Have to say, as I prepare for a five-week trip, I’m torn between the logic of packing light vs the comfort of knowing I’ve included the just-in-case items. I have real admiration for travelers who successfully pack weeks of necessities into a carry-on bag. Those are the people I aspire to be…but maybe next year. I’m actually more of a just-in-case packer and this year, I THINK I have a balanced plan – pack fewer clothes to enable taking more stuff.
Of course, all that just-in-case requires lists. Lots of lists. Never-ending lists:
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Before – will it all fit?
Clothes list: 1 dress, 1 skirt, 2 shorts, 1 pants, etc. Though, here’s a dilemma: a puff winter jacket. It’s light and rolls into nothing. But I’m being picked up at one door and dropped off at another. Logically, I don’t need a winter jacket, but…
- Things to get now: Currency, prescriptions, vitamins, unbleached coffee filters (if you buy good coffee, why risk having to use bleached filters?), health insurance, natural sunscreen, plane snacks.
- Things to get there: small hand weights (with no onsite gym and after 2 years of physio, can’t throw away my progress), inexpensive thermal bag
- Things to do now: send pictures of passport and travel docs to travelmates, haircut, pedicure
- Instructions for the dog-sitter/house-sitter: water plants, shock hot tub. Oh yes, feed dog
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After – it fits! 1 checked, 1 carry-on. 1 personal carry-on
Technology things: roaming plans, device chargers, headsets
- Carry-on list – with the basics, in case checked bag goes missing: nightwear, sandals, shorts, 2 light tops, basic cosmetics, medication, laptop and charger, my in-flight needs bag (oops, I just created a list within a list), disinfectant wipes, reading, snacks, water.
- And the just-in-case THINGS to pack: first aid kit, favorite tea, wine stoppers!
The more I return to the same place, the more I know what to expect. What I can buy there and what I need to take. Through the years, we’ve realized it’s difficult to find whole wheat crackers in Mexico. And if you do find them, they’re expensive. Note: add crackers to the get-now list.
And then, what happens… but I find a helpful article on JourneyWoman about How NOT to lose your Luggage. Things like take a photo of your luggage for ID purposes, add 2 name tags to bags, put an ID sheet inside your bag (don’t include home address), etc, etc. OMG, now I’ve got another just-in-case list.
At this stage, I have to wonder: Is the preparation worth the trip? Oh, get real! Of course IT IS!
For a more comprehensive packing list, here’s one from Rick Steves. He refers to his ‘just-in-case’ list as ‘optionals’. Good, if a travel expert like Rick has a just-in-case list, then I can’t be That crazy.
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