Category Archives: packing

In Other News

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I have a bit of a bug so I’m sort of stuck at home. But being stuck at home doesn’t mean I want to sit still!

I’ve been pondering a different type of pack than the Osprey Sojourner 46L, and I saw that the Daylite 44L was about a pound lighter and just looked like it had less busy stuff going on on the outside, so I ordered one and figured while I’m stuck here I’ll do a trial pack.

Yep, I like it better than the Sojourner! AND when it’s all packed (with room to spare!) it is 1 pound lighter. When you carry your luggage on your back a pound matters.

All I will need is the Daylite pack and my TomToc sling bag. I don’t even have to carry a jacket as it fit in the backpack. Many of the carryon only blogs say just wear all your heavier stuff on the plane, incliuding your jacket, but I really dislike having to do that so I was very pleased that I wouldn’t need to.

I have also put my capsule wardrobe together. This image includes nine pieces, three of which get worn on the flight. Three pair of pants, six tops. There are SO many combinations here that I am quite happy with what I’ve chosen. All the tops can be worn on their own, and three can be worn over the black or white turtlenecks or the dark green long sleeve tee. Handy!

Obviously I’m not, at this point, showing all the rest of the clothing I need (pjs, underwear, puffer, rain jacket), toiletries, and various other things. But everything fits easily!

This is the first time I will brave it and take one pair of shoes. Like Dan says, it’s not like they don’t have shoes in the cities we will visit if I find myself in need of a pair. But the ones I’m bringing went with us on our Christmas Market trip and they worked quite well there, so I think I’ll be fine.

Now of course we don’t leave for a while. So here’s the big question:

HOW MANY TIMES WILL I RETHINK MY CAPSULE WARDROBE?!

Guess

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Did I really just spend time weighing all my clothing I was thinking of bringing on our upcoming big trip?

Guess.

And who knew that the white Unbound Merino long sleeve t-shirt weighed more than the burgundy and grey ones. Same exact style.

White: 6.4 ounces
Grey: 5.9 ounces
Burgundy: 6.0 ounces

White stays home. So there.

No, I don’t NEED more!

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When we have an upcoming trip I get the urge to buy new clothes. I think I come by that honestly: I remember any time my mother went on a trip (she traveled rarely, but did go to Germany a few times since family is there) she would buy a bunch of new outfits and I’d come over and ooh and aah. She had very classy taste! Much of the time she would then end up returning a lot. My mother was the Queen Of Bargains, and she loved to shop. But she also seemed to love to return things (after all, think of the money she saved!) So she bought a lot. And returned a lot.

But I’m rambling.

What I’m really writing here is that I don’t need anything new for an upcoming trip.

There. I wrote it. So maybe I will now abide by that and not purchase anything new.

As any reader here knows, we do carry on only, and I put together a capsule wardrobe. I don’t always follow what is know as the sudoku method (three pants, three tops, three layers to go over those tops), and I don’t precisely follow the 5-4-3-2-1 process either (tops, bottoms, shoes, dresses, 1 accessory). I really can’t follow that one for sure: three pair of shoes? Nope. Two dresses? Nope, nope.

Needless to say (I think), these two methods aren’t including underwear and pjs. The sudoku is assuming one of the outer layers will be something warm if traveling in the colder months, but doesn’t include things like long underwear. So I take those two ideas and sort of play around with them.

We will be traveling during a colder climate, so I had initially thought I’d bring two turtlenecks. I had a lightbulb moment though: I can’t wear these turtlenecks on their own! They have to be under something because they are skin tight and I simply don’t do skin tight. So back to the drawing board.

But I still do not need anything new for our upcoming trip!

Over ‘n out.

SOON

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We head out quite soon on a short trip. I am ready.

And I am not ready.

This is typical. I pack — I’m always packed far in advance. First I’m packed “in my head” and then I’m actually, quite literally, packed.

Then I spend a ton of time repacking and questioning what I have in my Osprey bag and then I repack again. And I”m never totally happy with my decisions.

Maybe Dan has the right idea. He packs much later. Nearly last minute, but not quite. (Not enough to worry his easily worried wife!)

He packs once.

One and done.

But will I — could I — change? Quite doubtful.

But neither will he!

Side note: Why oh WHY are turtlenecks all so tight? Can’t someone make a nice, looser style? The older I get the more fabric bothers my skin.

Grump over ‘n out.

The Pondering Continues

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Have I selected my capsule wardrobe? Did I use the Sudoku method. Wellllll … maybe.

But okay, I sort of cheated: I added one more pair of ultra-light pants since we are doing a week-long walk and I know I might get those pants too dirty to wear in public aside from the walks, and I added one more very lightweight top that may or may not be removed before I finally zip the backpack up. The colors you see in the photo are a bit off, but close enough for me not to tweak things. Boring? Maybe. But comfortable and a good variety for cold or more temperate weather. Of course you don’t see pjs, socks, and underwear in this photo. Nor do you see the extra pair of shoes that look a bit nicer in case we go out to something that feels like it calls for something other than the shoes I will use most of the time.

