This Week, Let’s Talk About Packing

I am awful at packing. There is no end to the stuff that I need. Well, think I need, anyway.

Seriously, about a month ago I was packing for the trip that I am currently on, and it was a nightmare. Granted, it is a month long trip so that complicated things. Then when I actually got here, I realized that I didn’t actually want to wear any of the clothes I brought. Plus, I’m starting to get paranoid about how things look on me because I’ve been eating a lot and not working out (no shame, but still).

My personal products took an entire mini duffle bag. I’m nothing without my skin care products. That sounds like an exaggeration, but I have acne prone skin and things get very ugly, very fast, when I don’t follow my routine. Also, apparently, I’m a bit high maintenance.

Sidenote: My hair things aren’t working. My hair is getting wavy? I don’t understand, my hair is naturally straight. It’s that humid.

Le sigh. Basically, I realized that I’m woefully unskilled at packing.

There’s that trick where you plan outfits for each day, but I feel like that only works for short trips. This is no short business trip. I’ve been managing well enough, but there are a few things that I wish I had brought with me. Namely, my computer. I should have brought it. Who knows? Maybe I could have leeched someone’s internet. My lack of  a computer also means that I will not be able to go on my beloved TV watching binges.

Anyhow, like I was saying, packing is hard. The problem is that my mind starts spiraling, and I start thinking, “What if it rains? Oh my god, what if I don’t have the right shoes? Should I take accessories?” I start off by not knowing what to pack and end up taking everything. Just in case, ya know? Thank God that we traveled here by car, otherwise, I would have had to pay a lot of money to get all my crap here.

If the World adopted my packing strategies a few good and a few bad things would happen:

1. Anarchy at airports. Can you imagine the amount of luggage people would carry?

2. A lot more people would probably opt for driving places.

3. Airlines would make more money, yes? Maybe that would help with the financial crisis that airlines are in (that happened or is happening, right?).

4. I could for a support group with everyone else that’s like me.

5. A greater opportunity to make use of airport/airplane etiquette.

Seriously, give me some tips for long vacation packing. I have a degree, I should be able to figure out basic organization. We’re going home next week, which means that I’m going to be packing again soon. I have a plan for that though: Everything that’s dirty is going in a plastic bag and the rest is going to be thrown into my suitcase. I’ll figure it out when I get home. Genius.

What’s been the longest vacation that you’ve ever taken and how did you deal? Any more thoughts on packing? I feel like a compartmentalized suitcase is out there somewhere. If it’s not, I call dibs on that patent.

(Image via Shutterstock)