Put it all on the table

Robert kindly completed his yeoman work on the taxes. This gives me access to the dining room table, my preferred staging area for packing.

There are three luggage components: the main suitcase, the carry-on and my little backpack purse. The carry-on stacks on top of the suitcase, the handle of the suitcase slipping under a strap on the carry-on. This makes it exponentially easier for me to wheel away from baggage claim and into a taxi and down the city streets to my destination.

This year I am trying a new suitcase with the kind of wheels that rotate in all directions (thanks Boatie!)  I’m bringing a couple of things that were either difficult to find or prohibitively expensive in Paris – tea and oatmeal.

I loved the way the space bags – like giant ziplocks you roll up and squeeze the air out of – turned my pillow into a wafer, so I am going to test out packing shirts, my rain jacket, scarves and knickers that way.

Clothes don’t take up the most space  – shoes, toiletries, equipment (flat iron, dryer) and my trip planing folder do that. Electronic have their own place in the carry-on; my Nook, Laptop, iPod, iPhone and camera, plus accompanying cables and chargers, along with a change of clothes. It only took one sloshed vente latte to convince me you alway need a change of clothes on hand. I’ve never had my luggage lost (wait while I knock on wood) but my carry-on could see me through. A comforting thought.

Things I am leaving behind

• A large sketchbook and carrying case – I only used  two small sketchbooks. I can always buy paper there if I am smitten with the urge to sketch a landscape.
• My winter-weight down coat: never left my suitcase in Paris.
• A memory foam neck pillow: again, never left the carry-on. The inflatable neck pillow I’ve used for 15 years is best. Flattens and folds into the size of a paper towel when not in use.
• Clogs: I took two pair of lace up shoes and a pair of clogs to Paris and only wore my black & white Chucks. This trip, two pairs of chucks and a pair of leopard print birkenstock-style sandals will be my de facto slippers and possibly worn on the 80 degree days.