I hate packing!

Website design By BotEap.comI’m a lousy packer.

Website design By BotEap.comI love to travel, but I haven’t mastered the intricacies of packing a suitcase. Actually, packing is not the problem; deciding what to wear is the real problem. My husband and I went to visit our daughter in New York for three days and ended up taking the most suitable large suitcase for the month long visit.

Website design By BotEap.comIn retrospect, the real problem is the weather. When we visited our daughter, it was October. That’s fall, the time of year when it might be 90 degrees one day and 40 degrees the next. It could be raining; it is even possible to have an early snow storm. So what should be taken? Shorts and a t-shirt or long pants and a sweater? Sandals or boots and a winter coat?

Website design By BotEap.comThere is still another topic: activities. Are we going to stay home most of the time or are we going out to dinner and the theater? Will we end up gardening together or visiting relatives? Do I need clothes “at home” or do I need to bring a nice outfit? Maybe I need more than one nice outfit in case we go out several times; the fashion police frown on wearing the same thing two nights in a row. And of course I need shoes that match every outfit. With all these unanswered questions, there is only one solution: bring everything.

Website design By BotEap.comHowever, we haven’t mentioned the other essentials yet, like makeup and medication. There is lotion for dry skin, deodorant, facial cleanser, electric toothbrush, regular toothbrush (in case the electric brush runs out of power) and toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, styling gel, hairspray and sunscreen. Of course, we can’t forget about daily medications (which seem to have doubled and tripled as we age). I also bring a large bag of medications “in case you need them.” These include Tylenol, an antihistamine, leftover antibiotics (don’t tell my doctor), pain relievers in case someone (god forbid) gets hurt and is in pain (a prescription I bought but didn’t need after a dental procedure). , bandages and an antiseptic. I was a Girl Scout at one point and have always believed in that motto, “Get Ready”!

Website design By BotEap.comI imagine at this point you’re probably feeling very sorry for my husband having to load my heavy suitcase into the car, get it out of the car, put it through airline baggage check, etc. Don’t worry, I consider this to be his weightlifting workout and I truly believe my bags keep him in good shape. But I am also aware that not everyone packs like me.

Website design By BotEap.comFor example, I have a friend who travels a lot and is an expert in packing. She carries a medium suitcase wherever she goes and has certain clothes that she knows, through trial and error, that she travels well and can be washed and dried overnight. I managed to pack like this once, when we went to Africa on safari to see animals. We were limited to one medium bag each, a condition that really tested my skills. I started packing three weeks in advance, taking clothes out and putting new clothes on; then replacing them again. I have to admit that having a smaller suitcase and fewer clothes definitely made traveling easier, but on the next trip I went back to my old clothes.

Website design By BotEap.comMy seven-year-old granddaughter came to visit and she has a very particular packing method. She was traveling with a small children’s suitcase and my husband and I watched as she unpacked two fairly heavy containers of children’s hand lotion, two stuffed animals, three small dolls, four bottles of children’s nail polish, an iPad, a comb, three DVDs of children’s movies, a book and a folder of math problems to solve before going back to school. Our clothing concerns were quickly resolved when her mother walked into the room with a pile of t-shirts, skirts, and shorts. I was left wondering what kind of baler she would be as she grew up.

Website design By BotEap.comOf course, there are always “I don’t need anything but the clothes on my back” type packers. They tend to be in their early twenties and see the world in such a way. A backpack with the essentials (bottle of water, a change of underwear, a small packet of soap and a little money) seems to be enough. When their clothes disintegrate after too much wear, they simply send a telegram home asking for enough money to replace them. Ah, to be young again, although I must admit that I don’t remember being able to travel this way.

Website design By BotEap.comOn one trip I was forced to exist with my clothes on for three days when the airlines lost my suitcase. Except for a few essential items I bought at the pharmacy, I slept in my underwear and wore the same clothes every day. In a way, it was liberating. I never had to think about what to wear or what was appropriate. And everyone we were traveling with knew about the situation, so I got a lot of sympathy. However, I was very glad to see my suitcase when it reappeared.

Website design By BotEap.comSomeone once told me that packing is a metaphor for life. If you drink too much, you may be carrying too much baggage on your head. If you pack light, you’ve gotten rid of all that old baggage. I disagree; I think the only baggage I carry is literally my suitcase and my problem is simply that I’m afraid that what I leave at home is exactly what I’m going to need while I’m away.

Website design By BotEap.comBut in the end, it’s not the things you take but the trip itself (I think it’s a quote from someone). Please don’t imitate me; take only what you absolutely need and enjoy your family, your travels and the rest of your life. Travel light, my friends.