Just a question...does it count? Packing light for a 5 day trip, I mean?
Well, I think it's harder to pack light for a short trip than for a long trip. On a trip of a week or less, you're not going to want to do laundry, so you actually need more clothes. Also you're less likely to say "Oh, I'll just buy it there if I need it" So, in my world, I pack much heavier for short trips. And, if we're travelling entirely by car, well, then all bets are off... you end up bringing as much as will fit in the car!
-Krista
Posts: 1716 | Location: Santa Barbara, California | Registered: 21 May 2004
I went away for 3 months on one expandable 21 inch roller suitcase and 1 small backpack. I was travelling alone so I knew I had to be able to handle all my luggage by myself including possibly taking everything into washroom cubicles with me for security reasons! Also had to manage lifting everything up and down stairs and up onto overhead racks.
I bought scissors and a knife once I was in places where I would only use ground transportation so I didn't have to check luggage on flights. I left them behind when taking the next airline flight.
However, last year I tried to do a 6 week trip on an 19 inch expandable suitcase and a backpack. It didn't work and I ended up buying some extra clothes and an extra suitcase. I couldn't believe how much difference those extra few inches made! (But it could have been the Armani suit I bought at the Mall in Florence for a song that made it difficult)
This past March I went to hawaii for 10 days and took a 24 inch and a 19 inch and a backpack! Most of it was electronic stuff with the attendant charging units (portable DVD, Ipod, digital camera, cell phone, gameboy, DVDs) - way too much stuff! I was ashamed of my inability to whittle this down before I left.
But, I'm trying it again this summer - a ten day trip to Europe with an 19 inch expandable suitcase and a backpack. Wish me luck!
I always take expandable luggage so I can stuff it full at the end with my souvenirs. i don't mind checking the stuff on the way home.
And, I always discard as I go - either mail stuff home that I absolutely want to keep and can't carry, or just leaving it behind, especially reading material.
My own personal rule is I never take more than I can carry/roll on my own. I don't want to rely on anyone (even hubby) to get my stuff around. I have to be able to get into my personal bag easily to get tix/$/passport whatever I need at the airport also.
So far it works for me! I used to only carryon-but lately I so hate putting things overhead (I am short), dealing with lack of overhead space (from the heavy packers, ha ha) and rolling it down the aisle, that I check it all, except necessary meds etc. Knock on wood so far my luggage has always made it with me. I like feeling unencumbered while I'm actually on the plane.
Does anyone else feel that in a perverse kind of way, this is one of the funnier threads on the board? We were laughing about it at the Vancouver GTG this morning.
Palma -- you done well, compared to previous trips. This time, no 800 lb ceramic table top!!
If you want an example of packing pros, we hosted the darling parents of some friends last summer. They were driving up the West Coast and when they arrived at our house, their rental car trunk popped up to reveal 2 large suitcases each and 2 little carry-ons. I thought "uh-oh", there's barely enough space in our guest room for the bed let alone all that luggage." They sweetly pulled out the little carry-ons, which were packed with just the stuff they'd need for 2 nights with us. I was in awe. The wife was my girl guide troop leader. Hmmm ... I don't remember merit badges for travel packing.
I don't think I will ever earn one of those merit badges. I spent the entire day trying to pack lighter than last year. The problem is all the electronic stuff, chargers, batteries, etc. I finally broke down and bought a nano the other day, so that is one more charger and cord because of course no one could make a universal cord/charger for everything.
So far my bags seem slightly lighter than last year, but I am not a one bag person. Due to a lost bag which was never recovered (most likely stolen) when flying back from Rome and another year of a 2 week delayed bag, I pack more than I should in my carry on but cannot yet just go with a carry on and that is it...so my carry on usually weighs more than my check in but it all balances out once I arrive.
But for those that know me, I am much better at packing "semi-light" since traveling to Europe. Before that, I could hardly even lift my 2 check ins as well as a carry on or two. Now, it is one carry on (backpack), one check in (rolling bag), and a small bag with the essentials for the plane ride. AND, the bonus is that I develop arm muscles by the end of my trip with all the lifting the bags on the racks on the trains.
I love also Callie's 3 tops/3 bottoms that coordinate suggestion and will try use it for my fall 2 weeks. Try is the operative word here, as I had a huge 28" roller last fall for my month in Rome--totally unnecessary and too heavy.
Charity, overweight people and their clothes are no different than those who overpack...should we prohibit both overpackers and overweight people from traveling? I don't think you meant that, but geesh, it felt so judgmental.
