Traveling Stationery Supplies

We are getting on a plane and flying to Taiwan and I have been ruminating on the supplies I’d like to bring with me, clearly having my priorities straight.

Taiwan is, of course, abundant with its own stationery and stationery stores so any “necessities” that I’m lacking I’m sure I’m going to be able to find there. We are definitely going to be visiting lots of stationery shops, and maybe discovering some things while we’re there, but I’m approaching the stationery shopping like wandering through some glorious great unknown, rather than with a list or specific things in mind. And so I’m bringing mostly everything that I’ll need or want, for journaling or sending home a few postcards or letters, and waiting to be surprised and delighted.

I regularly use an A5 notebook, usually Life and Midori MD, for daily writing, and I’m going to start a new one for our trip. I’m hoping to write about our days, adventures, visits, thoughts, tape in things, maybe find a few stamps.

I’m also bringing my Traveler’s Notebook, which I’ll be using for organization.

Actually it’s all a bit fuzzy right now, and I’m not sure exactly how it’s going to go down. I think it’s going to come down to I’m-going-to-use-what-I-have. While that’s not necessarily a bad strategy, it makes for a bit of a disorganized blog post.

I’m bringing a Kaweco tin of short Blackwings and other pencils, which will also fit a tiny sharpener and eraser. Will my feral pets do math homework? Do they even know how to hold a writing utensil the right way up? What are numbers? Only time will tell.

For pens I have two Lamy Safaris, inked up with the 2024 special edition colours, and I’m bringing two packs of Lamy cartridges as well. I’m also bringing, of course, to Taiwan, a TWSBI, and an Opus 88, both already filled. Who knows what other stowaways might sneak into a bag—mostly likely the remaining pens I have inked up that I haven’t yet written dry or had time to wash out before we leave.

And also a handful of disposables with various tips, for customs forms and Junia. Out in the world/Taipei I may actually only be bringing a gel pen with me and my TN with me, as I will be trying to survive the heat and humidity, and will need room in my bag for mosquito repellent. You can tell I’m an adventurer. Harrison Ford would be proud.

And...scissors, glue stick, washi tape.

And I’m squeezing most of them into our 10 year anniversary TSL pen and wallet case. A delight!

These are mostly adult supplies (are they, really? as one raises an eyebrow towards a tin box of crayons) but stay tuned because I’m planning on/hoping to prepare little packages of supplies and surprises for my three chickens, both to survive the plane ride (for “some reason” Jon is sitting in a different section from me and the kids) and also to enjoy the ride. Coming soon.