Packing

I leave for Phoenix next Tuesday. As in Tuesday, April 14th. Yikes. That is coming up quick.

Today I brought the suitcase up to our room so I could start my packing. Yes - it takes me 1 week to pack. I hate packing. Hate it, hate it, hate it. I try to be efficient. I try to pack light. I try to be sensible. But it always comes down to the fact that I never know what I am going to need or feel like wearing. I like options. What happens if I wake up one morning and the outfit that I had planned for that day just doesn't look right? Or - what happens if I spill something on the planned outfit for the day and then I don't have a backup? That would not be good.

So in the end, I always bring too much.

Along with packing comes the shoe thing. Thankfully I am going to 80 degree temperatures - so I don't have to pack heavy shoes. However, we all know that all women have certain shoes for certain outfits. There are the dressy black sandals that look good with the black pants. Then there are the cute sling back black shoes that look good with the hot pink capris. Then of course I need flip flops for the pool (if there is time) and do I dare try to bring running sneakers to work out? And what about brown sandals if I wear my cute brown capris???? Agh! For the love of shoes.

My goal this year is to not check any luggage. I just want to carry it all on. If you have ever been to the Phoenix airport, you would know that their baggage claim is not the fastest. In fact, I have been known to wait up to 30 minutes for my bags! That is a long time. Plus, after I land in Albany when I come back home, the last thing I want to do is go to the baggage claim and wait for my luggage at 11 at night. So - this carry-on-all-the bags plan is leaving me with no choice but to be extra efficient with my packing.

Along with my suitcase, I somehow need to bring my laptop, my breast-pump, and my purse. Not to mention, my Ipod, a book and other stuff that I always carry on - like the PB&J sandwich I always travel with because my mom always told me to travel with food. Good advice mom!

MMMM. This is going to be a challenge. It should be interesting. This is why I need 1 week to pack. I have to strategize, think, hem, haw, and moan and groan.

It will get done. Somehow, I will be efficient.