While I was never really a suit, I spent a good amount of the past decade working in corporate America. Dedicating your life to the wellbeing of the corporation rather than the wellbeing of your own mind is a conversation unto itself, but for now, I'll just address my fascination with the effectiveness of clothes in communicating status in this medium.

How we dress really says alot about who we are and who we aren't. I'm amazed by how people can immediately convey personality, social status and attitude through their choice of styles, fabrics and labels. And mostly I'm amazed by the power of the suit, which I've never really cared for wearing myself (unless dressing up for a funky occasion....or a job internview of course).

Personally, I feel oppressed by too many clothes, mostly by full-coverage articles, like button-down blouses, long sleeves, slacks, sweaters and jackets. So the thought of leaving my corporate wardrobe behind for sun-soaked days in bikinis, tank tops, shorts and flowing skirts makes me all warm inside.

The small backpack that I plan to travel with (it's a carry-on so that I don't risk loosing it on multiple plane transfers), will only hold approximately 8 mix and match outfits and 4 bikinis, and I'm sure it's all I'll need. These simple little garments are what make me feel most at home in my own skin anyway.

There's this Grateful Dead song that I've always loved called Going Down the Road Feeling Bad that has a lyric that says it perfectly: