, and we’re having a wonderful time exploring and meeting up with lots of friends. Magnolia is a cuddle bug. :-)
ahhh , it makes me sad you left your guitar..
Have a blast!
love you
Lydia, I miss my guitar. I shouldn’t have left it behind. But mostly, I miss playing music with YOU. Love you and miss you, my friend. Hugs to you and Joe!
Take up the mandolin, it’s easier to travel with. Will give your brain a work out learning all new chords. Luv K
Hey Kyle, I’ve actually been thinking about getting a mandolin! It would be a big learning curve, that’s for sure. Miss playing music with you guys! Hope you and Cyn are doing well.
We have never stayed for more than one week in an Airbnb, and have only packed a suitcase for the occasion, but I can imagine that a long-term stay would require a few personal items. I laughed at ‘quaint, rustic and eclectic.’ It may as well read old and rundown. I would be creeped out by all the owner’s clutter. Get a clue people, if you want a good review, store that stuff in a locked closet.
You’ve made some beautiful stops along the way and it seems that you are enjoying life. Good for you. P.S. I think you mentioned a stop in Gainesville?? If so, visit Paynes Prairie Reserve State Park. We have read interesting things about it and are anxious to drive up there with the bikes. Just waiting for the weather to cooperate.
Hi Suzanne, I completely agree with you! My ideal Airbnb is attractively decorated with all of the comforts of home…but without any extra “personal” clutter. And Airbnb owners should dispose of any stuff that previous renters leave behind! That St. Augustine Airbnb had a refrigerator stuffed full of partially used condiments, cabinets full of old spices and foods, and there were partially used boxes of hair dye, nail polish, and lipstick in the bathroom. It’s icky.
We’re in Gainesville now, and will definitely visit Payne’s Prairie. When we had our RV we stayed there several times and loved it. We’ve biked out on the dikes, but it’s not our favorite. It’s a beautiful park to visit, though. Don’t miss the La Chua Trail, which is part of the park but outside of the main park. If you’re looking for biking, our favorite biking trail is the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail. It’s a lovely, shaded Rails-to-Trails. You can also access the Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail from the parking lot at La Chua.
After 5 months in airbnbs, we were glad to be back in our trailer. We prefer hotel apartments now when we travel abroad. Your pictures are beautiful.
Hi Deb, yes, there’s nothing to compare to travel in an RV! When we find good Airbnbs we really enjoy them. I’ll have to check out hotel apartments as another option. Glad you enjoyed the photos!
Hi, sounds like you’re in the snowbird groove. However, we always bring our own sheets, a duvet cover (and comforter). Something about these items is comforting and links us to home. Enjoy, we go north to NH in two weeks. 2024 was a cold winters in the Panhandle.
Sharyn, I guess we are snowbirds now! With all of Magnolia’s belongings I don’t think we have room for bedding. I would love to have our own bedding. And towels. And cookware. Sigh. I’m trying to adjust, haha.
It was such a cold winter (and not over with yet!). Hope you had a wonderful time in the Panhandle despite the chilly weather. Your photos have been lovely. Safe travels home!
“…with the intention of creating a minimalist wardrobe. And then…I decided to just bring whatever I wanted.”
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL…
Too funny.
Also, you literally carry more kitchen cabinet “staples” than most people have in their homes.
My bet is you’ll have another RV in a year, and it might be 45 feet long. :)
Oh my gawd, I miss our RV and hauling ALL of our stuff with us. But we just don’t know that it’s worth the expense/maintenance/storage hassle now that we’re not full-time traveling.
I seriously tried to pare down to a minimalist wardrobe but I’m regretting that I only brought one pair of yoga pants and one pair of PJs. It’s not bad if we have an Airbnb with a washer/dryer, but it’s a total pain when we have to go out to do laundry. However, we do have most of the kitchen essentials with us that we need! Except for the mango-jalapeno BBQ sauce, LOL.
We can’t wait to see you guys! ❤️❤️
Did you have to sit on your suitcase to get it closed?! 😂
Almost….😂 I did kind of worry about the zippers, but it’s a tough suitcase.
