MINIMALIST PACKING

When you call a person a minimalist, you're describing their interest in keeping things very simple. A minimalist prefers the minimal amount or degree of something.

Not that I am a minimalist (although I'm highly considering it) but, when it comes to traveling, using only carry-on luggage makes a trip a lot lighter and less stressful.  First of all, YOU SAVE MONEY; most airlines are charging extra to check bags.  Secondly, YOU SAVE TIME; there is no waiting at the carousel to pick up your checked luggage. Third, it is LESS STRESSFUL; there is no chance of your bag getting lost.

For most of us, our trip DOESN'T END AT THE AIRPORT.  It is more pleasant to deal with carry-on bags on a taxi, a train or a bus. 

The universal size for a carry-on luggage in most airlines is: 9"x14"x21.5".  Also, you are allowed another small personal item like a purse or backpack.  It is smart to keep the  items you may need to get your hands on during the flight in your purse or backpack that you keep with you and stow under the seat in front of you and stow the carry-on luggage in the overhead bin.

AS FAR AS CLOTHES, make sure every piece you bring is interchangeable and can be mixed and matched.  Bring a small amount of items like underwear and bring a dry laundry bar to wash your clothes in the sink and dry overnight.  ROLL CLOTHES instead of folding and stack them next to each other (see pictures above) in the suitcase.  This makes it easier to see all your clothes when you open the suitcase.

If you're a person that LIKES TO READ; books can be bulky, heavy and take up a lot of space.  Today, most books are available in digital form and can be downloaded to the e-reader on your phone.  You can also listen to books on Audible or similar apps.

I hope this information "lightens the load" on YOUR next trip! Bon Voyage!

SAFETY MISTAKES WE MAKE WHEN WE FLY

Most of us are anxious flyers but when we’re on a plane, we tend to pay little attention to the pre-takeoff emergency demonstration and almost never read the safety information card in the seat back pocket in front of us.  This is probably because we assume that if something goes seriously wrong, we’ll know from all the times we did pay attention to the safety demos in the past.  Most of the time my reasoning is that if something does go wrong, it will be a catastrophe beyond my control and there will be little I can do!  How about you? 

We’ve been shrugging off our safety duties as passengers.  Moreover, we’ve been totally misinformed about the chances of surviving one of those unthinkable catastrophes. A 2001 NTSB study showed that, based on plane accidents between 1983 & 2000, 51,207 of the 53,487 passengers involved survived. That is 95.7 %.  The odds look like they’re highly in our favor, but we shouldn’t get lazy when it comes to the rules.  

Most of us have a tendency to “zone out” during the safety instructions ( I know I do). I think “how many times do I have to watch the same safety demonstration or video? We all know how to buckle our seatbelt, and we understand that when the mask drops down we’re supposed to put it on before we assist others”.  I think, for the most part, people are just plain bored by these demos.  Some airlines have made these videos fun and comedic but most feel this is not the right approach because the public may not take these seriously.   

The information safety card is required by the FAA to be included in all seat back pockets.  This is critical as it contains guidelines and details specific to the aircraft you’re on.  It shows where the exits are and how to open the window exit. In a nutshell, if you don’t read the information card, you may not know what to do and it can be intimidating. 

We should also take the time to acknowledge the mask and reach down underneath our seat to make sure we know where the life jacket is.  That way, in the rare case of an emergency, we know exactly where to find it and can follow procedures confidently. 

To most of us, flight attendants may seem like the wait staff of the sky, but they are actually professionals trained to perform a range of medical tasks- from basic CPR to delivering a baby.  Also, they know all the ins and outs of the plane and receive annual training on safety. In addition, they have to know how to deploy a raft, which is very challenging, and how to collect water and put up a canopy in case you are not rescued immediately.  

The point is that flight attendants could well be your in-flight superheroes.  I guess we should remember that we we’re annoyed that the beverage cart is coming down the aisle too slowly and we’re trying to get to the bathroom or  back to our seat. 

Most of us fasten our seatbelts when the light alerting us to do so is on, but we should keep our seatbelts fastened the whole time we’re seated. In instances of rapid decompression, which causes an unplanned drop in the aircraft cabin, people are saved because they have their seatbelt on.

It is extremely important be completely alert and not freak out if something goes wrong in the air.  This means you should stay sober and not drink too much on a flight. In fact, flight attendants are trained to “cut you off” when you’ve had too much, but you shouldn’t ever get to that point. Stay sober so, if an emergency happens, you can follow all commands coherently.  

Don’t be a hero.  In most emergency situations it is recommended that you don’t do anything other than stay seated unless the flight crew asks you otherwise. Trying to be of service can interfere with the people trained to help and distract passengers from important messages.  

While flight attendants want us to sit back and relax, we may want to keep our shoes on and laced.  God forbid you would have evacuate down a slide or run from a burning aircraft – you will want to be in shoes that allow you to run – you don’t want to be in flip-flops or barefoot.  Sneakers are smart and also comfortable.  

