re: Packing Tips

My back hurts just reading your list.....female here, and I don’t pack as much clothing or as many shoes as you do. I roll a 19” international carry on, plus a rectangular boarding bag, c’est tout. My soft sided handbag/purse tucks inside the boarding bag. Maybe I swap the boarding bad for a backpack if I plan to hike.

Why in the hell are you packing four facecloths? Get one microfiber small towel—it will dry in an hour or two if you wring it well, and even if you have to pack up before it’s dry, a quart zip top back stows it in your luggage just fine. Even my OCD husband can get by with one.

I’ll give you two pairs of shoes, but anything more is overkill. Depending on season, terrain, and activities, you need a serviceable leather lace up nice enough to wear with slacks that’s suitable for heavy duty walking (Ecco or whatever best fits your feet)....buy waterproof, and you’ll not worry over wet feet. You might need hiking boots or sandals, or a lightweight athletic shoe....but just two will get you through 95% of life.

Clothes—every single thing needs to cross match with every other thing—pick a color theme: black, brown, or navy. Then build a wardrobe out of five bottoms, six tops, and a sweater (if necessary). Two or three silk scarves, a cashmere wrap, and you can go anywhere.....the male equivalent is a blazer whose color & weight are seasonally appropriate (corduroy packs really well, so does tweed; if it’s linen season, wear it on the plane to keep it from being crushed too badly).

I don’t bother with wet wipes, fabric softener sheets, or detergent—I’ll buy those at a supermarket if I visit a self-service laundry or stay at an AirBnB without supplies. Ditto for shaving cream, razors, and generic toiletries—I pack the facial stuff, deodorant, toothpaste, and toothbrush, with a hotel sized bar of soap, and basic travel meds. Local drugstores can supply the rest.

Books—I quit packing those long ago. An iPad is the one thing I can’t travel without.....as many books as you want, downloaded Netflix content, downloaded Google maps, transit guides, copies of docs, photo editing software, etc etc. It is downright amazing to be able to bring every.single.book.I.own.aboiut.a.particular.place and have them at my fingertips while traveling.