Having retired a couple years ago, my wife and I tend to travel quite a bit. When we head out we usually go for 7-10 weeks at a stretch. Since we bought a minivan back in '94, packing initially wasn't much of a problem. For Gaile, it still isn't - she can be happy with a supply of good books and a TV set. I, on the other hand, HAVE to have my guitar (and I haven't opted for a backpacker model quite yet) and my portable CD player, along with its amplified speakers, cables etc. Oh, that means I need CD's also - I started out with a 24 CD carrier and am now up to a 100. I'm waiting for one of those portable players that'll also play MP3's to become stable, so I can put my whole d**n collection on 100 CD's. And, over the past couple years, it's also become essential to have my mountain dulcimer and concertina along. All this, of course means more music, music stand and miscellaneous paraphernalia. We see these 'old' couples on our travels with their minivans or vans piled up so high with their belongings that they can't see out the rear windows, and we laugh. But, I have to wonder if that's us, twenty years down the road.

Hmmm, wonder if I could fit the hammered dulcimer in on this next trip...