Posts: 241 | Location: Monterey Peninsula, California | Registered: 28 May 2005
Another contributing factor is... if the airlines didn't loose your luggage you could just pack a 24" and be done with it. As it is, almost everybody needs more space than a 21" carry-on so you end up taking the 21" and another to check.
I agree, suncoast - that is almost exactly what I pack (+ weapons of mass destruction such as tiny sharp scissors, an Opinel knife and accurate tweezers). I don't take too much clothing, but I do have watercolour supplies and always several books etc upon returning from France or Italy (things I can't find here).
Thinking it might be worth my while to ship books back. Has anyone done that from Italy? Does the Italian post have a cheaper book rate? Is the post dependable now? (I don't care if it is slow).
Posts: 868 | Location: Montréal | Registered: 29 January 2006
Okay you guys, think of packing in the early 19th century. Have you ever seen the steamer trunks, hat boxes, or stand alone wardrobes. We are packing light compared to that period of travel. Of course then you had porters and bellboys and sepoys and every other manner of hired help.
My daughter is reading a book about Nellie Bly and she went around the world in 72 days and only took one tiny carry on! So even some light packers then.
I have been enjoying this thread because I have been known to be a very heavy packer ( you would not believe what I brought on a trip to the USSR & on top of that added a balalika at the beginning of the trip and shlepped that too all over Russia).I am having lots of anxiety on how we will ever travel light on our very slow trip around the world.
Yes, but Nelly Bly was a journalist, a "roving reporter" and a pioneering investigative journalist. A crowd that has often tended to travel light, out of necessity, and often, out of slender budgets.
Posts: 868 | Location: Montréal | Registered: 29 January 2006
I bought two nice matching rolling duffles for our trip to Italy last year. To make a long story short, the airlines lost our luggage for five days. We were in a B&B near Amalfi and I spent all of my time trying to contact airlines. British Air was the worst, (it was the connecting airline with my American Airlines flight)and I could never get a human in baggage to speak to me. After that experince, we bought two 21 inch cheap bags that we are carrying on with us this year. We found that you can buy many things there, shampoo, etc, and save a lot of aggravation.
Posts: 65 | Location: Texas | Registered: 19 May 2006
Originally posted by readytotravel: ..the airlines lost our luggage ..British Air was the worst,
Gee, I am really surprised to hear that. We "lost" a bag last year on BA. Flight was LA to London to Rome arriving on a Friday night.
We didn't even bother dealing with it at the airport because we had a driver waiting for us (a long time due to passport control line).
When we got to our destination, Città di Castello, we called BA, and the bag was found, in London, and delivered Sunday to the home we were staying in, 3 hours north of Rome.
We were pretty impressed.
As far as packing? The more I go, the lighter my bag gets. No more lugging heavy or bulky bags up stairs, onto trains and overhead bins, up and down bridges in Venice and so on. Yep, I've done all that too, and now a 22" is all I need for 2 weeks.
On a road trip here though, I seem to need everything I can possibly fit into the trunk and back seat of the car!
{ fixing quote }
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Pauline,
Posts: 921 | Location: Simi Valley, California | Registered: 20 March 2002
Pauline, this thread is just too funny. Would Slow Travel like to create virtual merit badges for 'Packing Light' and 'Packing Heavy' ? Think of the photo submissions to prove your packing skills - or lack thereof.
A downside of downsizing, maybe: On solo travel to and from the U.S. I seem to attract more than usual attention from security. Would like to believe I look dangerous, but I suspect it's because I'm pretending to be on a weeklong vacation with just a shouldered carry-on.
Just back from my 5 day weekend in Vancouver, and I can honestly tell you that I packed more for those 5 days than I needed! Remember my post earlier? I was trying sooo hard to pack light? NOT! I took 2 pairs of pants, 3-4 T-shirts, a couple of sweaters, and a leather jacket, plus other various odds and sods like toiletries, underwear and so on. Confession time? I wore about half of the clothing that I so studiously packed in my little 21' rolling bag.
Now, safely at home, with ALL of my belongings close at hand, I think it's safe to say I'd have likely been able to take only one small bag and not 2! Eureka! How's that for an AHA! moment?
The other little window into the world that opened for me this weekend is that I pack much more for farther distances, as if going further from home requires more stuff! Anyone else done that? It's not the length of time that I'm gone, but the distance I am from my home and all of my 'neccessities' that determines how much I'm likely to pack with me!
