I often wear mostly the same two things all the time, but a girl’s gotta have options...spots may not come out, I may have nothing large enough to cover them, hair tragedy could strike and a hat (other than baseball style) would be needed. Or it’s my prerogative to change my mind. Damn it, I bought it for this trip, it’s coming along. Plus, I’ve never had a husband or boyfriend that wanted to happily stop and replacement shop. Upon entering a store, my guys are always searching for the “husband” chair to plop down in, chat up the sales staff, and near a tv broadcasting sports.
I love packing!! 😂 the excitment of taking off, even for the weekend is just a thrill ; the more I pack, the best I became at shortlisting my minimum viable suitcase, and yes, it feels so much better to travel light!
To me, each of these packing opportunities are reminders of how lucky I am to be able to make this trip here or there.
I think I have pass down this passion to my little boys - 3 and 5 - who now just pack for no reason! 🫣
“If you don’t wear it at home, you will not wear it on a trip. I speak from experience.”
Why do i automatically think I’m gonna become a different person that suddenly wears something I have never worn just because I’m in a different location?
I also agree with the not being able to pack for different weather. I live in the Midwest, but was in Arizona for most of the last year and apparently I forgot what you wear when it is 40 outside.
Ooh, the weather anxiety. I grew up in Los Angeles and have never quite lost the fantasy, engendered I think by colorful wall calendars, that everywhere outside of Southern California has this season called autumn that is crisp! and chilly! So if I'm headed to New York or London in early October I pack lots of wool sweaters, a down jacket, and boots, when in fact the frost is not at all on the pumpkin and what I need are light layers.
Jeez louise! Are you reading my mind ( again) ?I’m in Portugal and the strum and drung of packing for this trip was maddening! I find that buying fabulous clothes when I travel helps with the anxiety 🤣
I’ve had to go to three different climates in the last month and am incapable of imagining weather that isn’t exactly like the one I’m experiencing at home. At the moment I’m sick of travel, but I think what I’m really sick of is packing. Not having the one thing I really need or dragging around a bunch of crap I don’t need. IN MY IMAGINATION. I want a 19th-century maid who knows better than I do what I’ll need and packs it for me.
Loved this essay as I am prone to packing anxiety. If don’t allocate hours (days) to pack, including writing of the list, I am sure to show up unprepared. And even then, there are trips you pack for and ones where you realize that there was not in fact a meeting of the minds with your travel companion(s).
oh god, I was packing last night for a week in Prague (weather unseasonably warm, no rain, several dinners, theater, otherwise hanging out) and was really proud of myself. Until it was 1 a.m. and I was tired and looked with disgust at my (still only half full) suitcase and thought: this is way too much. I HATE packing. I wish I could travel lighter, or else beam myself back to the era of steamer trunks and the staff to handle them.
i’m from Oregon and I never go out, local or travel, without a rain jacket and layers for underneath. It’s sort of a lumber jack look, but I’ll never see them again (travel) and everyone dresses like that here.
Maybe print out the list and store it in your suitcase. I have a printed checklist that I keep in my travel bag. That’s how I remember to pack the cords and charger, my knee pillow, adjust the thermostat before I leave, water the plants, etc.
Or reason to clandestinely burn down your house, collect on the insurance, and buy all new stuff.
If I were rich enough, I would just pack a toothbrush for trips and then just buy everything I need (including a suitcase) at the gift shop at the arrival airport. Scotch that, I would buy the toothbrush there, too.
Well, I always want to pack more than I end up taking because there's only so much that will fit in my suitcase (which is on the smaller-to-medium end of bags that need to be checked) and my carryon (a hard-case style on wheels). For this trip, I wore or used everything I packed. As an added bonus, we were able to get some laundry done a couple of times. That helped extend our clothes' wearability. My takeaway, though, is that I'd really like to become accustomed to traveling lighter and then buying anything else I need/want along the way. That will require a major adjustment in my thinking, but I'm willing to give it a try.
The emergency go-bag pretty much is it. I add or subtract depending on alleged weather at destination. Kin expect a farmer, others see me once and don’t remember.
The tape is genius! I had a frustrating time trying to buy that in rural Quebec when our windshield got cracked.
I second the black tshirt, skirt and sweater.
Also? Safety pins! fix a zipper, close your pants, fix a hem, or pin something you don’t want to lose to the inside of your suitcase or toiletry bag.
Yes to safety pins!
I often wear mostly the same two things all the time, but a girl’s gotta have options...spots may not come out, I may have nothing large enough to cover them, hair tragedy could strike and a hat (other than baseball style) would be needed. Or it’s my prerogative to change my mind. Damn it, I bought it for this trip, it’s coming along. Plus, I’ve never had a husband or boyfriend that wanted to happily stop and replacement shop. Upon entering a store, my guys are always searching for the “husband” chair to plop down in, chat up the sales staff, and near a tv broadcasting sports.