The things that cause weight issues aren’t these clothes (the row with the black and beige “shacket”, black pants, and gold-ish colored top on the right will be worn on the plane, along with the heavier pair of shoes I have). (And hey, Woolx, You are the “all of it” aside from the puffer jacket above!) It’s all the rest of the stuff I have to bring.

There’s the toiletries bag, but honestly I don’t bring all that much! I don’t wear makeup, and I don’t bring soap or shampoo. (Side note: I cannot believe what some women have to bring on a trip. The amount of “product” is astounding. Good thing I’m too lazy to bother with makeup!) But I do need toothpaste and our electric toothbrush and brushes (I carry both mine and Dan’s as it all fits into a case). I have a lightweight brush and comb, and a couple of barrettes and hair bands. There’s sunscreen and deodorant, of course, and … gosh it alljust gets heavier than you might imagine.

And then … we are going to places where we might be in wind and rain, so I have to add a rain jacket, rain pants, and a rain hat. I have to bring a little bag of things I hope not to use — like a trowel if I have to “create” my own bathroom (yeah, really), wipes, and fun things like that. It would be lovely if that bag never gets opened. I’m happy to say it didn’t when we did our Portugal walk, and our walks this time are shorter than those so I will remain hopeful.

Still, it just amazes me how heavy things are once I put it all together. I just might have to pull a few things out. Time will tell.

Maybe I’ll nix my wool scarf. I’m sure that will make the load much lighter. Heh.

One Of These Days …

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We have some upcoming trips. I was telling Dan today that SOME day I’d like a trip that isn’t requiring extra “stuff”. Our first upcoming trip requires me to bring my oboe and reeds (but I will not bring my reed equipment because we are doing carryon). The next requires a good amount of warm clothing because we are heading to a very cold spot of the US. The final requires trekking poles and walking “stuff”. Yes, another walking holiday!

I dare not complain. And yet I think I just did!

But really … one of these days I’d love a trip with no “extras”.

Maybe.

The first trip is only one week long. Actually eight days and seven nights. When we pack for our long trips we really pack one week’s worth of clothing — as I’ve mentioned in the past, no one cares if you repeat an outfit! In fact, no one notices! So how funny that this short trip includes about the same amount of clothing and, actually, more underwear since we won’t be doing any washing.

With three upcoming trips I have a difficult time keeping things straight. Good thing our plane tickets will get me on the correct plane to the correct city.

Or at least one hopes so. (I always marvel at those stories you read about how someone ends up in the wrong place … how did they even manage to get on the plane?!)

Okay. That’s it from me. I just thought I’d better liven up this site a bit. HAH!

Here … have a photo … one I’ve shared on my photography site, but hey, it’s from our Portugal walk so why not?

Just Some Thoughts After Our Trip

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Maybe if I write these down I will remember them. Maybe not. I thought for sure I’d be better about how much I packed, and yet I wasn’t.

And fyi: today is a much better day. I’ve almost no fever at all (for some this would be a normal temp, actually), and my headache has nearly gone away. I’m taking it VERY easy, but I did manage to unpack and get everything put away. Laundry can wait until tomorrow, though.

● Backpacks are handy for cobbled streets, but sometimes a roller bag makes better sense, and the latter is much better when it comes to spatial awareness! (And maybe I’m just getting too old for the weight of a backpack?)
● One pair of shoes is ideal unless I have a concert or something that requires a bit more dressing up. No one cares if you wear sneakers with a dress!
● Don’t bother with a dress unless you know for sure you need it. You can always dress up pants with the right top and scarf. (The dress is the one thing I never wore.)
● With merino wool four tops is plenty. I know, I know, we all worry about wearing the same thing over and over, but who remembers what we are wearing?!
● One ounce of toothpaste will last a week for two people.
● Have a travel toothbrush just in case your electric one breaks or grab one on the airplane (if in business class) or get one at the first hotel.
● Three pair of undies: one to wear, one to wash, one ready. They dry quickly!
● Three pair of socks aside from the compression socks for the plane: same as above. (Unless on a walking holiday — then take one extra.)
● If I’m unhappy with my clothing decisions I can always buy something. I can also leave things behind. No big deal. (I left two polyester shirts behind this time. I’m so over poly and ester.)

it’s likely I’ll come up with more … we shall see.

But, honestly, if you bring merino wool you’d be astonished at how it doesn’t smell bad, and when washing it dries quickly. I washed my pjs in the morning and they were dry by evening. Socks take a bit longer, as do shirts and pants (but shirts rarely need washing, pants even less so), but since I always have more than one of each of those it’s not a problem.

My Bags Are Packed

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I’m ready to go …

Of course that doesn’t mean I won’t change my mind about something, but the two main bags are packed and locked, so I’m hoping that’s it.

Here is a shot of the clothing I’ll be taking:

In addition to what you see above there are pjs (in carryon in case the checked bag doesn’t arrive) and a raincoat (also in carryon since it looks like we will be encountering rain when we arrive). Not pictured is the one stuff sack of the clothes for our five day walk (hiking pants, shirts, hiking socks, waterproof cap, “bathroom” necessities when you have no bathroom, if you know what I imean!). The outfit on the left — black pants, “Sahara Dust” sweater, and short sleeved blue shirt, will be worn on the plane, along with the scarf The rest has all fit in one compression bag. Well, except for the hat! That’s a foldable hat, and it’s packed as well, since it’s a nuisance to have a hat on the plane.