"Adhesive transparent map dots: Get a variety pack from a map store, use them on your maps and in your guidebooks. Use the red ones to emulate chicken pox at the border. Customs officers don't think it's funny, but you'll get a good arrest story out of it." Leslie Strom's 'Things to Pack' Brenda
I learned to pack light when I went to Greece for a month with a backpack (I was much younger and fitter then). I knew I would be carrying my worldly possessions on and off ferries, never mind through airports.
On the other extreme, I went to Antigua for a week and took the same amount of stuff and all I really needed was a couple of bathing suits, and one or two 'off the beach' items. Most of what I brought stayed in the suitcase.
Then I completely lost my mind and took a really big suitcase for a week in London and a week in Paris. I was travelling with a friend, and thought it might be inconsiderate to be hanging laundry in our bathroom every night. The curses we got from people on the underground in London cured me of that forever.
My last trip to Italy (2 1/2 weeks) I packed everything in a carry-on, and then chickened out at the last minute and moved it to a medium sized bag "so that I would have room for purchases". On my next trip, I swear so help me god, and you can ban me from this message board forever if I break my word, I am going carry-on.
Posts: 778 | Location: Toronto | Registered: 18 February 2006
Originally posted by Palma: OK, I am the queen of packing heavy. I just returned from 2 weeks in Italy with a 69 lb and a 40 lb checked bag plus my carry-on. One week into the trip, I spent 261Euro to MAIL MYSELF home clothes and dirty laundry to make room for stuff I bought. It was also quite cold, so I sent home short sleeves and kept mostly jeans, sweaters and jackets. I traveled with 2 other women, so my usual schleppopotomus husband was not with me to carry anything. What did I learn? Bring fewer shoes, no one cares (except me) if I accessorize well, always take a leather jacket, even in May! Don't travel to Italy without my husband!
Ahhh another woman after my own heart. Every time I start packing for Italy my husband starts singing "Let me be your beast of burden"!! Between the 2 of us we had 4 suitcases - 2 full size and 2 medium plus my wheelchair. Weight was just under the 75 pounds per bag that BA imposes. And yes Jane we bring our plastic hangers and laundry detergent (hypoallergenic).
Now let me add a caveat. We go and stay in one place. This last trip we did travel for one week. We did NOT take our big suitcases for our traveling week but instead packed down into 1 medium case for the 2 of us. The other cases resided at the baptist parsonage in Roma that week. Believe me porters in Italian trains are figments of your imagination. Even with prenotazione with the wheelchair they would move me on the forklift but hubby had to haul the bag.
Wierd things I have packed include an air mattress and air pump, brownie mix, an IPOD and speakers (gotta have my tunes), spices, good knives (man were they a BI*** to get through security even in checked luggage!!!) a lap top, and probably the wierdest thing yet? A 1988 Amiga computer. Fabio's had died and he wanted spare parts - this man can do more with a TRS 80/Amiga than I can with a top of the line brand new IBM laptop!!
Thinking it might be worth my while to ship books back. Has anyone done that from Italy? Does the Italian post have a cheaper book rate? Is the post dependable now? (I don't care if it is slow).
Yes, I've shipped books back. It's a very complicated process from Italy and I was grateful that Nathalie was with me. It seems about equivalent for prices. The Italian postal system has gotten significantly better over the years. In over 100 boxes shipped to CdC Nathalie says she never lost a single box. I OTOH have had presents go astray to Roma.
I always take some kind of good knives (always checked, obviously). You can't cook without them. Usually folding ones like Opinels, but the blade is obvious to the x-ray.
Posts: 868 | Location: Montréal | Registered: 29 January 2006
I spent 5 weeks in Florence with a single carry on, and I didn't wear everything I brought. I don't have a "light packing" philosophy - I was flying standby on a buddypass. I also pack light because in order to fly frequently, I need to control costs - I offer myself up to be bounced on a regular basis. I don't want to check my bags for a flight to Kennedy if I'm willing to end up at LaGuardia or Newark. The best thing about packing light? When you go to _____ (Buenos Aires), there's room in the bag for the new ______ (leather coat)-you can fill in your own blanks!
