Less is more.
The old axiom “less is more” applies to many facets of life.
Sure, there are a few notable exceptions. I think we all agree that when it comes to money, more is more. It’s pretty rare that individuals, corporations, or the government demand less money. The phrase “Give me my salary reduction!” is quite uncommon.
All of which makes for a nice segue into our topic du jour: towels.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy taught us that towels are among the most important objects in the universe. “A towel,” it says, “is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have.”
If memory serves, there are two primary rules for the savvy intergalactic traveler:
1. DON’T PANIC.
2. Bring your towel.
These rules certainly apply to RV travel. One should never panic, unless of course you pull open your blackwater tank without attaching the sewer hose; in that case, panic is justified.
But what about towels, you ask? Gather ’round the campfire kids, and consider our tale…
When we first got our Airstream, I was still naively pursuing the philosophy of “more is more” — at least with regard to towels. Determined that we “spoil ourselves” while camping, we invested in a set of ultra thick Turkish/Egyptian (or were they Uzbekistani?) towels.
Nay, these were not mere “towels.” They were BATH SHEETS. Many an innocent cotton plant made the ultimate sacrifice in their creation. They were hand woven by a team of talented towel artisans who worked tirelessly over a period of about seven years. They were the kind of towels you just want to wrap around your body and wear all day long. So I did just that, which led to a few strange looks at Walmart.
Anyway, we brought these super thick towels with us in our Airstream. What did we learn? You guessed it. Less is more. Yes, the timeless wisdom applies to bath linens as well as bacon calories.
The bath sheets were just too long, and too thick. When towels are too thick, and they are placed in a small cubic space with limited air circulation, they take too long to dry. When they take too long to dry, they “sour” and emanate an a odor similar to that of an Egyptian/Turkish armpit.
Proper towel selection is yet another department where you gotta think like Goldilocks. Not too long, not too short. Not too thick, not too thin. You need a towel that’s … just right.
So we “downgraded” towels. Kristy says that our current towels are “still a little too thick.” But they are a vast improvement over the original bath sheets. They are garden variety, normal, run-of-the-mill, satisfyingly soft, cotton bath towels. They are reasonably absorbent, and they dry with reasonable speed. They are slow to sour.
A more high tech option would be to invest in “quick dry towels,” which apply the latest microfiber technology to drying your wet booty. Quick dry towels are ultra thin and light. They are also expensive. One of these days we’ll plunk down the cash for some fancy astronaut towels. I love the idea. But since money is the one exception to “less is more” axiom, we’ve been satisfied with our current arrangement.
So when it’s time to pack your RV for that big road trip, remember… less is more.
Funnily enough, I was just wondering about towels in small spaces and what you two would say. I have run across bamboo fabric towels that are supposed to be antibacterial and, by extension, anti-Turkish armpit (although the shop didn’t state that explicitly). These towels were not inexpensive, but they didn’t feel like stuff for drying one’s car.
This may be indiscreet, but how do you dry your lacy unmentionables? I can’t imagine putting them on a line outside. Do you have room along side the towels? I know, perhaps inappropriate, especially on the first post….
Hi CV,
First of all, welcome and thanks for posting. I’m glad to know that the topic of towels has reached a receptive audience!
Hmmmm, the all important lacy unmentionables… Pretty much ALL clothing goes to the laundrymat. We usually use the facilities of whatever campground where we happen to be staying. In rare instances (ie. rustic camping in the Grand Tetons), we might venture off property with dirty laundry. So it all gets dried in the usual coin operated drying machines.
Of course some RVs have washing and drying machines on board. Usually these are larger units like the big motorhomes and 5th wheels. Sometimes the machines are of the European “all-in-one” variety, and sometimes they are separate washer/dryer units. We’d love to have one in our Airstream but there’s simply no room. Maybe someday… 🙂
Yikes!
You gave me a bit of a scare. At first I thought the “throwing in the towel” might have had something to do with no longer wishing to blog!
The Horror!!
I’ve managed to get my heart rate back down to an acceptable level….
It’s not like I follow every blog ever written about RVs or any number of other subjects that are remotely interesting , but this one happens to be in that select few that works for me. I have to choose my words carefully here, since I’d prefer not to say less than complimentary things…about anyone…..but not a lot of people who “write”, can actually write. (or spell!)
It’s nasty out there.
And while I realise a lot of folks have blogs so that their families can follow what’s going on, in many instances it would be better if they took pity on us and just stuck to using the phone.
Like you once said, your Mom was a school teacher. For something like that, the rest of us are truly grateful, as I’m sure you are too.
Although, in my former life as a “Schulwacht”, (caretaker) I used to feel particularly bad for this one pupil in a school where I worked at the time. Not only were her parents both in the teaching end of things, but both Mom and Dad were principals, AND her mother was the principal of that very same school that she attended. My good GOD. Can you imagine?? How do you get away with anything? By now I’m sure she’s well through post secondary education, but I sure hope she didn’t just rebel at some point, or have a breakdown.
Anyway. Keep on bloggin’.
and….Keep yer stick on the ice.
(it’s kind of a Canadian thing…)
Bob.
Thanks Bob, no worries — I’m not “throwing in the towel” on blogging just yet. It’s fun to have a creative outlet, and we’ve developed a nice catalog of material over the years.
I enjoy writing and probably should do more of it. (My Mom is always telling me to write more! :-))
A few years ago, I actually wrote a novel that I never published. Maybe this winter I will finally see the project through to at least some sort of electronic print.
This winter, I think I will take the website in a new direction. What does this mean? Stay tuned!
Thanks for taking the time to register and comment. We have a number of visitors here on LongLongHoneymoon.com, but only a select few take the time to speak up! It’s always a pleasure to hear from you. Positive feedback fuels the blog…
I shall keep my stick on the ice! Cheers!
Sean
Just about to take the Aluminum plunge…. Have a ’63 Safari I’ve gutted and setting up for live-aboard. I play in a band from Nashville and my little girl lives in Canada. I’m always gone and don’t need the big mortgage anymore. Your tips and shared experiences have inspired me…And yes I am going Diesel, LED, and med-thick towels. Saw a site for a composting toilet with a inline filter (for smell issues), would be nice not to have a blackwater tank! Thoughts?
Keech