Packing

Packing a lot into a little

With so much acrimonious stuff out there, intense politics globally and locally, I thought you all might enjoy a note to my family about packing for a big trip this X-mas/New Years. And don’t tell them, but we are doing a bunch of wine tasting and visiting some music venues:)

Packing for Our Trip

Dear Family,

This is an important note about packing for our upcoming adventure to Australia and New Zealand over the holidays. I know you all think I sometimes pack too light, but I want to share my thinking and tips in order to make our travel together a lot easier. I’ve traveled a lot with bands on tour, festivals to Europe and Asia. I put a week of stuff into a backpack to go up mountains. So, please trust my packing wisdom, pretty please….

While this is not a simple two-night business trip to Chicago where I might throw a pair of underwear, socks, gym shorts and an extra tee shirt in my backpack , along with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a book, and Ba-boom--I am set for a day or three overnight, we do need to keep it to one bag that’s easy to schlep around. Ideally for this trip, it is a bag you can even carry on the plane. I know it will be tight, but if you pack efficiently, it can be done.

We even have a chance to do some laundry in the middle of the trip for our overnight at Cameron’s house. We can take some time to wash things that are needed, but here is an annotated packing list that I believe should be our limits to what we bring. Trust me, it will make moving around much easier if we don’t resemble a troupe of traveling circus elephants. It will make packing the car for our drives in the countryside more enjoyable. It will make our jumping into a hotel, a boat, a plane, etc. so much more fun if we NOT rolling giant bags over gravel driveways!

So, here’s what I suggest. One excellent suitcase (love my Tom Bihn soft 45l duffle/backpack) and one light backpack (able to be used for some day hikes in the mountains, as well as to carry your computer, electronics, valuables and stuffs in the seat in front of you…. Also, its Winter in NY and Summer down under, so no bringing a giant parkas on the plane, just a small stuffable down jacket or hoodie to pack in your backpack. It is going to be in the 60’s to 80’s, generally drier months of the year. Pack light!!!!

•Let’s start with underwear. The most packable of items. While not multi-day reusable like jeans, let’s not overpack these. If at the end of a long day you get back to the hotel, take a wonderful shower using the various luxury shampoos and body washes provided, and we are going to dinner at the hotel or nearby restaurant and then to bed, do you really need to put on any underwear at all? A little extra freedom while we sip some wine with just us, why not? Live a little.

•Socks. Can I just say Bombas, compression hiking socks. They don’t smell after a long day; they are versatile and look good (and they give one pair away to homeless with every purchase, great company).

•3 pairs of shoes. Need one pair of comfortable hiking shoes, one pair of walking shoes, and one pair of beach shoes. We don’t need anything fancy, just comfort above all else.

•Long and Short pants. Need some swimsuits, a couple of shorts, and two pairs of long pants. Most places for dinner, will be cool with shorts. Shorts can dry in the sun almost every day. One pair lasted me for 6 months in Europe in 1985. Come on.

•Some tee shirts, some button downs, pull-over whatever you like. But don’t need more than 1 per day, again, we will be doing laundry midway thru. And more than likely, you will buy one new tee-shirt and can wear that a few days. One decent outfit for dinner that can be reused several times, no one will ever know as moving around too much.

•Light raincoat, very packable Gortex jacket for some possible rain and to bring on a hike. In this category, have one long sleeve slightly warm top that combined is your layered cold breezy combo. I doubt we will wear both, but this is the fall safe option. No sweaters, no multiple hoodies, too much.

•2 hats max, will be sunny. Make them packable, not requiring a hat box. Bring sunglasses. Don’t forget the sunglasses. Seriously, don’t forget them.

•Toiletries. Small and efficient. It’s just us hanging, beaching, hiking and drinking wine, not doing any Met Gala shit. We can get suntan lotion along the way, so small bottle, toothpaste, toothbrush, dental floss (oral hygiene is very important), deodorant and necessary medicine, but don’t need to bring a giant bag of everything for a just in case kinda of thing. Heavy and unnecessary. And please, no drugs. I am sure we can get what everyone needs locally, just don’t pack anything.

•Electronics, keep it simple. We will all need a universal adapter, as Australia/NZ has weird, angled plugs, not European or UK versions or US versions. Phone chargers, headphones, watches, rings, and laptops….

•Empty water bottle, 1-liter ideally. We will need them every day! A book, a notebook and pen, and that is really it.

The simpler and less we pack, the more fun we really will have. And save some room in your bags, you might want to bring back a souvenir or two or perhaps bought a few shirts and a jacket because you under packed. But at least you tried coming extra light. Don’t forget your passport. Thanks

Love,

Me