Monday, December 22, 2014

Packing for Travel

Tomorrow morning I'm going to be leaving Tucson, heading toward Louisiana to stay with family for Christmas. I'll be gone for pretty much an entire week: two days of travel to get there, three days with family and friends, and two days' travel back.

So, what does someone like me pack for a trip like this? Let's run down the list.

First, of course, are the hygiene essentials: toothbrush and toothpaste, floss, shaving stuff, nail clippers, and a pack of One-Wipe Charlies (for emergencies).

Next is my clothes: four shirts, four pairs of socks, fours sets of underwear, one pair of pants, and a belt. The four sets of everything ought to cover me for most of the trip and, if I don't get the chance to do a little laundry while I'm there, I'll only need to reuse each thing once at most. For the pants, between the pair I'll be wearing and the spare, I think I'll be fine--you don't need to change your pants every day, usually. The belt is for the pants, which lack a button and need the belt to hold them closed. (Heh.)

Next we have some travel essentials, since I'm pretty sure I'll be spending the night at a rest stop rather than at a hotel: a towel, a sleeping bag, and a pillow. Sleeping in the back seat of my car is never a truly comfortable experience, but the pillow will help alleviate that problem very slightly. The sleeping bag is designed to handle pretty much anything the West Texas winter can throw at it, though if absolutely necessary I can supplement the sleeping bag with my towel.

The towel's uses are, of course, legion. Why, just a few months ago, after the van got broken into, I used my towel to cover the window overnight while waiting for the chance to replace the glass.

It worked better than an actual window to keep thieves out.
I've also got a trunk full of gifts for family and friends, the contents of which I will not be disclosing here. Not because I think most of the recipients are going to read this and have their gifts spoiled, but more because I'm just uncomfortable publicly discussing the gifts I give to people.

And, finally, there are the modern accoutrements I must bring in order to feel whole: my laptop and its charger, my phone charger, my 3DS and its charger (along with Super Smash Bros for the 3DS) and, of course, a phone filled to the brim with podcasts and such to keep my brain occupied during the trip.

Everything except for the sleeping bag and pillow should fit neatly in a couple of messenger bags, which have been serving me in my journeys for the past five years. Thanks, bags.

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