Top 10 List of Why You Should Pack Light
Aug 02
So I’m back from my trip, filled with memories, some new friends, a few extra pounds, and the following advice for your next trip. Although, as I’m well aware, unless you’re very wise, secure, and have not an ounce of vanity, you will not heed this. Anyway, here goes:
The Top Ten List of Why To Pack Light
#10 When you get to wherever you’re going, you have to unpack all that stuff and find places to put all of it, which you’ll forget by the next morning and be in a panic.
#9 There are never enough hangers, housekeeping will not bring them soon enough, and if you pack light you can bring a few of your own for your “good outfits,” which, with a little tissue paper, will be wrinkle free so you’ll look your best in the group photos. (See above.)
#8 Packing a lot means a heavy suitcase, and no matter what, you’ll have to lug it at some point. (As noted in a previous post, there’s a reason it’s called LUGgage. And the term “comes with a lot of baggage” can be taken literally.)
#7 You could strain your back trying to lift it all and ruin everything! You’ll be doing a lot of walking and can’t be hobbled by an injury.
#6 Support the local economy! You can get a lot of stuff you don’t pack when you get to wherever the hell you’re going. I got this shirt on the ship and impressed the Captain. (In my dreams.)
#5 Sophisticated travelers pack light. You want to impress the baggage handlers, don’t you? You couldn’t care less. Move on.
#4 Remind yourself of George Carlin’s riff on “stuff.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvgN5gCuLac. Do you really need ALL of it? If so, consider a staycation.
#3 When you’re ready to go home, you’ll have to repack all that stuff (what really hurts are the things you never needed or used), which takes time away from the purpose of your trip, to have a good time
#2 They’re charging for extra luggage these days! A lot! Isn’t this trip costing enough?
And now . . .
The #1 reason for packing light:
(Drumroll here)
If, god forfend, they lose your luggage and you never get it back (Gasp!), all your best clothes will be gone forever! You will never be reunited with with that perfect black dress you are so proud to have found (on sale!) that actually fits, requires no special undergarments, and packs easily. A upscale version of Kinsey Milhone’s All Purpose Black Dress, if you’re familiar with the Sue Grafton (A is for Alibi) series, its loss would be too horrible to contemplate.
I just saw reportage of a jet plane crash where by some miracle all the passengers escaped with their lives, but not (and I can’t believe I am so superficial to even have thought about this). . . their luggage! Their clothes, their gadgets, their . . . stuff! All gone. Oh, the humanity.
Now, if I could only learn to take my own advice (fat chance), I just might take another trip. Maybe to a nudist colony.
I agree about the extra weight. Could also result in addition pieces of luggage. Yes lugging it does happen and sometimes in the rain. I lost a suitcase (never was found) coming back from South Korea once. Most upsetting were the lost gifts for the kids.
Another minor problem with bringing too much stuff is finding that one thing that somehow got buried in the depths of the huge suitcase.
great cartoon!
I have had luggage lost, although I finally did get it back. I would have freaked if it had been gone forever. One time I took the wrong suitcase (They looked exactly the same!)and remember that horrible feeling when I opened it and knew it wasn’t mine. The man who got mine must have had a similar reaction, unless, of course, he was into ladies lingerie, but that’s another story. Or blog. Anyway, we straightened it out, but I’ve been super careful about getting the right one ever since. Sorry about the lost gifts.
I just returned from a vacation during which I wore about a third of everything I packed. What makes that particularly unfair is that my husband had to “lug” all that extra baggage for me.
About a third is, I would think, about average. And although it’s unfair, it’s nice that your husband does that for you. It’s worse when you forget something important — like the kid in Home Alone. Or your husband!
Wow! Well said. Wish I had read this before I packed for my last vacation! I lugged a lot of stuff through Europe that I never ended up even using.
Oh Louise, if only I could follow my own advice. My last trip was a short stay at the Jersey Shore where everything is very informal. And yet. I managed to over pack. My excuse was that the weather was so uncertain.
But then, I always have an excuse.
Great post! Notorious over packer here who must travel light for my upcoming trip to Europe. This time, I’m using a budget airline for intra European travel; one millimeter or ounce over the baggage specs and Ryan Air becomes Cryin’ Air for me. Their overage fees are nasty and not budget friendly at all! Your post reminds me why else I don’t want to pack heavy this time.
Hmmmmm. A fine for over packing. That just might work for me too. Or not.
Very delightful. Looking for walking canes! Thanks
Go for the folding ones. They pack easier!
5 Things To Leave Behin, as per the the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/11/travel/five-things-leave-at-home-on-next-trip.html?emc=edit_nn_20181019&nl=morning-briefing&nlid=6332665120181019&te=1