Anyone who follows my Twitter feed, or on Facebook or Instagram, knows I travel a fair bit. Well, if flying from work-site and back in the same day usually really only seeing the city from a taxi or rented car on the way can be called traveling that is. Seems like I’ve seen all the big airports but rarely any of the sights while there. Sigh.
It used to be you went thru your written list (even those checklists are electronic now) of stuff to bring with you traveling and packed it all, now I find I go thru making sure everything being brought is updated and backed up so I have access to everything should something happen and I lose a device (it gives me the willies thinking about losing my beloved iPhone or iPad but it does happen). And of course, chargers and cables to make sure all my electronics can be used (having forgotten a charging cable once when on a long trip was enough thanks) and have cloud access to the important stuff I may need while away. Thankfully there are apps for just about everything now and it’s almost possible to bring it all along digitally instead of having to lug along a ton of paper with notes & info about the project in question. Personal faves are AutoCAD WS for drawings, and Quickoffice Pro as well as Pages for all the documents I may need to view or create. Dropbox is a great place to store the important stuff too, as is Evernote, because no matter how prepared you may think you are, there is always a missing file or document in your local copy you brought with you. The trick is to remember to make them accessible prior to leaving the office. Thankfully in our always connected society, even if you do forget something it is usually only an email away if you have willing cohorts in the office, or if not, remote access capability into your office server or workstation.
Even the very act of booking, checking in and boarding the plane has become very digital in nature. With the Air Canada app for instance, I can check on flights, book them, do my check-in, and get/save my electronic boarding pass. I add my flights into the app and get updated info on delays/cancellations and gate changes too, making the entire traveling process a tad easier as well as no more wasted paper. Gotta like that, being green, and I don’t mean the kind from too much turbulence while in flight.
There is no toothbrush app tho, and I do still need to pack a change of clothes, but with my WeatherNetwork app, at least I will know what to expect when I get there and can pack accordingly.
To anyone wondering, yes those are the mountains in BC visible from YVR – Vancouver international airport, and yes, that is my nose print on the glass as I look longingly at them while awaiting my plane.
Yep, it is the life of Riley at times, but thankfully with the help of a few electronic travel companions, the time flies as I do. Or more accurately of late, helps to pass the time while waiting to fly.
barkerp
barkerp 