Always good to see a blog from Raven and Chickadee in my email! OK, rustic, quaint and five stars for cleanliness–I’m making notes. I too try so hard to pack light when traveling but never succeed. Thanks for taking the time to update us and enjoy the remainder of your travels! And here’s hoping for fabulous AirBnBs!
Thanks, Janna. We’re actually getting some great Airbnbs. Not as good as home or our own RV, but we’re happy to be traveling!
Thanks for the update, we’ve been wondering where you were and what you were doing! In our old life we used to fly everywhere and, as a necessity, had to limit what we could and could not take. That’s one of the reasons we bought Beluga! Life is stressful enough without trying to “pare down” and think about what you may need/want, what the weather will be like, etc., etc. Now I just take it all and I’m happy!
On the other hand, we’ve stayed at a few VRBO’s around the holidays and some of our funniest memories include poking holes in a foil pie plate and then finding a kettle the right size to “make” a steamer to cook our New Year’s Eve Lobster tails, using a wine bottle for a rolling pin – or plopping down in a provided lawn chair, with a happy hour g&t, and finding out it was broken (crash, splash). Laughing is good!
Seriously, I’m happy to read that you’re back on the road again, by whatever means. I love to read your adventures and picture the places you’re seeing! Glad you got to Caps, it’s always a favorite of ours when we’re in that area.
Can’t wait for your next adventure.
Sue, I love your stories of being creative in your rentals! We’re doing plenty of that, too. I figure it’s good for us to exercise our ability to be adaptable and flexible. Still, if I have a choice, I like having everything I need and having everything just the way I want it, hahaha!! As you know, RV travel means always being at home. :-)
We’re having a great winter vacation, and are loving returning to some favorite places and exploring new-to-us locales. We loved Caps! I don’t remember if you told us to go there, but knowing your great taste in restaurants, you probably recommended it to us! It was fantastic.
As usual this is a great post and makes me laugh which is always a good thing. I’m enjoying reading about your airbnbing. It is really appealing to me in some ways and you have pointed out The downside in that I would not have everything I could possibly need or want with me as I do in the RV . So I’m glad for all the pointers and I think I will wait to see what you decide about whether or not a new trailer is in your future. Or since you no longer have a truck maybe it will be a new RV of some other sort.
I’m glad you enjoyed the post, Sherry. We laugh at ourselves a lot! We’re still figuring out our Airbnb travels. It’s mostly going well, the biggest adjustment is not bringing our entire household of stuff along. Maybe that means we’ll appreciate home even more once we return! It’s a tough decision about whether or not to get another RV. There are pros and cons to every mode of travel! Stay tuned. :-)
Love seeing your creative new way of traveling. My kids are renting an AirBnB on the Oregon Coast for my 80th next year and I told them about your words to avoid! Laughed at the Magnolia stash It is the same with Mattie, lots of stuff to take for a pet, but unlike babies there is no heavy unwieldy car seat or stroller and stuff. I had three little ones at once with Melody coming a bit later, but oh I do remember hauling stuff for a newborn, a year old baby and a 2 year old. Sheesh.
Can’t wait to see where you find a spot for your print in your tiny home. Looking forward to reading about your journey some more.
Sue, I can’t imagine traveling with three small children, all under two years old! I think I would just stay home, LOL. Although we’re hauling a lot of stuff for Magnolia, now I’m feeling lucky that she doesn’t need a car seat or a stroller.
I was really happy to find that sweet wren print. I like supporting local artists, and I love finding treasures for our home in our travels. Although it’s tiny, our house has lots of wall space!
How fun that your kids are renting an Airbnb on the coast to celebrate your birthday! I hope they find something beautiful for you.
So funny that you mentioned those descriptors. Kevin is trying to buy a house in Atlanta and he has learned if the words quaint, cozy, adorable, charming, or rustic are used, it isn’t anything he wants to see…haha! Glad you are having better luck this year. We thought we would just do hotels after we decided to sell the MH. But after our two week trip to the Tetons/Yellowstone NPs, we thought we might consider a smaller RV. I do like having my own chair and bed and “stuff.” The RV won out over the hotels. I think we will enjoy our new shorter RV. We really want to do shorter mid week trips. So glad to see that Magnolia isn’t spoiled at all!! Boy did she hit the jackpot by finding you:) Looks like lots of yummy food, friends, and fun adventures.
