[Published on InsouciantWriting.com August 17, 2010]
Riding the train is one of the best ways to travel because it forces one to evaluate a forthcoming vacation or move and anticipate the risks and adventures. Before taking a vacation or making a big move, there is one inevitable question that may flee past the corners the traveler's mind: How does one decide what to wear for traveling?
As I was packing, I found an old purple t-shirt with a few discrete nips in the fabric. This was a practical and comfortable shirt, which hadn't been worn in a while but I felt like this was the perfect time to test its durability. I wanted to pack a more appropriate pair of shoes for the gray slacks and wear a more comfortable pair for the ride but I couldn't have squeezed a single sheet of paper into the bag--I was told in Toledo the suitcase weighed fifty pounds over the baggage weight limit. I opted to wear the extra pair in addition to wearing a versatile black vest that I couldn't bring myself to crease.
I met a very kind gentleman who was on his way to Manhattan to reunite with friends as we were waiting to board the train in Toledo. He exuded the casual energy of someone who had grown accustomed to the art of dressing for travel as he sported a black knit hat, thick rimmed glasses, dark wash skinny jeans and an over sized North Face zip-up, which covered a gray or perhaps beige a-shirt. He regarded himself as someone that wouldn't wear pajamas on any moving vehicle, rather a traveler that dresses for comfort in lieu of form.
After he took a few shots of my ensemble inside the Toledo station, the battery died so I couldn't take a photo of his look. Even though electrical sockets were accessible on the train, neither of us had the energy for a even a brief photo shoot but I had a delectable view of the outside from my window.