Trip Trinkets

What do you buy when you take a trip? Do you pack your suitcase full of new found treasures, or do you buy t-shirts, postcards, or salt shakers? What's your thing?

I limit myself to one personal souvenir. I travel light and almost never check a bag. Not only does this save on airline baggage fees, it naturally limits what I buy and bring back. Typically, I go for something crafty and definitely locally made. I purposefully try to avoid anything made-in-china. For me, it absolutely defies representation of the region and wrecks the memory.

In the Bahamas I have purchased handmade wicker baskets that I have actually witnessed the artisan make. Those are treasures! Last time there I bought a pretty little bracelet. It has such amazing detail in the beading I couldn't resist.

The craziest thing I ever brought home was a garden gnome. I was on a sports trip to Florida and fell in love with the goofy little statue in the window. I had to have him. After all, that trip was booked with Travelocity.ca And like they say, you should "never gnome alone."  After I bought it, I took the little statue out of his box and shoved him into my backpack. It was the only item I carried on that trip. So, when I got to security, my gnome got the attention of the security screeners. It looked like a little person stuffed inside my backpack. Ok, not at all like a real person, but he did garner enough attention to get re-run through the scanner and pointed out for other security guards. They pointed and snickered, as did I.

When I got home, my son named him Gibbly. Gibbly has since travelled with us on scavenger hunts, bowling nights and any other goofy family event that requires a mascot.