Packing for a Long Trip

Where to  start???  I have been packing for over a month now.  Fifty-pound limits on checked luggage.  Yikes!  But we’re going to be gone almost 5 weeks!  I have purchased new luggage that is lighter in weight.  The darn airlines have given me a real challenge that I am afraid I will flunk.  I am additionally challenged by the fact that Ron doesn’t even begin to understand how much stuff I need to take…

I have spent more money than I ever planned to, just in order to be a more efficient traveler.  The other day I filled up my photographers backpack and when Ron hefted it to my shoulders I almost fell over!!!!  Scary… just too heavy.  I have since decided that I must carry a camera bag as a carry on.

There will only be two formal nights on the cruise and I’ve already packed my fancy duds in the garment bag so I really can forget that – except that I have a few other things that I would prefer not to get wrinkled… uhm, what to do?  I also have lots of shoes, ranging from slippers, tennis, flip-flops, pumps and comfortable walking shoes.  I need them all in case my feet hurt from soooo much walking.

I really have a dilemma because I can’t ask any of the people I trust –‘cause they certainly would find something to leave behind – and I don’t want to hear it.  Ron hurts my feelings because he’s so adamant about it.  Wendy laughs because she thinks I want to be a ‘best dressed diva’ on this trip.  So not true.  My friend Maria tells me to take all dark or all light clothes so I don’t have to sort them in order to do laundry.  Is she kidding?  Sort???  I wasn’t planning on doing any laundry – I’m taking enough items for every day (smile), just kidding.

I’ve really got to get serious about this packing stuff… the problem is that I have too many things I really want to do.  My attention span is nil.  I’d really like to take pictures of the beautiful flowers Ron gave me, but that doesn’t make sense… we have just a week to go before we leave.  I also want to send out celebratory announcement photos about Ron and I celebrating 50 years of marriage.  I feel really blessed since so many people felt it wouldn’t last.   I wonder if anyone will care.  The camera gear is the real problem, but there is no way I’m not taking it!  My tripod weighs 15 pounds by it-self.  I thought I’d just put it in Ron’s big suitcase.

Am I too self-centered…just too darn selfish?  Yes!!!  I know that in the long run, ‘Ron’, also know as HoneyBoy, will be wrestling to manage this luggage.  We know we’re going to have a Pontiac G6.  I want to go look at that car at a dealership so that I can gauge the trunk and back seat space.

I’ve made a checklist of all the things I’m taking but I’ve run out of space.  I thought it would come in handy in case my luggage was lost… Oh well, I’ll keep trying.  It’s just all too much for a small brain like mine.  However, I do feel like the song some of the kids in my class used to sing about cry-babies.  “Everybody hates me, nobody loves me, I think I’m gonna eat some worms”.

I’ll have 3 suitcases and a camera bag.  I’m putting my purse in the small suitcase that I’ll carry onboard.  Ron will have one large suitcase and a garment bag, and he will carry on my backpack and a small carry on.  Doesn’t that sound reasonable to you?  Don’t answer.