Packing

Six days to go. I need to think about packing . . .

Palma has already packed her bags and weighed them to see if they will be accepted on a plane without penalty.

Me? I am making lists . . .

One of the great on going debates  discussion on the slowtravel community message board generally revolves around packing. There are those who swear by their ability to pack enough clothing for an entire three week European adventure in a carry on bag. We are not in that camp. No, not evening close.

I see nothing to be gained by rinsing out my jockey shorts each evening with shampoo and hanging them to dry in the window.

Someone posted this a few weeks back:

We just returned from one week in Paris, and it (a BACKPACK) performed very well. I was able to pack a pair of jeans, a pair of chinos, two polos, two long sleeve button down shirts, one sweater, one pair of shoes, six pairs of socks, six pairs of boxers, one heavy jacket, three under shirts, one long sleeve tee, one short sleeve, tee, a pair of mesh shorts, two books, four magazines, shaving kit, notebook, maps, and other smaller items. It was comfortable to carry through airports, the Paris metro, and while walking down the street. If you regularly can use a 22" roller for one week trips, then you can use this too. It was perfect.

Nothing about this, other than a week in Paris, sounds perfect to me. Hell, I need a backpack just for my camera, iPod, video camera, cell phone, assorted chargers, international plug, etc.

Frankly I do NOT pack lightly at all. Why, you ask?

1. Read the jockeys in the bathroom sink drying in the window for  # 1.
2. I don't care to wear the same outfit five days in a row. I suppose no one would know. The problem is I would and I wouldn't be able to live with ME!
3. Yes, I know that the people I see don't know me and I will likely never run into them again. However, I just do NOT like the thought of wandering about with my clothing looking like Phyllis Diller's ankles because I have rolled it up in a tube to fit it all in a carry-on.
4. I am addicted to guidebooks. Guidebooks take up room in the suitcase. Hell, just printing out hotel reservations, plane reservations, directions to the villa, car rental agreements, etc has filled a file folder.
5. I am not a nudist (and the world gives thanks for that). I like clothing.
6. Apparently I have shoe issues. I bring different pairs with me. I bring walking shoes, sandals, running shoes, dress shoes. Sometimes I bring river shoes or hiking boots. Have you ever tried to put a pair of hiking boots in a backpack?
7. Some folk enjoy wearing nothing but black for weeks on end. I am neither a monk nor a goth. I enjoy some colour in my life. Having a clothing palette involves a variety of colours. This takes luggage room to mix and match appropriately.
8. I like to bring wine home with me. Thanks to those pinheads who tried to down an airliner with the contents of a coke can I can no longer bring my wine home as carry-on. Now I have a wine suitcase, carefully fitted with styrofoam, to safely bring that liquid gold home with me.
9. I have been known to purchase a thing or two. Actually I have been known to purchase so many things that I was forced to mail boxes of dirty clothing home in order to make room for my purchases in my suitcase. I could fill a carry-on in 5 seconds in Florence.

So you see, I just don't get it. To those who like to pack lightly, I say - good for you. I shall have my two bags, changes of clothing, clean jockey shorts, shoes, wine, and purchases.

This You-tube has some helpful advice for those of you who wish to pack lightly. At first I thought it was helpful, having watched it a few times I now think it is mocking light packers. I like it more now. :-)

Comments

[sandrac]

Very interesting video...it seemed authentic until the part where the narrator suggested packing clothes you don't mind throwing away, so as to make room for new purchases! Hmmm. I don't think I'd want to wander the streets of a European city wearing clothes that are ready for the trash.

I do know people that are able to pack ultra-light and I admire them, so long as they don't try to convert me. I've come to terms with who I am, and that is someone who likes to pack a fair amount of stuff. Like you, I also don't want to wear the same things day in and day out, washing things out in the sink at night and worrying about the consequences if the one pair of shoes I brought gives me a blister. (OK, maybe I haven't totally come to terms with my packing style!)

But when I'm on holidays, I don't want to feel like I'm in some kind of forced-labour camp, getting by on disposable underwear and looking shabby.

Thanks, Jerry, for letting me rant. Good luck with your packing and remember what Billy Crystal used to say: that it's better to look good than to feel good!

