Off topic: 5 tips to make any trip smoother
That have nothing to do with travel itself
With summer bearing down on us like the T Rex in Jeff Goldblum's side mirror in Jurassic Park, I thought I'd take a break from my regular book chatter to share a few tips after many years of organizing trips for both myself and, later, my family. Please enjoy, and share any tips I might have missed.
Make a master packing list. Yes, this requires some work up front, preferably well in advance of the actual trip. Over the course of a few days write down every item you use or wear on a regular basis that you might conceivably need to pack in a suitcase. This will range from the super obvious like toothpaste and deodorant to more obscure items like a journal or compression socks for long haul flights. Write it all down anyway. Did you once pack a pair of ski pants for that trip to Snowmass with your boyfriend's family three years ago? Put ski pants on the list. You may never check it off again, but you won't forget them if the occasion arises! Once you've taken inventory, categorize the list. My Master Packing List has five categories Toiletries, Clothing, Hair (yes I know there's some overlap here with toiletries, but I have very needy hair so it gets its own category), Miscellaneous, and Seasonal. Feel free to add or adjust items over time. Every time you pack for a trip, check off every item as soon as you pack it, or lay it out if it can't really be packed away. Go through the entire list! It will feel tedious at first, especially for quick jaunts, but the joy of never forgetting your phone charger again is worth the brief irritation. Ideally everyone in the family should have their own personalized list. You may even want to include a category of tasks to complete before setting out (turning off water supply, arranging mail pickup, etc)
My old packing list that I used over and over because my printer ran out of ink and I was too lazy to replace it. Yes, I know how unhinged this looks. But it works! Find travel sized duplicates. I know Marie Kondo said to toss out those tiny samples cluttering up your medicine cabinet, but don't! At least, not if you like the brand. Or if you don't like the shampoo you brought home from your last Quality Inn motel room, squeeze it out and refill it with shampoo you do like. This is particularly satisfying for the frugal among us. I have the same Garnier Honey Treasures 3 oz shampoo bottle that's been haunting my suitcase for at least six years and I've refilled it with who knows how many different shampoos. Don't just seek out TSA friendly liquid minis, look for any toiletries on your packing list that you can reasonably duplicate. Keep that little bottle of contact solution and the extra contact case after your visit to the eye doctor, and that annoyingly tiny wheel of floss from the dentist. Put them immediately in your suitcase when you come home, and you'll have 3-4 items on your checklist packed with zero effort. This is also the perfect time to try out that eyeshadow palette of bland colors you got in a Clinique bonus bag three years ago and haven't touched since. (Maybe don't do this if you're traveling for a wedding or anywhere else you need to Look Your Best.) But for a long weekend with your extended family in Clearwater? Sure. The best part is, if you decide you hate that mini tube of Colgate toothpaste from your dentist office goody bag, you can toss it with zero guilt.
Take a Toy Inventory. If you aren't traveling with children, skip this one. List any toys, books, plushies, ziploc baggies of markers, etc. your kids are bringing with them, and use it to keep tabs. This will prevent most post-hotel-checkout disasters of the Forgotten Treasured Lovey variety. If you don't want to deal with a list, spread everything out on the floor and take a picture, crime-scene style.
Clean the house. Nothing crazy, okay? This is not the time to wipe baseboards or try to vacuum up those impossible-to-reach dust bunnies behind the TV stand. We are not doing a deep clean here. Just fresh sheets, clean towels, and nothing in the sink growing fungus. A pass with the vacuum is nice but not necessary. It's the first thing I drop if pressed for time. The goal is to walk through the door after your trip and think "Ah, home at last" instead of "Ugh, this place again."
Have something ready to eat upon return. If you don’t try anything else in this list, give this one a shot. Frozen pizza, leftovers, whatever. Delays and traffic jams happen. You'll be thankful for that Dijourno in the freezer.
