When in Roam
By: Howard Fertig
Tags: Travel, Moving, Life, Personal Development, Retirement

So how do you pack for a seven-month trip when you’ve got two peeps traveling in a 2020 Subaru Outback that has yet to be named? Yes, I name all my cars. Suggestions welcome. See the picture above. And no, there’s not going to be any licensing rights. Is Yankee Stadium the last vestige of a bygone era in that regard?

Ok, back to packing. What’s gonna fit? Think of it as a real-life game of Tetris. Part art, part science. My gut said:

- one large suitcase for each of us for our day to day clothing, assuming moderate climate but prepared for some cold weather.

- one large suitcase for all footwear, jackets, and a spare towel each, just in case.

- one roller for business clothes; hey you never know. I was a Boy Scout for one year. Always be prepared!

- one knapsack each for laptops, iPads, books, magazines, and journals.

- one toiletry bag for vitamins & drugs.

- one soft cooler for food/spices.

- plus — and this is important — focus here, a fav pillow each, and one blankie to share. Certain creature comforts that are HUGE and make anyplace feel like home.

We packed our suitcases for five days’ worth of clothes, as we plan on AirBnB-ing it with washer/dryers as table stakes. One of the small benefits of this horribly surreal point in time is that we’re all dressing casually, wearing the same stuff over and over, so this wasn’t that hard to figure out. Plus, we threw in a couple of business casual outfits for celebrations — anniversary, New Years', etc.

And we’re off!

“I hear a wind

Whistling air

Whispering

In my ear”

Blasting Roam by the B-52s to kick off our Spotify playlist of the same name, we vacated our bungalow at Forest Lake Country Club in Hopewell Junction early Monday morning October 26th. The first stop was an overnight stay in DC at a new AC Hotel by Marriott, on K St. near the Convention Center.

We kicked it off with one of the wonderful side benefits of the trip, spending time with folks that we often don’t get to see 1:1, our kids' friends, and our friends' kids, on their turf.

First, we were met by the daughter of dear friends who goes to the U of Maryland — FEAR THE TURTLE! She drove 45 minutes for a 30-minute hang with us. Which isn’t a surprise if you know her. It’s a gift to watch our family and friends’ kids evolve as people!

Then we had drinks with friends of Spencer from Georgetown who are now writers on the Washington beat. It was the night that Amy Coney Barrett was being confirmed so they had the hearing on C-SPAN at the same time. Now that’s dedication! We tried to pump them for some Beltway gossip, but it appears that doesn’t exist in the time of COVID as everything is remote. They wouldn’t give it up, even after a bottle of vino!

They recently bought a cute home near Howard University. We’ve been coming here for 10+ years since Spence went to college in the area and we’re now seeing the effects of the gentrification. On one hand, it's amazing to see the renewal, on the other hand, where have all the peeps who used to reside here gone, and are they better or worse for it?

Great first day. Next stop Raleigh North Carolina!