Wow- I'm jealous of you long-term tourers! I also like the idea of paring things down (although I *really* miss my own bed-- alas can't carry that on my rack). I went seven weeks last year living out of my panniers, but when I got home I continued to use them for a week or so out of habit for all my toiletries and such. It felt odd to have all my stuff in different rooms instead of different pockets.