I really admire people who have put in their 10,000+ hours to become expert at some particular craft or art. I am not those people. My friend Jen and I were just talking about this last night–how we’re both too interested in too many things to dedicate the time it takes to become really expert in any one thing. For me personally, you can add a lack of attention to detail that interferes as well, but that’s another story….
The one exception, I think, is packing. I’ve moved and traveled so much that I’m really, really good at packing–particularly for air travel. As my colleague Birgit exclaimed recently after I managed to squeeze everything for a two-week work trip into the Procrustean bed of a single airline-approved carry-on bag: “You just keep making things come out of that tiny bag. It’s like a magic trick!” And as I’m getting ready to head back to Germany for a six-month research fellowship, it’s a perfect occasion to review some of my tips and tricks, if you’re in the market for such. I’m not going to talk about rolling your clothes or stuffing your shoes with your socks–I do that stuff, but so does everyone else. I’m going to talk more about the decisions I make *before* the stuffing starts, my Philosophy of Packing if you will:
- Keep calm and carry on: Don’t check a bag unless you absolutely have to, and IMHO you do not have to unless you (a) are going to be somewhere longer than two weeks without access to laundry facilities or (b) are going to be doing some kind of activity that necessarily involves big, bulky equipment (and I mean BIG and bulky: I got my snorkeling equipment into my carry-on for my last trip to Hawaii). I could tell you SO many stories about why it’s a bad idea to check luggage, but this one should do the trick: I once sat at the gate at La Guardia literally looking at my sister’s neighborhood in NYC at Christmas while the captain told us we could get off the plane, but our checked baggage was going back to Philly where we were registered to land. Twelve hours and an unnecessary hotel room later, I arrived basically back at that same point in a rental car with my bags. Yep, just don’t.
- Keep it light: Many more travelers I know complain about over-packing than under-packing, even if they have to buy something or sit in a laundromat for an hour: they get cool souvenirs and make new memories that way. More importantly, pack for mobility. Backpacks and wheels are your friends. Even if you think you’re not going to have to move your bags yourself very far, in my experience, you will: the elevator or escalator will be unaccountably hors de service, you can’t get a Lyft and have to hoof it to the train station, etc.
- Prioritize happiness and adventure: As you’re culling your travel kit for portability, pack around the things you know are going to make you comfortable, rested, and happy. This might mean foregoing an extra pair of jeans for a pair of walking shoes that will make the cobbled streets of Heidelberg feel less medieval. Tuck a couple of bags of your favorite tea into your running shoes (in a ziplock, natch!), or replace your stack of inflight reading with audiobooks so you can fit your noise-cancelling headphones (HIGHLY recommended, BTW). Don’t forget a pair of fuzzy slipper-socks for the plane and chilly Airbnbs; stuff ’em inside the walking shoes if you have to.
- That being said, do not confuse happiness with habit: Sure, you might be used to blow drying and flat-ironing your hair before going out every morning–but let’s face it, girlfriend, you can’t see your hair. And do you really think the people in the 2-mile-long line for San Marco are there for your blow-out? Snap in a ponytail tie, get out there, and see what’s new. That traveling breaks our old habits is one of the best things about it. As the Buddhists say, a full cup has no room in it for new blessings. Same goes for a full suitcase.
- Take the Swiss Army approach to packing: My all-time favorite multi-purpose travel item is a good wrap/poncho/pashmina. It’s a scarf! It’s a jacket! It’s a blanket on the plane! It’s a beach mat! It’s a sun shade! It’s a tote bag! It’s a changing room! I also love my Yosi Samra folding travel flats that are comfy enough to walk around museums but dressy enough to go to the theater; and they’re perforated leather, so I can wear them barefoot in summer or with tights in winter.
- Less is More: You probably already know this trick, but capsulizing is my mainstay for trimming down my packing list. I have basically two color-ways in my wardrobe already, so when I travel, I pick one of them and stay within it to select items that all mix and match with each other. My basic capsule wardrobe for a one-week trip to a temperate destination goes something like this: jacket/coat, pashmina, knit dress, 2 pairs of pants (one stretchy one that can be worn both out and lounging around, like Betabrand’s dress yoga pants), cardigan, 2 nice tees or shells, 2 v-neck pullovers, button-down, running tights (can also be worn under dress), running bra, running shorts, 2-3 running tees, zip hoodie like Icebreaker’s Quantum III, running shoes, clogs or booties, travel flats, PJs, socks & underwear.
The Rookery 