[softdrink]

Yep. In fact, nine times yep. Just replace the wine with books (well, and the jockeys with women's underwear), and that could be me.

[sandi @ the whistlestop cafe]

Doggoneit!
I wish I'd had a video to record Gail's little packing howto for the group.
We could have sold that for $$$!

[Eden]

Another ultra packer here...I am afraid to use the same clothes over and over again because people might think that I went all over the place / different countries all in one day - due to the same clothing worn. I would not want to look back to my vacation in that light.

I tend to wear a lot of black but I hope there are enough differences in my black clothing to distinguish one from the others...

Sandra, I like that quote about looking good... funny

OMG, Jerry, 5 more days!!!

[gail hecko]

Shhh, I just bought a 25" suitcase for this trip. That's HUGE for me!

This is great, Jerry!

[girasoli]

I always have the best of intentions to pack light but then always fail. I tend to follow the general rule of 5 or 6 instead of 2.

I also don't understand the concept of throwing away clothing. I only get rid of clothes that don't fit, are stained or have holes in them, or clothes I no longer like and I prefer to donate them (unless they are stained/have holes in them) whenever possible. I would not want to wear clothes like that on my trip and if I wore nice clothes, then why would I throw them away?

If you listen closely, they are saying to pack quart bags (plural) and tuck them in the corners of your carry on. As far as I understand things, you need to show your ONE quart bag (not bags) to the TSA people.

I have taken my 24" rolling suitcase the past few years. I have been thinking of trying to get everything in my 22" instead along with my 2nd backpack bag that I carry on (along with my personal item) so that I could carry on my rolling bag instead of my backpack this year. I tend to pack much more in my carry on than necessary after having my bag stolen (my paranoia of not seeing my check in bag ever again) so my carry on is pretty heavy. I am sure in the end though I will probably be lugging my 24" on and off trains once again.

[Jerry]

Hmmm - I seemned to have touched a nerve here. LOL

Sandra - I love that quote (although I don't think old Billy can hold a candle to 'when I'm on holidays, I don't want to feel like I'm in some kind of forced-labour camp, getting by on disposable underwear and looking shabby.'

Jill - I forgot to mention my books (although I do leave the ones I've read behind unless I have grown really attached to them!)

Sandi - great idea! Gail's packing tips might be my blog post for tomorrow.

Gail . . . your Blackberry and various devices won't fit in that.

Eden - I hadn't thought of the pics. Imagine wearing that same clothing in each picture! ARGH

Susan - I don't get the throwing away thing either. I wouldn't want to wear the clothing I plan on discarding in public as it is generally in rough shapr.

[nancyhol]

Jerry,
After reading this post, I can tell for sure that you are Palma's long-lost twin! Your packing theories are exactly alike!

Have a wonderful trip!

[Palma]

I was going to blog on packing HEAVY, but will save that for next week whilst I am still WAITING to leave. I agree with everything you said.

Of course, I'm even worse. I bring 2 outfits a day...WITH the appropriate accessories.

We will have cute travel photos.

I will cover the topic of the "perfect travel purse" next week, since you didn't mention it. LOL

[Jerry]

Thanks Nancy - it will be a BLAST!

Palma - benefits of being male - few accessories!

[Anne]

What a great post (and comments) I love it! I too suffer from guidebook addiction, I'm so glad to know I'm not alone. I read of people who tear out pages as they go along and discard them to lighten their return load...the horror, the horror!

[Chiocciola]

Funny! The video made me laugh. I really wish people wouldn't bring such big carry-ons, it is annoying and often takes extra time as the person tries to stuff there bag in to the bin, or has to search all over for space. I reserve my rolling carry on for when I am moving!

Have a great trip and I can't wait to read about it.

[Deb R]

Oh my ....you are Palma's twin! I'm still laughing! Have a great trip!

[Jerry]

Anne - I could NOT imagine ripping a book apart. It just is not right.

Chiocciola - one of our favourite photos from our last trip to Italy is of a group trying to stuff their clearly too large carry-ons on the overhead bins.

Thanks Deb. It shall be a blast!