I hate packing!

I’m a lousy packer.

I love to travel, but have not mastered the complexities 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 I ended up taking the most suitable large suitcase for the month-long visit.

In hindsight, the real problem is the weather. When we visited our daughter, it was October. That’s fall, the time of year when it could 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 one take? Shorts and a T-shirt or long pants and a sweater? Sandals or boots and a winter coat?

There is still another problem: the activities. Will we stay home most of the time, or will we go out to dinner and the theater? Will we end up working in the yard together or will we visit a relative? Do I need clothes “at home” or should I bring a nice outfit? Maybe she needs more than one cute outfit in case we hang out multiple times; the fashion police disapprove of wearing the same garment two nights in a row. And of course I need shoes to match every outfit. With all these unanswered questions, there is only one solution: bring everything.

However, we still haven’t addressed the other essentials like makeup and medications. 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. hair and sunscreen. Of course, we can’t forget about daily medications (which seem to have doubled and tripled as we age). I also carry 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) is injured and in pain (a prescription I filled but didn’t need after a dental procedure ). ), bandages and an antiseptic. I was a Girl Scout at one time and have always believed in that motto, “Get Ready”!

I imagine at this point I am probably feeling very sorry for my husband who has to lift my heavy suitcase and put it in the car, get it out of the car, place it in the airline baggage check, etc. Don’t worry, I consider this to be your weight lifting workout and I fervently believe that my bags keep you in good shape. But I am also aware that not everyone packs like I do.

For example, I have a friend who travels a lot and is a master of packing. He carries a medium suitcase wherever he goes and has certain clothing that he knows, through trial and error, travels well and can be washed and dried overnight. I managed to pack like that once, when we went to Africa on an animal safari. We were limited to one medium bag each, a condition that really put my skills to the test. I started packing three weeks in advance, taking out clothes and putting on new ones; then replacing them again. I have to admit that having a smaller suitcase and fewer clothes definitely made traveling easier, but for the next trip, I was back to my old habits.

My seven-year-old granddaughter was here for a visit and she has a very special packaging method. I was traveling with a small, child-sized suitcase and my husband and I watched as she unpacked two rather 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 portfolio of math problems to solve before she went back to school. Our clothing concerns were quickly resolved when her mother came into the room with a pile of T-shirts, skirts, and shorts. I was left wondering what kind of packing house I would be as I grew up.

Of course, there’s always the “I don’t need anything but clothes on my back” type of packers. They tend to be in their early twenties and see the world. A backpack with the essentials (a bottle of water, a change of underwear, a small packet of soap and a little money) seems sufficient. When their clothes disintegrate after excessive use, they simply telegraph home for enough money to replace them. Ah, to be young again, although I must admit that I do not remember being able to travel this way.

On one trip I was forced to live with my clothes on for three days when the airlines lost my suitcase. Except for a few essentials that I bought at the drugstore, 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 all the people we traveled with knew about the situation, so I received a lot of sympathy. However, I was overjoyed to see my suitcase when it reappeared.

Someone once told me that packing is a metaphor for life. If you take too much, you may be carrying too much luggage on your head. If you pack light, you’ve dropped all that old luggage. I do not agree; I think the only luggage I carry is literally in my suitcase and my problem is simply that I am afraid that what I leave at home is exactly what I will need while I am away.

But in the end, it’s not the things that you take with you, but the journey itself (I think it’s someone’s quote). Please don’t imitate me; Take only what is absolutely necessary and enjoy your family, your travels, and the rest of your life. Travel light, my friends.