I love packing!! 😂 the excitment of taking off, even for the weekend is just a thrill ; the more I pack, the best I became at shortlisting my minimum viable suitcase, and yes, it feels so much better to travel light!
To me, each of these packing opportunities are reminders of how lucky I am to be able to make this trip here or there.
I think I have pass down this passion to my little boys - 3 and 5 - who now just pack for no reason! 🫣
This is my personal favorite…
“If you don’t wear it at home, you will not wear it on a trip. I speak from experience.”
Why do i automatically think I’m gonna become a different person that suddenly wears something I have never worn just because I’m in a different location?
I also agree with the not being able to pack for different weather. I live in the Midwest, but was in Arizona for most of the last year and apparently I forgot what you wear when it is 40 outside.
Packing tape, yes. It takes off pet hair too, like a charm - in my case the ever present guard hairs of a thick coated sable German shepherd dog.
Ooh, the weather anxiety. I grew up in Los Angeles and have never quite lost the fantasy, engendered I think by colorful wall calendars, that everywhere outside of Southern California has this season called autumn that is crisp! and chilly! So if I'm headed to New York or London in early October I pack lots of wool sweaters, a down jacket, and boots, when in fact the frost is not at all on the pumpkin and what I need are light layers.
Jeez louise! Are you reading my mind ( again) ?I’m in Portugal and the strum and drung of packing for this trip was maddening! I find that buying fabulous clothes when I travel helps with the anxiety 🤣
I’ve had to go to three different climates in the last month and am incapable of imagining weather that isn’t exactly like the one I’m experiencing at home. At the moment I’m sick of travel, but I think what I’m really sick of is packing. Not having the one thing I really need or dragging around a bunch of crap I don’t need. IN MY IMAGINATION. I want a 19th-century maid who knows better than I do what I’ll need and packs it for me.
Loved this essay as I am prone to packing anxiety. If don’t allocate hours (days) to pack, including writing of the list, I am sure to show up unprepared. And even then, there are trips you pack for and ones where you realize that there was not in fact a meeting of the minds with your travel companion(s).
oh god, I was packing last night for a week in Prague (weather unseasonably warm, no rain, several dinners, theater, otherwise hanging out) and was really proud of myself. Until it was 1 a.m. and I was tired and looked with disgust at my (still only half full) suitcase and thought: this is way too much. I HATE packing. I wish I could travel lighter, or else beam myself back to the era of steamer trunks and the staff to handle them.
Love these tips. But also, you made a black tie outfit from what you packed. That is some expert level preparedness. Wow!!! Give yourself more credit.
I'm printing this out to go in my What to Pack file — not that I can ever find said file when I'm actually packing.
I also confess to a weakness for buying new suitcases, thinking that that will make a difference. NOT.
🤣🤣
i’m from Oregon and I never go out, local or travel, without a rain jacket and layers for underneath. It’s sort of a lumber jack look, but I’ll never see them again (travel) and everyone dresses like that here.
Maybe print out the list and store it in your suitcase. I have a printed checklist that I keep in my travel bag. That’s how I remember to pack the cords and charger, my knee pillow, adjust the thermostat before I leave, water the plants, etc.
GREAT idea!
Mind-reading witch!
Now do packing up your house to move.
That’s truly the worst. Reason enough not to move…
Or reason to clandestinely burn down your house, collect on the insurance, and buy all new stuff.
If I were rich enough, I would just pack a toothbrush for trips and then just buy everything I need (including a suitcase) at the gift shop at the arrival airport. Scotch that, I would buy the toothbrush there, too.
I just came back from a 26-day trip to Europe, and I totally relate to this post. It's great!
Yes, Kate do tell us!
How did you manage, suitcase wise?
Well, I always want to pack more than I end up taking because there's only so much that will fit in my suitcase (which is on the smaller-to-medium end of bags that need to be checked) and my carryon (a hard-case style on wheels). For this trip, I wore or used everything I packed. As an added bonus, we were able to get some laundry done a couple of times. That helped extend our clothes' wearability. My takeaway, though, is that I'd really like to become accustomed to traveling lighter and then buying anything else I need/want along the way. That will require a major adjustment in my thinking, but I'm willing to give it a try.
Yes to all of this. If I am going somewhere I can buy things I do feel a little calmer about the packing💓
I lessen my anxiety by telling myself: If you forget something, don't worry -- place X will have a drugstore/Target/bodega that can supply!
Exactly.
The emergency go-bag pretty much is it. I add or subtract depending on alleged weather at destination. Kin expect a farmer, others see me once and don’t remember.