One should always have something sensational to read on a train

In packing for traveling of any kind, the question always comes up of what reading matter to bring. This is particularly important if you will be any length of time in a place without a guarantee of reading material. Yes, if you are visiting friends, you can always raid their shelves, which has the double advantage of lightening the packing load and broadening your proverbial, but what of hotels? And the odd relative without a home library? Perhaps your gracious host is blind, and has books only in Braille. Or perhaps reads for pleasure in some language you are sadly without, and has in English only lengthy papers on particle physics. Well, English of a kind. Anyway, it’s best to be certain.

So. One must note how long one will potentially be reliant on the reading matter in one’s own luggage, as well as the estimated schedule of events. Do you anticipate a long train ride? Will the days be taken up with walking? Are you limited to two carry-ons, or can you fetch along an extra trunk-case? Will the evenings be social or contemplative? Do you have tickets for the opera? Will you be wearing pants? All of these questions will need to be answered, or at any rate considered, or possibly mooted, or conceivably tabled, before one even opens the valise.

Well, or after. I mean, opening the valise isn’t some sort of deadline, after which one can no longer answer, consider, table or moot the abovementioned questions. Go ahead, open the valise first. See if I care.

Then, the decision-making begins. Long tomes or slim volumes? More of the latter, presumably, but then if the former turn out to suck blue leaves, you are stuck with them. Also, if otter-ninjas steal your suitcase, slim volumes are likely easier to replace. YHB advises against bringing reference books. Perhaps a pocket dictionary, and a throckmorton, and an atlas in case you get lost, and it’s always wise to bring a current Physician’s Desk Reference. But that’s it, unless you really think you will need the recent Who’s Who, or if you happen to have a set of the Junior Britannica that fits nicely in your satchel.

And what about the thorny question of the library book, the one you are in the middle of and don’t want to set aside for a week or more? Yes, you could bring it with you, but suppose otter-ninjas stole your suitcase? It’s always a good idea to prepare for otter-ninjas. You may be surprised, but you’ll never be disappointed.

All of which is to say, Your Humble Blogger is off, and may not blog until January. Have a good time. Smoke ’em if you got ’em.

chazak, chazak, v’nitchazek,
-Vardibidian.