Pam, a smaller rig sounds perfect for your part-time travels! Living out of hotels or Airbnbs is challenging, as you know. We got SO spoiled with with RV travel. It really is the best. We still don’t know what we’re going to do…you guys are fortunate in having a place at home where you can store your rig. I’m looking forward to following along with your adventures. :-)
Magnolia is a *bit* spoiled but she deserves it. She’s such a good kitty, and so adaptable. She had no idea when she adopted us that she had signed up for a life of travel, haha!
I sure hope Kevin finds a home that isn’t “quaint, cozy, adorable, charming, or rustic.” Or one that really lives up to the description. LOL!
Your pared-down approach to AirBnB travel does seem much more likely to actually fit in your vehicle, even with all the kitty paraphernalia. We took a similar approach last summer (though we took too many clothes) and had similar results. In terms of kitchen items, we ended up spending about $40 at WalMart at our first stop to fill in the gaps in the kitchen equipment – in our case we bought a $15 wok, a chef’s knife, bamboo spoons, and a set of disposable plastic storage containers. Now we own three woks! But totally worth it to make day-to-day meal preparation in an unfamiliar kitchen a little bit easier.
Glad to see you enjoyed a different side of St. Augustine. I really like that area as a place to visit, with its lovely beaches, long history, and interesting architecture. It’s the tourists that we don’t enjoy so much, but I’ll bet January was a great time to be there! Loved the shot of Eric approaching a blissfully deserted beach.
Shannon, I know you and Ken are experimenting with Airbnb travel, too. I think some people don’t cook at all in their Airbnbs, but although we enjoy exploring the local food options, we fix most of our meals at home. So we need all the stuff we bring with us! Just like you guys did, if we find that we really need something, we buy it. (A good veggie peeler and a bamboo cutting board have been added to our stash so far.) Honestly, even if we need to leave something behind, it’s worth it to be comfortable if we’re staying somewhere for several weeks.
We do enjoy St. Augustine and all of the beautiful, historic architecture. The tacky tourist traps…not so much. But it’s easy to stay away from those. We had fun exploring the lesser-known side of St. Augustine while everyone else was crowded into the few blocks surrounding St. George Street (aka Tourist Trap Central).
I completely relate to your tale of too much stuff in the cabinets. Our second AirBnB kitchen was FULL of junk, expired spices, and etc. No room for any of our stuff. I ended up shoving a lot of it into the top shelves, and I left it there as a hint for the owner.The condo was especially annoying because she advertised it as ADA compliant, which it most definitely was not. We’re now orbiting between Tucson and Spokane, and still packing too much stuff. I’m impressed by your tote boxes, very nice.
Hi Allison, that’s exactly what drives me crazy about some Airbnbs! It’s so nasty when people leave their partially used stuff behind and Airbnb owners don’t dispose of it. I throw most of it away. 😬 But I didn’t bother at the Airbnb in St. Augustine since we were only there for a week. We just didn’t unpack anything. It’s a different story when we’re somewhere for a month.
We’re a month into our trip, and we’re using everything we brought, so I guess we didn’t pack too much. We’ve even added a few things, LOL. We’re hopeless.
Laurel,
You guys sound like pros when it comes to travel. When we retired, we took two trips by car–one up the East Coast to Maine and another through the Midwest to Mackinac Island. We did not know how to travel by car and took too much stuff to cart in and out of military hotels. Thankfully, we didn’t have Mortimer and all his toys, crate, food, and meds. RV travel was a godsend to us, and I don’t know how we (Mortimer included) could give it up. I don’t look forward to the day we move all this “stuff” out of the RV. We’re in Panama City and enjoying the beautiful weather, but we are sorry we couldn’t meet up. Travel safely, and please stay in touch! Joe
Joe, we’re learning as we go. This is our second year of Airbnb travel and we’re doing sooo much better than last year. Hauling stuff in and out of Airbnbs gets old quickly, so we really have tried to pare down. But to be comfortable, we need a certain amount of stuff. It’s a balancing act, for sure! RV travel is the best, but you already know that. :)
I’m sorry our paths didn’t cross in our Florida travels this year. Glad you three are having fun!
