Packing for Paranoia: What I Forgot
I thought I was ready: sanitizer, masks, wipes, the works. But somewhere between the French border and a gas station in Belgium, I realized I’d packed for a pandemic, not for the small, stupid realities of the road.
No one warns you about the exhaustion of constant hand-washing in public bathrooms that ran out of soap days ago. Or the weird guilt of eating snacks in the car, mask pulled down, windows cracked, watching strangers like they’re threats.
I brought enough disinfectant to drown a small town, but forgot the one thing I actually needed: patience—for myself, for the trip, for the world that isn’t quite safe yet.
#Travel #TravelDuringCovid #PackingRegrets
