A “Living on the Road” Checklist

You might want to give away a lot of your belongings, but there are certainly some things you won’t want to part with. For those items, self-storage is an excellent option. What will you take, and what will you leave behind? Here’s a list of some things you’ll want to bring along on your travels.

• Clothing: No matter what kind of weather you expect, it’s smart to keep a few jackets, hoodies, or sweaters with you in case it gets chilly. You’ll also want to take a bathing suit, because you never know when you might get the opportunity to swim. Beyond that, you really only need a few outfits. Streamline your wardrobe, giving away or selling the things you no longer want to keep, and storing what you love but don’t currently need. Travel light and keep the bulk of your wardrobe readily accessible in your storage unit.
• Medications: Have a plan for managing your prescriptions while you’re away. Take over-the-counter medications with you- in most places it’s illegal to store medication in a storage unit.
• Money: Managing your money is another thing that requires a plan while you’re away. If you don’t already have online banking, now is the time to set it up. Take some cash along with you on the road, but not enough to attract thieves. There’s no reason to store money in a storage unit, but financial records and other important paperwork can safely be stored.
• Electronics: For the most part, you can store your electronics in a self-storage unit. Take care to choose a unit that’s climate control if you’re going to go this route. Of course, there are some electronics you’ll need on the road, especially if you plan to work remotely. Make sure you have enough adaptors and chargers to keep your electronics powered up, and check with your storage provider to determine if there are any limitations on things like batteries.
• Furniture and Linens: It can be tempting, when you’re streamlining your lifestyle, to sell all your furniture. Don’t do it! There will come a time when you’ll need furniture, and you won’t want to have to buy it all again. Give away things you don’t like but store the majority of your pieces. Store much of your bedding and other linens, too, but keep out two of everything so that you can use one and wash one.
• Entertainment: Less is more in this arena, especially if you’re traveling abroad. Digitize your favorite music and carry it with you but leave the television behind in storage. Instead of bringing books, consider an e-reader. Bring a deck of cards, and if you play an instrument that is portable, bring that too. Part of the adventure is being in the moment, so you don’t need a wealth of distractions.
• Miscellaneous Must-haves: This will vary from person to person, but a few items that are good to have include a first aid kit, a blanket, and baby wipes. Bring along plastic bags; they’ll serve a variety of purposes. If you’re taking a vehicle, bring spares and tools in case of emergency, and pop a shovel into your trunk. Of course, in the current environment it’s a good idea to bring along hand sanitizer and masks, as well.

Now that you know what you’ll need out on the road, turn to Pouch Self Storage to store the rest of your things. We’ve been operating mini-storage facilities since 1979 and we’re committed to keeping our clients’ belongings safe. Founded by John Yelland, who hails from Australia, Pouch Self Storage is named in honor of the kangaroo’s pouch- nature’s safe and secure storage spot. We’re an industry leader in design, building, and maintenance of self-storage facilities, and we strive to give our occupants the most advanced security systems available. At our nine Southern California facilities, you’ll find state-of-the-art computer monitoring systems that allow our self-storage managers to monitor the opening and closing of every storage unit door, 24 hours a day. Currently, we’re abiding by CDC recommendations and implementing social distancing, but you can still reach us by calling (800) 378-4598 or contacting us through our website.