We are not minimalists at heart either…but we are getting better. Practice makes perfect as they say. I agree about the words to be wary of. We also look for 5s in cleanliness. That said, I have to wonder at some of the people who rated a couple of the places we’ve stayed in so far as 5 for cleanliness. They need eye glasses I think.
Erin, I’ve started to think I’m unreasonably particular about cleanliness! Although that’s probably true (LOL) I also cannot believe some of the places we’ve stayed that people rated as a “5” for cleanliness. I don’t know if they have different standards, or if they’re afraid of being honest.
I’m not sure if we can simplify any more than we already have. There are a few things I regret not bringing along!
Glad to see you traveling again, and what a fun post to kick off your travels south! It will be interesting to see if the driver and the passenger have different thoughts on which way is the best for future travels. Of course both have to pack and prepare so that’s a shared consideration for sure! We always used “rustic” in our descriptions of some of the more sketchy RV parks we stayed in. Of course we still had our own bed and bathroom so it was less of an issue than at an AirBNB! Yes Magnolia deserves all of her comforts – even if you have to take less of yours!! Glorious pics of your beautiful first stops. Happy your finding time with friends as well.
Hi Jodee, I’m glad you enjoyed the post. I had fun writing it and thinking about what we consider *essential* for daily life. You make a good point about the driver and the passenger having differing opinions about the best way to travel. I never liked towing, so Eric did all of the driving. But I made all of the trip plans and reservations, so it seemed fair. And as you said, we both do the packing and preparation.
We’ve been staying in some really sweet Airbnbs on this trip, but the truth is that none of them are as comfortable as our RV was. And traveling with Magnolia significantly narrows our choices because so many Airbnbs do not allow cats. Humph! 😾 We’re still pondering our future travels…
Although I can live out of a small carry-on and backpack on a 9-week trip to Europe, packing a car for a short or long trip can be challenging. My husband has to keep reminding me that just because something fits doesn’t mean it should come with us.
How did Magnolia know that you would be such wonderful traveling companions when she first found you? I love how nothing seems to phase her.
Have fun in Florida and enjoy the warmer weather! I’ve never been to any of the places you’ve listed. BTW, your post made me look up how to pickle onions… I think I’ll give it a try!
Janis, I traveled for a year in Europe with only a small-carry on and small backpack, and I’m trying to remember how I did that! I guess it’s because I didn’t take any cooking gear or food. And I didn’t have a cat. LOL.
It’s so easy with car travel to add “just one more thing.” I will try to remember your husband’s words of wisdom. :) Magnolia, of course needs all of her stuff. We’re so lucky that she’s such a good little traveler!
I’m currently addicted to pickled red onions on salads. They’re simple to make, but when we’re traveling, I buy a jar of Mezzetta.
I admired your being industrious, determination, organization and patience to haul, unpack, pack again as you journey south, and packing it all in your Subaru. Hats off!
I have a hint for you. John and Pam just downsize their motorhome and what they got now is cozy and cute. When we checked them out,(they were here in Wickenburg) I thought of you and Eric. A new small rig for you will eliminate all the decision making of what to bring, what not bring, just saying :)
ML, we have seriously considered a smaller trailer or motorhome, but we haven’t quite decided if that makes sense, or if Airbnbs are better for us at this point. When I see a cute rig like Pam and John just got, it makes me want another RV! As you said, an RV definitely eliminates the decisions of what to pack. Because then I just bring EVERYTHING, haha.
Our Airbnb travels are much better this year since we pared down on the amount of stuff we’re hauling with us. And I’m figuring out what I miss (extra yoga pants) and what I’m not using (my art supplies). We’re still undecided…
Happen to google you
Your posts have stopped arriving completely
oh well
Take care
Hi Kathryn, I’m sorry, you can always try signing up again to receive notifications. I’m not sure why there have been problems but that’s the only thing that might help. Thanks for checking in.