Cultural Survival and Me.

When going anywhere to stay put for a prolonged period of time you need the essentials first. Essentials are boring; you'll just have to trust that I packed enough clean underwear to last for a full year (you should always double up- in case of emergencies).

This is about sanity. Or, more correctly, the preservation of a recognizable identity in the face of massive cultural inundation. When out in the culture there is no tool or object that would prepare you for countless social faux pas' and encroaching feelings of isolation. Therefore, in an attempt to preserve sanity, surrounding yourself with the familiar is of paramount importance.

Music first, as there is nothing more interconnected to who we are emotionally.
An Ipod filled with the likes of David Bowie, Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones. Classical tracks to facilitate assimilation and some soundtracks to really great movies to help combat boredom. We could ague that there are no cultural universals but I disagree; music pulls what you like about it out of you. No one can explain what they love about a great song; it's just gone, like it was never there to begin with. You like or you don't- no translation required.

Books next, mostly because I couldn't figure out to fit a television into my suitcase.
Comedy! Comedy! Comedy! This also fits on the Ipod. I need to f*%king laugh. I need it, like drugs. Not that I need drugs. I need to laugh like it's a drug. There we go. Comedy is my heroin dealer. Books by George Carlin, scripts by Neil Simon- anything that gives me a chuckle. Also some popular fiction; Clive Cussler is a beautiful human being, no one better captures the awesomeness of the ridiculous. Also, I would need some comic books. My secret is out. I love comics and I am unashamed. Warren Ellis (Transmetropolitan) and Brian K. Vaughn (Y the Last Man) are my golden gods.
These things, sadly,would not be translatable. Although, I would enjoy attempting to explain George Carlin's Sh*t/Stuff routine to Zulu tribesmen.

A Camera also, to take pictures.
That's it. Just to have some.

Finally, a journal. Because what good is an experience if you can't hear yourself in the voice you had when it was happening?
Recording an experience for yourself is, I think, essential to understanding it. The journal helps to expel bias and exercise fear when confronted with something new. It allows me to be myself at both the most flawed and most secure.

I have done some modest traveling; I have been all over the United States and to Europe. In traveling, my life has changed dramatically and for the better. I didn't pick a particular place for this entry because I have found out I don't go to one place to learn about other people; I want to go to many places and learn about myself.

Patrick