One thing my husband (this is Mrs. Lazy Traveler) and I find useful is disposable clothes. There always seems to be things in my closet that are presentable, but I don't really chose to wear them much. I wear them in Italy and throw them away. I also take underwear I would normally throw. (I also take several Walmart bags to put the old undies in before putting in the garbage!) This makes your bag a little heavier, but it gets lighter and emptier as time goes on. This leaves room for wine and food purchases. Since the weight limit on checked bags has been reduced to 50 pounds in the states, we carry a very small scale we got from Travelsmith. You hold onto the top handle and hang your bag on a hook and there is a numbered dial in between. Very handy. That way we know how to pack on the return trip. We each carry a carry on and check a bag. The carry on must hold toiletries, all necessary pills and at least one change of clothes in case the checked bag does not arrive. (Luckily it has only happened once and they got there in a little over a day.) I agree that shoes are a problem and we both get by with one, waterproof pair. A person can actually live with this, though I wish I could replace mine with something a little more stylish. I have to be able to lift my suitcase at least once and awhile by myself as we are budget travelers and always use public transportation, and all of this really helps lighten the load. I usually don't get caught with too much out of season clothes as I plan layering for colder weather and take at least one very light outfit that dries quickly so I can wear it over and over if needed. My husband and I both have excellent mid-weight Columbia coats, water resistant with zip-off sleeves so they become vests. They have a million pockets. We have increased our Italian purchases so much that my husband is now checking 2 bags for the trip home. The scale helps us figure out how to distribute the weight correctly.
My husband is a big proponent of the leave-it-there school. On one trip, he truly had nothing left in his suitcase to bring home except toiletries. He's never achieved that again, but he'll save almost worn out pants, shirts he doesn't like, shoes that have been resoled as much as they can be, a sweater he's tired of, etc. and leave it all behind for the maid.
As far as the 3 tops 3 bottoms theory of packing, a couple of scarves, belts, blazer or sweater and you have even more outfits.
Callie
Posts: 660 | Location: Maine | Registered: 23 November 2002
I am also a reader. I buy paperbacks at the used bookstore before we go and leave them at hotels as I finish them. Many hotels have a shelf of books where you can leave/pick up a book.
I have graduated to the packing light!!! Just returned from 14 days in Italy - took only one backpack & purse/camera bag.
Wore a pair of jeans, took capris, lightwt pants, skirt, 6 tops (1 long sleeve), unmentionables , jacket, wore a pair of tevas, took 1 pr of sandals, and 1 bathing suit!
It was wonderful.
To answer the question why? Thank goodness - Riomaggiore would have killed me to have a rolling bag to take up 60 steps!!!
I just got back from Europe on Monday ... I took one backpack that weighed 10kg (22lbs), and normally I don't like for it to be that heavy! I packed extra this time...so that is the heaviest bag I've ever worn/taken.
Traveling light is an easy thing to do - it's all about your frame of mind!!
I totally agree with everyone who says packing light can be done. I truly believe you! I also envy your 'carry-on and nothing else' method of travel.
The problem for me is that there are some things I'd not want to leave at home, especially for a long-distance trip. I have to pack certain safe foods and snacks because of my gluten and lactose intolerance...snacks for sitting around airports, unforseen delays, on the plane in case the meal provided is not legal, and finally for when I arrive. If I'm going to a familiar location, then I know where the stores are where I can buy foods and snacks that I need. However, if it is someplace I've not been before, then I have to take more safe foods with me, to ensure that I have something safe to eat, until I can find out where to buy that kind of food. Whew! That's exhausting, just writing it!
I don't usually pack a whack of unnecessary clothing...2-3 pairs of pants, 6 - 7 T-shirts, a warm something or other for chilly temps, 2 - 3 pairs of shoes plus undies and personal toiletries. A friend of mine never packs any shampoo, soap, lotion or cosmetics...I always pack them, because I have some skin sensitivity to chemical and artificial colourings added to so many personal products.
I paid attention to what I took to Italy last year, wrote it out, made a list and then checked off what I did not wear. There weren't a lot of things that hung in the closet unused...what takes up sooo much space is the damnable food! The good thing? This food gets eaten during my journey to make space for packing all of my shopping for coming home!
So, long story short, I really cannot see taking only a rolling 20" carry-on...for me, it would not hold what I have to take with me. I've also thought about buying one huge mother of a duffle bag...a hockey bag sort of thing( how Canadian of me!!! )...then, packing everything into it except my meds, a few snacks and a change of clothing that would be in a small carry-on.
