I don't understand why this all has to be so difficult. I would hardly bring anything, just enough to keep the kid alive and then I'd figure it out as I go. Many others travel like this, I've seen them out there. Others would call that abuse, or at the extreme end of poor parenting. It's not like I'd let a toddler walk to the edge of a cliff or something, but I certainly don't need a car seat everywhere I go.