I have been analyzing this a bit lately.
Firstly because I hate packing so so much that it is
almost scary how nasty I become. I find it quite paradoxical given that the
reward of going on a trip is so satisfying why do I equate packing as so terrible?
Also people pack so differently and I think it says a lot
about an individual. Take my friend for example
who goes away for more than a week with her family of four and shares ONE
suitcase and each get a corner to themselves!!!! And it got me thinking how is this possible to share a suitcase with your whole family?
But is says a lot about her personality..whatever
she forgets she would just go out and buy-no big deal-would not faze her in the
least. And she would be very practical too…and manage with interchanging a few
of her fave outfits and still manage to look awesome each day. I don’t think she would fret about packing in the least.
Only time I saw her worry was when she recently realized in the stir fry line
that she had forgotten her birthday cards at home……but that was just sweet. One
can tell what is important to her (and I secretely thought this was very
Canadian of her to care about the cards-yahoo!)
I on the other hand am a packing maniac. Not is terms of
folding anything well or at all but in terms of bringing everything with me. I
have back up plans to back up plans when you look at my luggage. Always a just
in case stash of something. This trip I packed half of what I usually pack so I
consider this to be excellent. So does my husband. I find this trip I am
minimalistic.
But in analyzing my luggage you can tell a few important
things about both my husband and I:
1-We are total hypochondriacs and possible drug addictsJ literally three massive Ziploc
bags filled with medications and we are still missing lots of stuff that we
feel we may need. We fill generic antibiotic prescriptions just in
case..always..both of us. Very telling.
2-Our expectations are higher than what we can deliver.
We think we will need to look better than we have effort for. I have lots of
nice outfits, lots of jewelry, lots of nice shoes…so does Hubby but we don’t
really feel like wearing them.
3-We always bring tennis clothes and rackets and balls
but resent having to go play. After 3-4 hrs. walks per day we are dead and only
seem to have energy to say we will play tennis tomorrow
4-We always bring a lot of stuff but never the right
stuff. We always seem to be missing something critical. I.e.: a nightlight.
5-We are messy. Correction: I am messy. I can bring a
500$ dress and throw it in a little ball. The story of my life. What can I say.
6-We focus lots on leisure. I have a whole suitcase full
of books, laptops, movies, fun things. We love our leisure. We always make room
for it in our lives and in our suitcases. Good for us!
7-We always come prepared and armed. Band-Aids, extra
pair of pants for the plane eventhough it hasn’t happened recently that I have
peed mine or him his, extra shampoo in case we don’t like the smell of the one
at hotel, Ziploc of Halloween candies stolen from kids, list of when TV shows
come on each nights, plastic martini glasses for the beach, 15 bottles of sunscreen
which we use every inch of, masks in case too light out in morning, and copy of
itinerary in case we forget where we are after the sixth year in a row.
Oh ya and my husband packs tampons for me eventhough I just
finished my period..just in case!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyways…I think our suitcases tell a lot about our lives
and although I love this plan b part of myself I am also looking to lighten my
load over the next year (possibly) and maybe could start with my luggage. First
thing in order will be to devise a packing list that we use each time we go
away. I wanted to do this for years but seems to the only time I have is on
vacation and I refuse to use even one single minute on such an annoying task.
Secondly will be to get drunk or highly medicate myself
each time I pack so I can ease up a bit. Or hire a servant to do it for me. Or
make my husband do it but then I am guaranteed to have lots of meds and no
clothes for the duration of the trip.
So next time you go away take a look at your mood and
your suitcase..and let it give you important clues to who you are and who you
are not. Not sure I am aiming for a quarter suitcase anywhere in the near
future, but I may be looking to leave some ColdFX at home and take the big risk
of catching a cold here and there on my travels. Planning for plan b and c
seems to be taking up too much of my brain and might be aiming for a downgrade
in the near future. May stick a few oranges in my bag instead and depend on
that vitamin C to do the job.
We shall see. For now going to cozy up with my man under
the throw cover I brought from home outside with our new IPad, speakers and our 4 pair of
earphones just in case they break during a good scene.
