As much as I travel, I never seem to a handle on packing. I
am famous for over packing a duffle bag or two only to spend the entire
duration of my trip wearing the same three or four things over and over again.
I think the problem is being raised with the notion of “better safe than
sorry,” drilled into my head. My mother would always send me off on journeys
into questionable New England weather with a raincoat and an umbrella just in
case.
I have perused many an online article and countless info
graphics promising to teach me how to pack my entire life into a carry on
suitcase, or at least prepare for a three-week long journey but constantly I am
thrown by the endless possibilities of traveling. How can I be sure that the
weather will hold long enough to ensure that I don’t need to pack rain boots,
especially for a country like Ireland
where a forecast full of rain is a certain as a bar having Guinness on tap.
This time around I remedied the problem, as saved precious suitcase space, by
only selecting two sturdy and flat pairs of boots, liberally coated in
waterproofing substances.
In terms of actually dressing for any winter trip that isn’t
to a tropical locale, dark colors ensure that items can be worn multiple times
without showing wear and if you plan everything out just right, they are also
all items that can be layered for whatever occasions pop up. Basic skirts can
be layered with knit tights and sweaters for day outings and dressed up with a
nicer shirt and a change of shoes for going to a nicer restaurant. Try to avoid
packing things with wild patterns for these exact reasons.
Now packing a backpack or a purse is a completely different
ballgame because more often than not, that is going to include everything that
refuses to fit itself into your carry on, as well as toiletries that need to be
taken out at security and whatever you want to entertain yourself on the
flight.
If you don’t feel physically connected to your laptop, try
to leave it at home. Check to see if your hotel has a business center where you
can check your email if need be. Even better, if you’re lucky maybe your final
destination has taken a leap into the future and installed free public Wi-Fi
hotspots like Dublin has. If you are part of smartphone culture, you can use
these locations to your heat’s content without eating into your data usage
while being charged exorbitant international fees if you are indeed abroad like
I will be.
I always keep a book in my backpack, especially if I am
traveling. I never really got the hang of E-Readers and my apologies to the
trees but I much prefer the feel of a paperback in my hands. If you do prefer your Kindle to hardcopy,
more power to you. You’ll probably end up with a bunch more space for any souvenirs
you pick up along the way. If you’re like me, try to limit what you bring along
to one sizable paperback or maybe two if one is really slim. This makes me feel
guilty when I make my typical pilgrimage to a independent bookstore wherever I
am to pick up a novel written by a local author. My picks for this trip ended
up being a copy of The Beautiful and the
Damned that has been sitting unread on the bookshelf of my childhood
bedroom, likely since I impulsively bought it in high school, and The Body by Jenny Boully that was a
Christmas present. Note: The Body is
very slim and also considered an essay so I managed not to break my own rule.
The Body can be purchased here.
The Beautiful and the Damned can be purchased here.
This post from Oh Happy Day details how to pack for a 2 week France trip in only a carry on. It's a good starting place to practice your packing prowess.
For more info on Dublin's wifi hotspots, see this article.
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