2021 in Review — How To Catch A Whale

The second year in a global pandemic feels like my wardrobe: a bit monotonous.

Well, in my closet, there are three gray short sleeve shirts, three gray long-sleeve shirts, three pairs of gray pants, two pairs of black tights, and a few hiking shirts and pants.

I began to downsize my wardrobe when I started my weekly commute from SF to Seattle in 2017. The swiftest way to squeeze through the airport is to pack everything on your shoulder: three shirts, a few pairs of underwear, pajamas, a water bottle, and a laptop. My team, to my surprise, never raised an eyebrow about me showing up with the SAME outfit every week.

Then, Galen and I lived off our backpacks for four months in 2019 as we hopped across continents (my full packing list on Lighterpack). We saw a lot and learned that with minimal worldly belongings, we could thrive.

The key to packing light is to have less but make each item count. For example, two pairs of long pants lasted me the entire trip - one pair of hiking pants and one pair of general-purpose pants like this one. The latter's technical fabric yet fitting design makes it the most versatile in the wardrobe: perfect for casual (city walking), a bit formal (going to work), or outdoor adventures (hiking).

In addition to finding high-quality lightweight material, the other secret is being okay with a more "humble" look. When I stopped paying attention to what I was wearing and how other people thought of me, I started to connect better with the world as I was experiencing it.

I logged zero airline miles in 2021. Besides a couple of short excursions, we stayed put, masked to go anywhere, and hung out with friends virtually for the most part.

I grieve for still not being able to travel. I cherish the dozens of books finished at bedtime, the doodles, the great conversations with Galen over teas and chocolates, grocery trips with other moms, intriguing problems to solve at work, and time spent chasing Aurelia around the house.

So, I guess you can say that this year went by a bit monotonously. But just like you can't judge a rich mind by its look, we can't judge the depth of our experience by its mileage covered.