packing

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Are you capable of traveling light? Is there any one item which you always overpack?

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2001

Answers

i'm the queen of traveling light, or at least relatively so. i have one bag that i take on every trip, no matter how long or short it is. so, even if the trip is a month long, i take only what fits in that bag. it actually works out remarkably well-- i don't have to hem and haw about how many bags or which bag i'm taking, i just fill up Mr. Travel Bag and hit the road. sort of liberating, in a way.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2001

I think I can, my ditty bag has the shaving kit bag with all my prescription medications, something to read, check book plus small stuff Heather wants me to take. Clothing depends on amount of time I will be away and whether I will be able to wash and dry while there. Usually a pair of tennies. We will be going somewhere for a week soon, and my problem is, will I be able to get by with four shirts and a tee maybe ? Weather down there has been warm, So do I do that of figure on some one taking me to the launderette ?

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2001

Travel light? HAH! I always pack a full set of clothes (shirt, t- shirt, socks, underwear, jeans/khakis) for every day I'll be gone, plus a spare set in case of spills or tears... Plus I have to have shampoo, anti-perspirant, electric razor, books, notebooks, and a spare pair of sneakers. God forbid I end up in dirty clothes or hair unwashed for more than 24 hours.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2001

I will pack light -- but if I'm visiting my parents, my mother will foist upon me items she thinks I should have. This always upsets me, but it does no good to complain.

Oh yeah, saw this when I was watching Sunday morning news shows.

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-- Anonymous, February 25, 2001


Jen, you're not as bad as all that. First off the contact lens stuff, the antiseptic and the Q-Tips are situational stuff. They're like freebies. I probably would have left behind the hand lotion, the eyebrow gel and the eye shadow. And maybe the lipgloss if I had lip balm. But I would've added sunscreen and mascara.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2001


I can travel light, but only for long trips, not for weekends or things like that! I've been on 5 month trips with a mere backpack and did very well. but its different when you actually care how you look.

Until very recently I would carry a toothbrush, toothpaste, and contact lens stuff and a little bottle of pert(joint shampoo and conditioner which I hate normally but use in emergencies) and that would be it. But I'm nearly 30 now, and my skin requires a lot more attention. I rarely wear makeup but I feel compelled to bring it, because when i'm around a lot of other women I realize I probably *should* wear makeup more...so I sympathise with your plight. Well, I'd rather have a heavy cosmetic bag than flaky dry skin, and I'm sure you would too. I use renu for my contacts and that's it, so I might have a little less to carry. Oh, and sometimes I just wear glasses rather than contacts to make my life easier.

I always bring too many books because I'm paranoid about not having something to read. And I started bringing too many sweaters and not enough socks recently. My new rule is extra socks at all times.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2001


I can pack light if I know I need to. When I go backpacking, for example, I do pretty well with minimizing clothing and toiletries. On trips where I can get away with bringing more stuff, though, I always come up with a few more things I think would be nice to have. Not so much toiletries - I'll go almost anywhere with a brush, toothbrush, toothpaste, sunscreen, chapstick, shampoo and conditioner. My sticking point is the "miscellaneous" items - maps, guidebooks, snacks, daypack, water bottle. Books too - even for a week long trip I'll often bring 4 or 5.

The other time I get into trouble is if I'm packing for more than one trip at a time. For example, I'll go visit my parents for a few days and then travel with them to someplace warm. So then I need regular clothes to bum around in, something nice to go out to dinner, beach clothes, hiking clothes...even if I only bring one or two things in each category it adds up. Anyone else have that problem?

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2001


I went home to India for 2 months with a small suitcase. That, I think, qualifies as packing light. I tend to forget things rather than overpack, but my wife compensates. Mostly, I end up being thankful, except when we are extended biking/backpacking trips. Then I am not.

-- Anonymous, February 25, 2001

Jen -- your list is nothing on mine. I usually spend 2-3 nights a week away from home, sometimes more, either at my boyfriend's or friend's house. This has been going on for the past few months and I still haven't perfected what to take. I cringe at the thought of not washing my hair every day and blowing it dry, so that means dragging the hairdryer with me. I'm not so bad when it comes to cosmetics-- I have my favourite staple items. It's the amount of toiletries and general items that I need that makes my mind boggle.

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2001

I moved to Paris (1 year stay) in 1.5 suitcases (my husband colonized the space in what was supposed to be my second suitcase.) Considering that our four total suitcases included not only all our clothing and toiletries, but a year's supply of medications, a down comforter, a personal computer, cat food and cat litter (the cats themselves got their own bags) and some kitchen tools, I think we did pretty well.

I do think it's harder to pack a small case for a shorter trip. I gained some economies of scale -- no matter how long the trip is, I will be packing a tube of toothpaste. On this trip, we'll use it up, while on a weekend away, we wouldn't. Also, at about the one week mark, there are gains from doing laundry. Circumstances can also conspire against me; I have to return to the US in two weeks for a post-doc interview, and will doubtless end up packing a whole suitcase. That always happens when I break out the suit and its accessories.

