Map Ink Blog

I have reread Joan Didion’s “The White Album” more times than I can count.  Included in that book is her packing list (below). I would love to see an entire book of just the packing lists of interesting, famous people. Though this was written in an era of travel that seems more romantic than the one that we have now. Can you imagine going through security with a typewriter? My version of the packing list is above (credit below), I think Joan and I would travel well together. To Pack and Wear: 2 skirts 2 jerseys or leotards 1 pullover sweater 2 pair shoes stockings bra nightgown, robe slippers cigarettes bourbon bag with: shampoo, toothbrush and paste, Basis soap, razor, deodorant, aspirin, prescriptions, Tampax, face cream, powder, baby oil To Carry: mohair throw typewriter 2 legal pads and pens files house key This is a list which was taped inside my closet door in Hollywood during those years when I was reporting more or less steadily. The list enabled me to pack, without thinking, for any piece I was likely to do. Notice the deliberate anonymity of costume: in a skirt, a leotard, and stockings, I could pass on either side of the culture. Notice the mohair throw for trunk-line flights (i.e. no blankets) and for the motel room in which the air conditioning could not be turned off. Notice the bourbon for the same motel room. Notice the typewriter for the airport, coming home: the idea was to turn in the Hertz car, check in, find an empty bench, and start typing the day’s notes. —Joan Didion, The White Album packing list credits: cashmere pullover sweater / vintage typewriter / oversized sunglasses / clarks spy belle booties / bourbon / legal pads / mohair throw / oscar de la...

My sister-in-law’s boyfriend is a photographer / videographer who used to work for Burton, (check out his great skiing movie A New Dawn), so whenever I have a camera question I go to him. They were sweet enough to give us an amazing little video camera for our wedding last year and the first thing I thought of (of course) was “what kind of bag am I going to get for it?!” (any excuse for a new bag is thrilling for me). He set me up with this tech / camera backpack from Burton and I love it, it’s called the Burton Zoom 28L. It has a sleeve that fits our laptop, a small pocket at the top of the bag where we put all the chargers, then the back of the bag unzips to reveal this large area that you split up with padded velcro pieces anyway you like. This is were we put our little point-and-shoot, the video camera, and a digital slr. It’s a lot and it all fits. We use this to store everything while we travel, but when we are walking around we really only bring one or 2 cameras, so those pop into my hand bag and the backpack stays home.  Burton’s site has the Zoom 26, maybe that is the new one. Of course, we have the black and orange one. (For someone who designs in color, all I own is black – go figure).