Packing for trips....

jujube

jujube

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I think I'm in Florida, but I'm not sure any more.
I'm going on a trip in a few days and I've started packing. I have such a hard time packing a suitcase. I know that I don't have to pack enough for a 10-week African safari, but I just keep putting stuff in, taking stuff out, putting stuff in. "Oh, I love this top, I have to take it. Oh, no, I don't need that top. Yes, I do. What if I go somewhere dressy? I'm not going anywhere dressy, why would I need that top? Well, I might need that top...." ad nauseum. And then I never wear half of what I take.

I started out with a tiny suitcase. That didn't last long. Then I moved up a notch. That didn't last long, either. Now I'm looking longingly at the big suitcase, but trying to rein in myself.

Am I alone in this lack-of-packing-skill or do other people have the same problem?
 

You are not alone, but people's ideas of packing are all over the place. I have read of people taking only a backpack and carry on for an extended trip to people with three suitcases plus carry ons.
Are you really going on a 10 week safari or a 10 day one??
 
When we travelled I liked to spread out possible combinations of things I’d wear. It probably took me a week of fiddling deciding which things I loved best. Finally I started making a spreadsheet and put the mix and match combinations and entered them in by the day. I didn’t have enough days in the vacation to wear them all.

Finally I smartened up a few years ago. I have a carry-on suitcase and can be very judicious in what I pack.
 
I have a backpack, which I keep ready to go. Years ago, I tried to take most of Pennsylvania, and a large part of New Jersey when I traveled. But now, toiletries and a couple of changes of clothing, and the shoes I'm wearing. If something should happen, you're about 10 feet from the nearest Walmart, and Amazon can deliver in hours.
 
I start out by putting everything I want to take or think I should take on the bed. I look at it. I agonize. I take things away one by one. There have been many times I took way too much stuff with me and I only wore half of it. I like to have a choice of things to wear, and that's the problem. I can't take my closet with me. Now I'm more decisive and just make up my mind while packing that I'll wear this or that, period. You can't really make a wrong choice, except to pack too much.
 

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