Travel Bug Adventures with a Small Yellow Suitcase

Some journeys take us far from home. Some adventures lead us to our destiny. —C.S. Lewis

The tip of the iceberg for travel in 2026 for our household began with a recent trip to Colorado (we flew). Over the years, I’ve come to realize that travel of any kind is my therapy. It’s not lost on me that it’s a privilege to travel. If it helps my psyche to indulge in the culture and rhythm of new cities (hey, even old ones), then it was all worth it. I relax. I push myself to figure out the social mores and language in a foreign country.

Enjoying the time and space in another world does something magical for me. I feel lighter. I feel happy. I feel overwhelmed at times. I feel like a speck of sand in a vast world of people and lands all over the globe, and it grounds me in a subliminal way. There is something fascinating about packing a small suitcase of stuff “we need,” say, for a three-week trip abroad, or even a weekend at a quilt retreat, when we come from a home filled with stuff. Maybe I’m thrilled to be away from all the household “stuff,” and have to fend on my own with the contents of my suitcase and backpack.

I fight with myself on longer trips, especially when I’m not using a car or other vehicle. Because to travel light is a challenge, and one I take on whenever I can, shoes being my biggest nemesis. My yellow cabin-style suitcase is ready to be filled with my clothes and other necessities for an upcoming trip to France (in nine days). My goal is to pack it this week, then remove 50% of my stuff (except for non-negotiables) next Monday.

The recent trips to Colorado, New York, and a quilt retreat in the last few weeks have prepped me well to secure a well-balanced suitcase. In the smart words of travel guru, Rick Steves: “Pack light, pack light, pack light.”

Maybe that’s part of the magic of travel, too — discovering how little we actually need to move through the world with joy, wonder, and anticipation. A small yellow suitcase. Comfortable shoes (hopefully - and the right ones). A passport. Curiosity. Gratitude. And the willingness to step outside our ordinary lives long enough to see the world, perhaps ourselves, a little differently. France awaits, and apparently, so does another adventure with my little yellow suitcase.

bSoleille!

Terri

Photos of my little yellow suitcase: Going on retreat; headed to Florida in the skinny photo with my go-to backpack, and all lined up in the hallway, ready for adventure, nestled with the dark-colored-everyperson suitcases.