I did do the “while we’re on the walk” packing job first today, and everything worked just fine. Then I took everything out and repacked for the flights and the rest of our travels.

Above is the “rest of the stuff” … but since I took that shot things have changed: the black bundle you see on the left was a raincoat I deemed just too bulky, despite my loving it, so a shorter, more casual raincoat took its place. The latter will also work for our walk, so I could delete the really light raincoat I’d packed for that. I also switched out the larger umbrella for a smaller one. Other things there: green compression bag full of unclothes and socks, meds (OH, and I managed to make those smaller as well, as I could peel the label off of one and put it on a tiny bottle), a very small backpack (that small blue ball you see), all my cables, an adapter, and other necessary things for devices in the red bag, my extra pair of shoes stuffed with socks, an electric toothbrush, a puffer jacket stuffed in its own pocket, my toiletry bag, my vitamin and pain med box, and my extra glasses. And gee, writing all this reminded me I hadn’t yet packed my AirPods! So off I go to do that after I post this.

Every ounce counts!

Yep, that’s my motto at the moment.

I have a small Pacsafe purse that contains passport, wallet, credit cards, chapstick, some sanitizing towelettes … exciting, I know.

I neglected to take a photo of my little camera bag (or my purse, for that matter) that fits into my carryon bag. But that camera bag holds my Fuji camera with two lenses – one zoom, one macro, extra batteries and cards … all things photo.

In any case, I’m packed and ready to head out on another adventure. I’m glad to have this distraction: yesterday I was on an audition panel for my replacement — and what a fabulous replacement we have! I’m overjoyed for the winner Adrienne Burg, and I know OSJ will be very pleased to have her. I have been principal oboe of Opera San José for what seems like forever, and this is a huge change. I thought I wouldn’t really react since I opted to move to second oboe for this past season, but I guess the finality of the audition did cause me to pause and ponder a bit. It’s the end of an era for me. I’m trying not to think that it’s the end of me!

Now we wait …

Time To Whittle

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Ugh. It’s that time. Figuring out what I will take on a trip.

Whittling down what I pack so I don’t have too much in my bag is a challenge. All the “What ifs” start haunting me … as in “what if I hate the colors I brought?” “What if I get bored with the items I chose?” “What if I’m not in the mood for any of this stuff?!” “What if I’ve totally misjudged the weather?”

And more.

So I put out all the things that I am considering, knowing I have to pull things out.

For instance, I plan on bringing three pair of pants. The photo below shows four pair. There are two pair of the same style of Unbound MerinoLightweight Travel Pants— one a kind of golden tan and one green. The bluish pair of Unbound (next to the black dress) are their Merino Transit Sweatpants in what they call dark teal. This are a given, because I’m wearing them on the plane. Finally there is a pair of Woolx Emerson black pants next to the brown hoodie on the left. And … well … they are Emerson pants so it seems only right that I would wear them, don’t you think? But they are the heaviest and perhaps not necessary. I still can’t quite wrap my head around what the weather will be on our upcoming trip. (So far it looks to be in the mid or high 60°s.)

Then there are the tops. I love all the colors here. But I really should cut back. I was thinking a maximum of five, one of which I’ll wear on the plane. Right now I have seven there. Who needs seven tops?! What you are seeing includes both Woolx and Unbound tops. They are all really comfy and it’s hard to figure out what to leave home.

The dark “French Roast hoodie, a Woolx Ryann, is also being worn on the plane. I adore that color, and I’m so glad I got it when I did: they no longer carry that color. I’m also pondering bringing the Woolx sweater in that burgundy-ish color that they call “Cabernet Crush” (another discontinued color) you see on top of the purple dress. I had planned on two layering pieces, so those two could work.

The dresses … well … do I even bother? I’m not sure! It’s quite possible we’ll end up at a nice dinner at least once or twice. But if I do bring a dress, it can only be one of these, and most likely that means black … but isn’t that purple (they call it “Montana Grape”) pretty. And yes, dresses are from Woolx — Cassie is the name. It’s a really comfy dress, and would work as is or with a top underneath or a sweater over which I’m sure is what I’d do: I really don’t like showing my bare arms. But perhaps I should nix the dress. Pondering ….

Articles about packing light say pack for a week, even if you are going for more. That makes sense. And as I’ve said, “NO ONE CARES!” what I wear. I’ve read some blogs where they suggest taking only 3 each of tops, bottoms, and layering items. There is also the 5-4-3-2-1 system (5 tops, 4 bottoms, 3 shoes, 2 dresses or outerwear, 1 accessory). Two pair of shoes in the luggage seems like a space hog issue so one pair will do in the bag, and one pair on my feet. And if you really want to go down the packing rabbit hole, just do a search on packing minimally and you’ll find all sorts of opinions about what you really should do.

But I ramble, and really this particular post is mostly about me trying to sort things out in my mind. But hey, if a reader has any strong opinions feel free to share!