"like the traveler that I so desired to be..."

What the shit! I said as I stood staring at the endless array of assorted backpacks and rucks hanging against the net and canvas covered wall.

I placed my right hand into it's assigned pocket in my jeans and pulled out the remaining portions of my life's savings - about thirty four bucks and a couple of quarters I had been saving in case I needed to phone anyone.

Excuse me, how much is that pack over to the side I said pointing with the index finger of my available hand.

sixteen seventy-five Said the gentleman who looked like he had reviewed-for-accurance all too many an episode of the A-Team.

Thanks. Almost half of what i had left.

I looked down at the money in my hand. My eyes blurred and swayed to my left foot, it ached in my boot. The toe had somewhat collapsed and now the leather was rubbing the skin from the top of three of my toes. Socks inplace only in vain.

The peaceful disposition of which I was - at no choice of my own - living was aching my whole frame. My whole soul.

The sixteen dollars and change spent would make a dramatic difference however... my simple life would no doubt benefit! I would be able to transfer the items that I had been stowing in an old seamans's dufflebag - a dufflebag that leaves a great deal to be desired by way of it's inability to be properly carried in a way that one would pack a backpack - into a container that would make me appear less like a ruffian and more like the traveler that I so desired to be at this destinantion in my life.

I paid the gentleman and left the store, open-eyed and vivid.