Heavy Luggage Sucks...Pack Light
Have you ever noticed the difference between traveling by road and traveling by air?
The main difference that sticks out to me is what I bring. By road, I can take the cooler full of snacks and drinks, I can take coats if I like (multiple). Raymond packs the guitar. The more the merrier.
Half the stuff stays in the car and never sees the light of vacation day, but you don’t really care.
By air, you scrutinize everything! Do I need this? Is this necessary? What will we do, will I need the hair straightener and the curling iron? The plan for the trip becomes very important as you decide what to put in that suitcase and what stays home.
Allow this organizer to add, packing has less to do with the organizing system and gear (think: packing squares and all that jazz) and more to do with just bringing less. There is no point in buying organizing “stuff” that allows you to bring more of what you won’t use. Just don’t bring it, and thus don’t buy the gear! :)
We’ve been on two trips this year that found us traveling by air, here is my short list of what to pack and what to leave at home.
WHAT TO PACK
Bandaids.
They come in handy for blisters and boo-boo’s from bike accidents. You never realize how much you value their service until you need it, right away, and go down to buy it from the convenience store. $5 for a travel pack??
LEAVE AT HOME
The shoes with heels. No you will not wear them. And while you’re at it, leave the dinner dress at home too. “Dinner” will more than likely be a stop for happy hour at the local taco joint followed by a few drinks at a bar later. Highly unlikely that you will return to hotel, shower and change into beautiful dress complete with heels, drive over for dinner and return to hotel. It is more likely that you will do more walking, of which your poor feet will ask you to pick the flats.
WHAT TO PACK
A crossbody purse (or a backpack).
Easy, lightweight, convenient, and safe. As for a carry-on bag, backpacks are the winner, every single time. I learned my lesson this year. I will not be caught lugging around bags in an airport if it one, doesn’t have wheels or two, doesn’t fit on my back.
LEAVE AT HOME
The book. You won’t read it. And if you are, then you might not have picked a cool enough destination. Read at home, trips are for exploring.
Another thing to leave at home?
The curling iron. The wind and the exploring will have your hair all over your head. It will be great! But it will suck for your curls.
Last week Raymond and I took a trip to NYC. It was his first time, and my second (although going once as a 15 yr old doesn’t really count, right?). We spent four days exploring the boroughs of Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan.
Where We Stayed: The Williamsburg Hotel
Where We Ate
The food was fantastic! And by food, I mean the vegan food!
Paulie Gee’s
Champs Diner
Screamer’s Pizzeria in Greenpoint (Brooklyn)
Ja Ja Ja Mexicana in SoHo
My favorite part of the trip was how inspiring New York is.
You can be whoever you want to be there.
You can wear whatever you want to wear.
You can do whatever you want to do.