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2001



I went to Mexico for the month of January with only a carry-on rolling suitcase, but more than half of the space was taken up with toiletries. These included not only my huge stash of moisturizers (I have very dry skin and use various not only washes, lotions and creams for different parts of me, but also for different weather conditions and time of day (day/night), but also (because I hate getting sunburned, bitten, or ever being anywhere that smells bad):
* numerous sunblocks (face, body, oil-free, moisturizing, etc.),
*several anti-insect products of varying strengths and toxidities and forms (sprays, lotions, citronella candles, sting reducing gel, etc.),
*and a handful of aromatherapy products (traveling candles, essential oils and solid scents).
Thank goodness I'm good at living on very few clothes (two pairs of pants, several shirts, and 2 swimsuits for the entire month), or I'd have to carry a much larger suitcase! ...........

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2001

If you substitute every cosmetic product on your list with an electronic gadget, you'll have my travel list. I even have a list of everything I need to take on a trip in my PalmPilot so I never have those "did I forget something" feelings as I'm going out the door.

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2001

toothbrush in my jeans righthand back pocket, and two credit cards ;-)

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2001

I don't even bother trying when it comes to cosmetics and toiletries - - too many trips have been spoiled by something ridiculous but annoying like a hangnail or getting a rash from hotel soaps or something. I have a small toiletry bag with lots of trial sizes and random bottles and containers, and I just make sure everything is full before I leave. It also holds a travel manicure kit and a small sewing kit. I used to worry about over packing, but now I just accept that I'm high maintenance, and everyone else can just appreciate the fact that on any vacation, I will *always* have dental floss and a needle and nail clippers and sunscreen.

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2001

as regards overpacking, its the work related stuff i carry ( like a book or problem sets or program code ) on vacations and even hikes. Of course I never end up looking at it, but despite this knowledge, i keep doing it.

-- Anonymous, February 26, 2001


I never pack more than I can cram into the back of a Volvo station wagon, even if I'm going to be gone for more than one night.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001

Well, if you don't take it with with you, you won't be able to wear it, will you? So I cram my whole life into my suitcase and go off.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001

...More a case of won't be able to read it for me.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001

I spend far too much of my life bemoaning that I cannot fit everything I own into 2 suitcases and a carry-on. I have nearly perfected the art of moving to Europe for periods between 6 and 14 months, but I always ALWAYS bring back more than I take over, and end up sneaking extra bags onto the plane, or weeping at Air France officials until they take pity on me.

No matter where I go or for how long, I bring more books than I could read even if I spent the entire vacation reading.

I still need to test the effectiveness of my Vest Of Many Pockets (a/ k/a a fishing vest) which, if I am correct, will contain enough stuff as to allow me to live in the wilds of Wales for up to a fortnight, including a full-sized notebook.

I'm about to pack for a few days in Seattle followed by two weeks or more in England, and I agree with the person who wrote earlier than it's packing for the multi-purpose trips that is the trickiest.

So on that note, better go drag out the ol' roll-on carry-on....

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001


I always attempt to travel light but it never seems to work out that way... like for a week-long business trip...

Suitcase (softsided rolling type): clothing needed for five days of business (i.e., five dress shirts, two pairs of trousers, four or five neckties, a sports jacket (plus I'll be wearing one) plus appropriate amounts of socks and underwear, plus non-business wear -- I'll wear jeans on the plane but if I'm going to a warm weather destination I may want a pair of shorts, maybe some casual shirts -- plus running shorts and t-shirts and a pair of running shoes -- and two pairs of dress shoes -- and maybe a sweatshirt or a sweater if I'm going to a cold weather area -- and if I'm flying on a Saturday to reach Europe early on Sunday morning and/or I'm returning home on Saturday instead of Friday I might need some extra clothing. And I don't need makeup or contact lens stuff, but toothpaste and toothbrush and dental floss and mouthwash and razor (disposable) and shaving cream and aftershave and deodorant... and aspirin and sinus spray and PepcidAC and bandaids and a supply of vitamins (C, E, zinc, calcium, and a multi-vitamin)... and a spare pair of eyeglasses.

Laptop computer -- in its carry bag with power cord and phone cord and diskette drive and various CDs and diskettes (and electric plug adapters if foreign travel) and my dayrunner book.

And a carry-on bag with chewing gum (for chewing during landing to ease pressure in ears) and bottled water (at least two or three) and books to read (two or three, preferably paperback) and a notepad and some pens and spare business cards and a couple of technical manuals and maybe some printout pages of itinerary and city maps, etc. and a single-use camera and... given how heavy this bag can get, there's probably other stuff in there too.

-- Anonymous, February 27, 2001


I compared vacation packing with a girl I know at law school. I went to St. Martin with an over-stuffed carry-on and a checked bag for a week. She did St.Bart's with a backpack containing a small make-up kit, a thong bikini, 3 t-shirts, a pair of khaki shorts, and one black going-dancing minidress. Plus three paperbacks. Period. How is this possible?

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2001

See, I could probably pack almost that light if I were going to a resort or something where you stay in a hotel that has shampoo and soap and a sewing kit and stuff and where you could buy stuff like nail clippers if you needed them. I think the reason why I pack so much stuff is that I usually have to bring everything I want with me, because there are no amenities at most of the places I stay.

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2001

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