Lastly, it is highly inadvisable to get on your laptop or phone during an emergency. In an emergency you need to be listening for any information from the flight crew with any distractions.  This means you need to keep your laptop and other personal items stowed because that could impede an evacuation where time is really of the essence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

THE WAY

This year I am planning on embarking on a “bucket list” item I have been intending to do for a number of years – the Camino De Santiago.  I briefly read about it many years before I saw the film, The Way with Emilio Estevez and Martin Sheen.  After that, I knew I had to do it. And it will be this year.  

The Camino De Santiago is known in English as The Way of St. James among other names.  It is a network of walking trails/roads serving pilgrimage to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the saint are buried (see map).  Today, many people follow these routes as a form of spiritual path or retreat for their spiritual growth.  It is also popular with hiking and cycling enthusiasts and organized groups.  

The Way, or the route to Santiago De Compostela, was declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe in 1987.  It was also named one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites.  Since the 1980’s the route has attracted a growing number of modern-day international pilgrims. 

The French Way (Camino Frances) is the most popular of the routes.  It runs from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of the Pyrenees to Roncesvalles on the Spanish side before making its way through to Santiago de Compostela through the major cities of Pamplona, Logrono, Burgos and Leon. This route takes approximately 4 weeks to walk and is approximately 750 km. Since I am not yet able to take 4 weeks off work, I will be walking the last 100+ Km starting in Sarria- it is the point where one quarter of all pilgrims start and a route that combines different paths that will allow me to get to see the great variety of possibilities that the Camino de Santiago has to offer.  

Needless to say, ever since my decision to walk the Camino this year, I’ve had a plethora of learning experiences preparing for it.  They tell me that MY Camino starts on the day I start preparing for it. I hope to share those with all of you as I go.

WHY WALKING??

Shortly after my 50^th birthday, I noticed my body was “ballooning out” at a very rapid rate.  I knew that I had reached the age where my body had changed and no longer responded to “diets” (low carb, low calorie, etc) that I resorted to in my young(er) years.  It became clear that I needed to make a significant change that was healthy and brought long lasting results.  It was around that time that I met a 65 year old couple that had registered and was training to run a half marathon or 13.1 mile race- (yes 65).  

Having briefly seen glimpses in the news of the New York and Boston marathons throughout the years. My impression of a marathon runner was of an ultra fit YOUNG person who clearly had been running since age 4 without stopping.  Certainly, my 65 year old friends did not fit this description.  As a matter of fact, this would be their first half marathon!  I was intrigued and captivated by these news and immediately decided that this was exactly the type of challenge that I needed to get me in shape and do something I would be proud of.   

And so my running days started.  It’s important to understand that I was never an “athletic” person .  In fact, I couldn’t stand sweating.  I trained for the next 5 months by walking then running then walking again when I would run out of breath.  Each time I was able to increase the distance and the amount of time running.  I shed about 35 pounds, my skin never looked so good, my clothes never fit better and I never felt better in my entire life.  I ran my first half marathon in 3.5 hours – actually with a combination of running and walking but my time qualified me for a medal.  That was worth all the sweat (literally). I went on to run 2 more in the following years for a total of 3 half marathons (2011,2012 & 2013).  In the years that followed I got completely absorbed in my husband’s battle with cancer and could no longer find the energy or time to follow a marathon training schedule and started just walking long distances just to clear my mind.  And I’ve continued to do so after he passed away in 2015.  

Not long ago I started reading about how walking can provide many of the same health benefits associated with running. According to many studies, regardless of whether they were walking or running, individuals saw a reduced risk of hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, and improved better cardiovascular health.  There are also less risks than running.

Running  puts more stress on the body and increases the risk for injuries like runner's knee, hamstring strains, and shin splits (which plague even the most consistent runners). 

These days, I walk a total of 15 miles per week. I do it on different days at different times as my schedule allows but I make sure I total 15 miles. My average speed is 17 minutes per mile so I don’t walk slow and I burn some calories while enjoying time outdoors.  I also listen to audiobooks and music while I walk which I thoroughly enjoy.  

My favorite thing is I can eat without worrying about my weight getting out of control – and that’s a big benefit for me.  Of course, I still love those challenges and I’m planning on doing one in about 4 months. Stay tuned!

WHAT IS A "WIDOW'S WALK"?

Definition of Widow's Walk by Merriam-Webster; A platform or walk atop a roof, as on certain coastal New England houses of the 18th and early 19th centuries: often used as a lookout for incoming ships...

I am using the term "Widow'sWalk" loosely to illustrate what this blog is about.  I am a 57 year old widow with an active lifestyle.  Aside from a 10 year career in the Real Estate business in Miami, Florida; I love travelling and long distance walking for fitness, fun, meditation and photography at interesting places.

Its difficult to ignore the health benefits of walking so I hope to share information about this as well.
And, let's face it, we all need a dose of self-help - so I'll be sharing my favorite self-help books, audiobooks and events with you! Won't you walk with me?