I just bought my grandboy a stunning wheeled backpack, with a smaller zip-off backpack for carry-on, so he can take the whole kit and caboodle on as carry-on, then zip off the little bag to put under his seat with books and snacks in it, and toss the bigger one up in the overheads...or he can check the larger one and take the little one as carry-on. That might be a good solution for me. I think that backpack looks like it might hold more than my American Tourister 21' roller.
"If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light. Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness and fears." ~ Glenn Clark ...(now this kind of packing light I can do! ) Brenda
Add me to the lights... I'll start packing around 9 pm the night before the flight, and be done in an hour or so. One 20 or 21" rollaboard 3/4th full, and a shoulder bag with my laptop and a couple other things. (3 lb ultralight laptop). For the return I fill it up, so I'll spend a bit more time packing. I almost never check luggage- even if it doesn't get lost, you waste a lot of time waiting for it, and it gets abused in transit.
After this last trip, I vow to pack light in the future. I could never do backpack light or even just carry on light, I'm talking normal 29" suitcase light but no carry on at all except my tote bag.
Jim and I both overpacked. Together we had two 29" suitcases, two wheeled carry ons, a laptop, my totebag (doubles as a big purse and carry all and everything),one 30" wheeled duffle bag and a 26" wheeled duffle bag. That last one we had to buy in Italy to fit our new purchases.
It was just embarrassing! It was also not very practical. I never thought I might have to carry my own luggage up three fights of stairs or get it on and off a ferry. Even getting it to fit in a compact car was like doing a jigsaw puzzle. What was I thinking?
In reviewing my packing mistakes I learned things to leave home are... 1. dress clothes 2. five pair of the seven pair of shoes I brought 3. hooded sweater 4. guide books and maps 5. carry on 6. second camera (Jims idea) 7. lots of extra clothes 8. jewelry
Things I brought and could not live without... 1. Cropped cotton blazer 2. sneakers 3. slippers 4. tote bag 5. my travel bible Holds all the important info for the trip reservation numbers, addresses, phone numbers etc. 6. two weeks worth of underwear
I just have to remember if I bring it I have to carry it. Colleen
Not even close! I was gone 17 days. Ok, Colleen and Ginger: I had THIRTEEN pair of pants, 21 tops, 7 light jackets, 8 pr of shoes, 8 shawls, 7 purses (bought 11 more), 4 dressy outfits, 18 undies and more weight in jewelry than the earlier posters had total in their backpacks!
The only things I didn't wear were 3 summer tops, and 2 pr of capris. If the weather had been "normal" I would have. I didn't wear one dressy outfit because it was too cold too.
All I can say is, Colleen, you looked LOVELY and ACCESSORIZED in Cortona.
Now I really can't ever come back to this thread again. (STOP laughing NOW, Ginger!)
Yes, Palma is clearly the champ. And how lucky for the rest of us because we can say to ourselves (or our significant others) "but I'm only bringing five pairs of shoes, Palma brings EIGHT pairs when she goes to Italy!"
-Krista
Posts: 1716 | Location: Santa Barbara, California | Registered: 21 May 2004
Yes, Colleen, I agree we do need to do an intervention. However, since darling Palma is a top notch psychotherapist, she might be able to thwart all our good intentions.
No, I kind of like this intervention idea. Sounds like a great movie: First you all must show up in Palm Desert. Of course, when others on these boards read about this "crisis", they will want to come to offer support, so we can have a huge GTG. (I will even cook for you). You can have a small backpack all packed and ready for me with my plane ticket. I'm sure you will choose an appropriately lovely 30-day "treatment facility" for me in a beautiful part of Italy. The weather is warm now, so I won't need much. We will see if I am able to learn to modify my behavior. Of course, we can predict a "relapse", but I can always "shop there" if I am feeling unaccessorized.
See what you started, Bucky? For gosh sakes, who'd a thought we'd all be sooo interested in taking nothing when we travel other than a change of skivvies, or alternately, taking everything we own and then some!
I want to have someone pack light for me, then they need to run for cover, so they don't have to listen to me bitching and whining when I don't have my favorite shawl/hairbrush/bedroom slippers/tea/wooly sox/T-shirt in my small little light-to-carry backpack. I'm truly serious when I say that I'd love to be able to take next to nothing, and sometime I just might try it! Gotta get me some false courage, though, so I can venture out without my security blankets in tow.I swear that's what all of the extra detritus is...just stuff to make me feel comfortable and safe, when I leave the comfort and security of my home. Anyone else think there might be something to that?
"...for safety is not a gadget but a state of mind." ~ Eleanor Everet Brenda
Well, after we all go shopping in your closets, you might find it a bit easier to pack!
