Tag Archives: packing

How to pack for a Trip

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I travel a lot and often I pack at the last minute so I thought I’d mention my preferred method of packing. If you search the internet there are tons of suggestions and I have never done a “scientific” experiment to find the “best” way.

I don’t have much difficulty packing to leave but the return trip is a different story. By the time I’ve added the souvenir sweatshirt and the new T shirts I have a bulging bag.

packlight-overstuffed-suitcase

I had a huge suitcase when I went to Alaska because of all the heavy winter clothes. It was fine when we left but it was overweight when I returned. Cost a bundle in fees too!

debalaska

 One of the advantages of a timeshare is that very often there is a washer and dryer in the unit so when you are relaxing at the end of a busy day/ week you can toss in a load of dirty clothes. It is so much nicer to bring clean clothes home than a suitcase full of stinky, dirty socks and shirts.

washer-and-dryer

But I digress….My preferred packing procedure is as follows:

·        Step 1. Open suitcase

·        Step 2. Remove Cat

Rocky suitcase

·        Step 3. place tripod diagonally in the bottom of the suitcase

·        Step 4. remove Cat again

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·        Step 5. add pants, shorts T’s

·        Step 6. remove Cat one more time

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·        Step 7. tuck socks, undies and sleep wear in the nooks and crannies

·        Step 8. Wrap any extra shoes or sneakers in plastic bags and tuck in next to the sides of the suitcase.

·        Step 9. Remove Cat for the last time

suitcase cat

·        Step 10. Quickly close and zip suite case. Double check the Cat is outside and not tucked into a nook or cranny of the suitcase

Rocky 001 copy

You’re done! 10 easy steps!

There’s Something Missing

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So you probably gathered from my last post that I’m preparing my belongings for my vacation. Monday morning I’ll be heading off to Tennessee for a week of fun and exploration. So what’s missing?

RockyTravel 004 copy

My helper, my always in the luggage kitty cat (and not Smokey). It’s Rocky. He hasn’t paid one bit of attention to my suitcase, even when it was open on the bed. That’s always been his invitation (in his mind) to hop in and stretch out making packing impossible.

RockyTravel 001 copy

Once I do manage to get packed his normal response is to sit guard duty on top of the suitcase, as if that will stop me from leaving.

This time he walked by, looked at it and went back to the living room. Packing was completed in no time since I had no interruptions. I’m not sure if I’m happy about this turn of events or sad. It’s been such a routine for almost 14 years that I miss him getting in my way.

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I wonder if it has anything to do with our recent loss? I do believe animals mourn so maybe Rocky’s just missing Smokey and doesn’t care what I’m doing at the moment. I know Diane (my pet sitter) will take good care of Rocky and Buddy while I’m gone. I just wish Rocky had been his usual endearing but annoying self when I packed.

Always Something

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It won’t be long now before I’ll be in the air and winging my was south to warm weather. My 2nd annual winter migration to escape the snow and cold of New England. Cat sitter has been secured. Extra cat food, treats and kitty litter brought in so at least the furry children will be well cared for in my absence.

My own preparations have been a teeny bit more challenging. My tripod wouldn’t fit in my suitcase. Why bother you ask? Because the 2nd half of my trip is the Florida Everglades and if I want to use my telephoto lenses I need a tripod for stability. I haven’t mastered the monopod yet but it makes a great walking stick. So it was off to the store to find a 27 inch suitcase instead of my 25 inch.

Next step was to log onto Carnival Cruise line’s web page to do my online check in and set up my “on board account”. Carnival is “cashless” while on board. That part actually went pretty smooth until I got to the part where I had to print the documents. The luggage tags printed , the cruise documents printed but not the boarding pass.

I thought it might be because my sailing partner had not set up his on board account yet so I sent an email off to him to get going on his docs. Good thing I did. Apparently the Carnival web site has issues. When he tried to access his booking it told him there was a problem and to book again. As he struggled with Carnival I went back into my account and could now print my boarding pass so I was all set. Not so my buddy. It was 2 full days before they told him the problem was corrected. I haven’t heard yet if it really was.

Tomorrow I’ll check my flight to see if that’s all set and finish packing…carefully…so I don’t get a furry stow away.

To be continued…..