On Luggage and Packing

I'm just back from a few days in Arizona where I went to visit my Dad. I have three days at home and then, tomorrow morning, whoosh, I'm off again. I barely had time to unpack my bag, but unpack it I did. It's repacked now, mostly, sitting in the bedroom with my daypack and my plane clothes, ready to go tomorrow morning. I swear, I'm tired just imagining lugging it back to SeaTac -- yes, I WAS just there -- and into yet another overstuffed overhead bin. Ah, the glamor of travel.

[One Bag, the essential guide to packing light.]

I'm a pretty good packer, though lately I lean a little towards overdoing it. I typically have two or three things in my bag that never get worn -- this time, I've stripped it way down and as I eye my rolling suitcase, I'm wondering if I shouldn't swap it for a little duffel. If I didn't have to carry it, I wouldn't hesitate, but I'm feeling the wear of four coach flights last weekend and honestly, my back hurts. I'd rather roll than schlepp, even if it's just from the airport drive to the departure gate and back again.

[How to Choose Carry On Luggage on 3 Minute Vacation]

For some reason, I've turned into a person who needs to lug 10 pounds of electronic gear with me everywhere I go. I've got the SLR and now, a little pocket camera that goes underwater, my cell phone, the netbook, the iPod -- can't fly without it!-- and my noise canceling headphones. I have a staggering array of cables, memory chips for the cameras, batteries, chargers... how did this happen!? I hear the iPhone is the one device to rule them, but I'd still want a keyboard, and I need at least a LITTLE bit of monitor for previewing my photos. A pal recently offered me a great deal on a Kindle and I was sorely tempted, but then, eying the spaghetti of cables piled up for my next adventure, I decided to pass.

[On Practical Travel Gear, a handy pouch for organizing all those little bits and pieces.]

The bottom line is that there are few places I'd go where what's in my bag is so critical that I can't live without it. There are also few places that I can't get what I need at my destination. My gadgets are the most valuable things to me when I travel -- that and my passport, everything else falls under "nice to have but I wouldn't fall to pieces if I had to go without. I've washed my shirt in the hotel sink, I've picked up aspirin and sunscreen and shoes while on the road. On my last trip to Hawaii, I found myself struggling to get everything back into my bag as I'd been the recipient of many fine treats to take back home. I sprung to check my bag as I knew that with the expanding zips open, I'd have a helluva time making it fit in the overhead bin. The strapping gal across the aisle helped me on the way out, I couldn't count on her on the way back.

[Tales of the Overhead Bin on the NY Times]

It's long been my fantasy to be so wealthy that I can travel with almost no luggage, picking up everything I need upon arrival or, better yet, having it there for me, unpacked by my maid who was sent ahead by steamer one week before hand to stock the mini-bar with organic mango juice and green salads. I am not a fancy person, but that doesn't mean I'm unaware of the benefits of luxury, no sir.

[Bonus vanity link: You Can't Take It With You]

I still long fondly for the time when husband and I stayed in one of the grandest hotels in Vienna carrying only a daypack between us. I wasn't dressed much differently than I am right now, but the splendor of checking out of that opulent place carrying nothing but my camera on my shoulder was one of the finest moments in packing in my entire career of travel. That and when I arrived from Ireland only to have my bags join me four days later.

Unclaimed Luggage: Where does it go and how it gets Resold

I've got it down to a decent system, but when it comes to the wire, I look for three things. Wallet, keys, plane ticket -- and a fourth if I'm flying international -- passport. If I know where those things are everything else is gravy.

Pam blogs about travel and other adventures at Nerd's Eye View.

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