When I left Switzerland, 12 years ago, I left my things in somebody's basement, hoping to ship them to America one day, when I would be settled down someplace.
I do not have any heirlooms. But I had my books, my sheets of music, my violin and my guitar. There were my photo albums, my album of published newspaper articles and other writing, and a few doodads, including a couple of stuffed animals.
I had left them behind when I started my journey with two suitcases and a tourist visa to the USA. I did not know where the winds would blow me.
And indeed, they blew hard and wild, sometimes...
12 years later, I'm near to settling down now. One more move, very likely next year, and then I'll probably be "done" living like a gypsy.
But my stuff is gone.... except for the photos. 
The basement where I stored my things had been broken into. Anything even remotely valuable had been taken. And if that wasn't enough, whatever was left was then destroyed when the cellar was flooded.
And finally, the saddest thing that happened, the person (who was the then-boyfriend of my best girlfriend) passed away.
Only my photos made it through all this.
It is funny how one thinks that one cannot live without certain things. We pack them carefully, we choose a place to store them, we leave them behind being so very sure that we'll be back to come get them.
But in the end, they're gone.
Sometimes I wish I could have them back, show off my published work, play my music.
And I realize that they are only things. It's the memory in my heart that makes them special.
Losing them didn't make me forget the special moments. I can still fondly remember them.
And the whole experience taught me that I CAN travel light. 
If things get lost, my memories won't.
It's a good thing to know when you're a gypsy.... 
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WSOR
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Oct 18 @ 10:42AM
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The material things, although dear to you I'm sure, can be replaced, but the memories we have when we've captured a moment in time with pictures cannot. I'm very glad your pictures made it through all this, as they likely were the closest thing to your heart. 
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travelwoman
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Oct 18 @ 10:47AM
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Yes, the pictures are the best thing that goes with memories, at least for me.
Sadly, there are quite a few albums that have been "lost", too, here in the USA. I had stored them with somebody where I cannot go back and get them (my ex mother-in-law).
I so wished I had them.... four albums of great travel photos. 
Maybe one day I'll go and try to get them.
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lovestobake
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Oct 18 @ 10:47AM
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The path we choose can have a price. Except for a few family heirlooms & my dog all can be replaced.
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newpatches
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Oct 18 @ 11:46AM
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I too think it was good that the photos are still there waiting on you.
I made an ill-fated move to Az. in 2007 and if it didn't fit in my car, it didn't go. I gave the photo albums to my girls and let them take whatever household items they wanted, then sold the rest. That's when I really learned that stuff 'n things aren't really important...it's our memories that count. Now I just make memories to keep me warm in hard and cold times.
Good blog... 
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travelwoman
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Oct 18 @ 12:15PM
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I have a friend who used to own a SMALL car.
When she moved with her two grand-kids and a dog, all that didn't fit didn't come.
Needless to say that besides the kids, the dog, the sandwiches, towels, a few clothes and bedding, there wasn't much else that fit... 
But no one cried....
Not even the kids.
I was impressed and thought that I have still a lot to learn... 
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snidegrass
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Oct 18 @ 12:33PM
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for what it's worth, two cents worth, 25 cents, inflation ya know.
gypsy flamenco is my favorite music. it tells of tragedy that
happens daily, somewhere to someone. my family was gypsy
a lot. all around the usa, canada, mexico, europe for seven months.
wanderlust. trailer parks, youth hostels, hotels, motels, stay with relatives,
friends, strangers. roving romeos. journeying juliets. meet a girl, on to the
next town, next girl. romance on the run, such fun. hit and run romances.
paupers, princessess. i met them all. lotsa the memories have totally faded.
even the mind and memories go eventually. you can't even recall what
you want to. for you forget to remember. and conveniently, remember to
forget. so in the future, they'll be travelling all over space, space-time and
everywhere and nowhere. bon voyage. my great granddaughter will date
a guy who has a pad outside of mars orbit. you can imagine. nasa.gov.
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chevymn
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Oct 18 @ 12:44PM
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Atleast you have the pictures. The heartless bytch that robbed me last year even took those. She also took my broken cell phone that had pics and vids of my girls on it that I didn't have saved yet.
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travelwoman
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Oct 18 @ 12:48PM
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snidegrass...
roving romeos. journeying juliets. meet a girl, on to the
next town, next girl. romance on the run, such fun. hit and run romances The problem with the people you romance.... they are generally NOT gypsies...
and cannot understand how traveling is in the blood, how you cannot stay in one place or you suffer....
chevyman...
I hope you learned your lesson: always save your digital photos.
As for the photos that only exist on paper (like my old ones...) you need to fight for them.
As soon as I get into the area of my ex-mother-in-law, I WILL see her and demand my albums. Chances are they are still there.... because she doesn't look under her stuff...
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MrPaul
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Oct 18 @ 12:50PM
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the memories we have when we've captured a moment But you have something even more important.................. A wonderful young man of your own flesh and blood. A child growing and changing into a young man, one who's life you will shape and he will shape yours. What a wonderful blessing from God.     
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misschoos
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Oct 18 @ 2:20PM
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I started my journey with two suitcases and a tourist visa to the USA  Wow!
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Roverboy
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Oct 18 @ 4:18PM
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True:
"stuff" tends to hold you back from doing things that you otherwise would.
On the other hand, not having "stuff" makes one feel as if they don't "belong" somewhere.
At least, that's the way I feel sometimes.
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travelwoman
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Oct 18 @ 4:19PM
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Paul
Indeed.... I could and would trade everything I have for my son.
And he knows it, too... 
misschoos...
YOUR BACK!!!!
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travelwoman
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Oct 18 @ 4:25PM
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Roverboy...
That's because you don't have "gypsy" in your blood.
I never feel much like belonging.
But when I travel, at least it's exciting and interesting.
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