We don’t leave for slightly more than a week, but yesterday we packed.
Yep. Really.
But then we unpacked, so you can breathe easy after all.
We just wanted to see how things were fitting. I was pondering one more warm shirt (of the wool sweatshirt sort) but I’ve decided I don’t want to add any more weight to my bag. (Of course my mind can be changed. I’ll only know for sure when I’m heading out the door!) I went through all the devices and narrowed down how many cords I need. I count how many of my prescription pills I need and only take a few more than that (but they stay in a prescription bottle so if they get inspected the powers that be can see they are legitimate things!).
As always it’s merino wool for the win in most cases. That and a couple of cashmere sweaters and I think I”m pretty set. My wool tops are turtlenecks. I’m bringing a wool sleeveless sheath sort of dress and the turtlenecks can be worn under that. Darn Tough socks are the socks of choice, and tights for the dress. Oh … and I bought a new scarf. A MEN’S scarf. What makes it a men’s instead of a woman’s? I guess fringe turns a scarf into a woman’s. Go figure. I don’t care for fringe in the winter … it gets caught in zippers!
Some suggest only one pair of shoes, and I would have done that, but since we are going to concerts I do want to look a bit nicer, so I have a pair of dressier shoes and then some low boots (or booties … you choose). I can’t tell you how many shoes I’ve ordered to find the right things (I actually could but I’m too lazy to look things up!). Some didn’t fit well, some made my huge feet look even larger, and some had soles that were far too slippery and the last thing I want to do is take a fall while on vacation. (Okay, okay, maybe dying on vacation would be the last thing I’d want to do … and would, in fact, be the last thing I did! Hah!)
Anyway … the boots are Easy Spirit and the dressier shoes are Dansko, and both look rather nice. Even on my large feet!
I’m still trying to decide if I wear a coat on the plane or if I stuff them. “Them?” you say? Well yes. If it rains I need my light raincoat. If it’s freezing I need my down coat. And if it’s a bit wet and very cold I can wear the raincoat over the down coat. Both are close to knee length and I think will be great for a winter trip. I had actually thought I might bring a wool coat as well, but since that would never pack easily I’ve opted to be a bit more casual and only have the other two coats. Both are tremendously lightweight, which is a Very Good Thing when you do carryon only!
Now, because I purchase my wool from particular companies I’ve decided to add links to those on the left side of this site, as well linking to some travel sites and other spots I’ve visited or want to check out soon. They just might be handy for others … never know! Stay tuned for those links.
OH … and I never wrote again about a travel pack. Well, turns out we purchased the newer Osprey packs, and gave our old ones to our daughter and son-in-law. It was a win-win, right? Pictured below is the color I have (Dan got black).