That's what I was thinking, also, Marcia! Palma thinks we'll pack for her to go to Italy??? Oh, no! We'll share the packing up of all of those extra clothes and accessories ( ???) and each bring some home, in order to relieve you of the problem of packing too heavy next time !
You're welcome.
Charity
Posts: 1754 | Location: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: 11 May 2003
Obviously we all have different needs and motivations, which got me thinking about why I like to travel light, aside from the obvious ease of getting on and off planes and trains.
I live in an over-stuffed, cluttered 1-bedroom apartment, so why the heck would I want to take that clutter with me? Travelling is my great escape in more ways than one.
Posts: 778 | Location: Toronto | Registered: 18 February 2006
I swear that's what all of the extra detritus is...just stuff to make me feel comfortable and safe, when I leave the comfort and security of my home.
I'm with you, Brenda. I'm trying to talk myself out of taking my kidney shaped memory foam pillow on my upcoming 3 month trip. And one of my 4 soft, old down pillows . And my wooden back balls thingy I put behind me when I get low back aches from long days of walking. And a box of Icy Hot Patches. And my Sonicare toothbrush. And my Mac and its cords. And gee, I might even get a small printer to print out maps since I'll be driving alone...
And then there's the dizzying array of health supplements, fancy smoothie powder detox med stuff my accupuncturist has been plying me with which really do make me feel better. Oy mamaleggala.
I'm working on a strategy: since I'll get a car when I land in Paris, I'm thinking I'll put all my comfort and home-habit accoutrements and stuff which will get used up in a disposable small suitcase I don't want anymore. (This would be in addition to my 25" checked bag & my 2 carryons). Then when I'm over there I can ditch it.
Maybe we should start a 12-Step program for close-but-no-cigar-lighter-than-last-time-packers?
Karen (Who just shipped off 2 10-lb. M bags of travel books to a friend's house in Paris yesterday, 2 months in advance of arrival, with prayers they get there before I do!)
(Who just shipped off 2 10-lb. M bags of travel books to a friend's house in Paris yesterday, 2 months in advance of arrival, with prayers they get there before I do!)
Ahh, travel books . . .
I tried and tried to cut down on the travel books and maps we took to Italy in May. It was hard - you want the books with you, but they are usually heavy and bulky to pack.
You have the right idea - ship them over there! And, will you ship them back too?
Well, the Rick Steves thing of taking old clothes ( especially underwear) and leaving them (or any other unwanted stuff) behind really gravels my belly. How inconsiderate is that, using your vacation rental as your garbage dump? Nope, sorry, my mother taught me that when out in public, one dresses nicely and behaves politely. Neither of which injunctions is satisfied by leaving old stuff behind.
And for me, the former is difficult to satisfy with light packing. But I will note that men's clothes tend to more bulk than do ladies'.
Oh, and do Loie and I get a prize if my thread breaks the ST record?
Thanks! Bucky "Trying To Slow Down" Edgett
Posts: 916 | Location: Maryland | Registered: 24 April 2006
Well, there seem to be lots of people who like this "disposable" method of packing so, there must be something to it and I'd hate to insult them.
Personally, though, I've never understood the "packing old clothes and tossing them along the way" theory because of two reasons:
1) For almost every trip, I buy a couple of new tops and slacks to wear. I pack relatively light, but I do like to look nice .
but (and this just might be the most important reason):
2) Once you've tossed it, it's gone. You have to be very, very sure you won't be needing it again. I'd rather rinse things out and have the option to wear them again.
Posts: 895 | Location: New York City | Registered: 28 May 2003
Topic Closed
So even some light packers then. 
)...then, packing everything into it except my meds, a few snacks and a change of clothing that would be in a small carry-on.
)
when I don't have my favorite shawl/hairbrush/bedroom slippers/tea/wooly sox/T-shirt in my small little light-to-carry backpack. I'm truly serious when I say that I'd love to be able to take next to nothing, and sometime I just might try it! Gotta get me some false courage, though, so I can venture out without my security blankets in tow.I swear that's what all of the extra detritus is...just stuff to make me feel comfortable and safe, when I leave the comfort and security of my home. Anyone else think there might be something to that?
And my wooden back balls thingy I put behind me when I get low back aches from long days of walking. And a box of Icy Hot Patches. And my Sonicare toothbrush. And my Mac and its cords. And gee, I might even get a small printer to print out maps since I'll be driving alone... 
