This is one in a series of boring posts, which I hope you will find helpful about how I pack for trips so that I'm ready for anything and nothing gets wasted. First you need to think about your trip and I give you several questions to think about before you start the process.
I wish I could say I’m a packing pro, but I’m not.
My conferences and meetings do not happen in
boardrooms or ballrooms. I don’t possess a navy or black suit with three
contrasting silk shells. I’m more of a skirt and sweater girl, but even that
can be pushing it depending on the meeting I’m attending.
I saw more cargo shorts and polo shirts at my
last meeting than business casual attire.
These days I’m doing more leisure travel which can be even
more vexing in terms of packing. I’m not
confident I’ve picked the right mix of clothing types. Will I sweat through every t-shirt I bring
and what happens if I get a blister and need to swap out shoes? What if I get
cold or too hot?
The great thing is most of the places like I go are in the
first world and thanks to globalization – I’m likely to be within spitting
distance of a GAP, so I can replenish my wardrobe if necessary. Better yet, I can subscribe to the weather alerts
for the places I’m visiting to get a better idea of what to expect on the
ground.
So, here are my rules to pack efficiently for a trip to the
first world. It takes time and a few
iterations to get it right, just like product/market fit. My objective when it comes to packing is to
make sure that everything I bring get used during the trip.
Before starting to pack ask yourself these questions:
What is your packing goal for this trip?
Are you checking luggage?
How are you traveling? Will you be moving around or staying
in one place long enough to dry your smalls over night?
Are you participating in an activity that requires
event-specific apparel and shoe wear?
Are you the kind of person that can eat a ripe peach wearing
a white t-shirt and have it remain white?
Are you averse to washing out smalls in sinks if necessary?
Are you okay wearing the same shirt or pants two days in a
row?
Are you comfortable relying on hotel bathroom amenities and
leaving your own stuff at home?
Are you planning or willing to buy new clothes on your trip?
How much electronic/craft equipment will you be bringing
along with you?
Once you answer those questions – you can start thinking of
the most efficient way to pack for your trip so that you can feel confident in
your choices and not get cranky when you find you packed five pairs of socks
and no smalls.
