Travel....

For someone who used to travel ALL THE TIME (I spent more time on the road than home), it's amazing how out of that routine you get! I mean I traveled with Joey as an infant, he was in 13 states by the time he was 5 weeks old. Now I'm packing for two of us for two weeks and it's been incredibly time consuming. Not so much the "how many pants/socks/undies" situation, that's easy, it's the finding of the bags, the chargers, the camera accessories, the this and that. This morning I pulled out my laptop bag to discover the shoulder strap was missing! Where did it go? I put the bag in Joey's closet 14 months ago when we returned from Florida...and it ate it's own strap? Wha? So, now I'm debating if it's more cost effective to get a laptop sleeve and throw it in a multi-purpose backpack, or find a replacement strap. Of course, no time to order one online at this point so forced to pay retail somewhere local.

Clothes posed a slight situation however. Turns out Wayne had about 1 complete outfit that wasn't work clothes...and my ever expanding bump was not working with my previous wardrobe. So there was a few rounds of Old Navy orders and returns, delightful. Plus new sneaks b/c mine were worn by Joey to the farm...end of story. Wayne has had his sneaks for at least 11 years! So new ones for him. Then there was the camera bag and extra memory card and lens filters.

Then there was the expansion luggage option, providing we have any money left from "trip prep" to buy anything while we're gone;) In an effort to not check baggage until completely necessary We are each taking a "carryon rolly" and a backpack. An entire morning was spent on "Bag 5." What would it be? Finally ended up on a Medium LL Bean Duffle Bag, that is packable for the first leg of the trip, checkable, easy to spot on a carousel as it's in "Pink Aloha" print, would fit in the toolbox mounted on the frame of the big truck we're driving back AND would pass as a carryon on future trips with more people. To think one bag for $40 could do all that with a lifetime guarantee....mind blowing:)

I've also discovered, I only have 5 pairs of undies...I know, probably TMI. I do laundry often so I don't usually run into a problem. However, this trip we aren't doing laundry till day 9...herin lies the conundrum. So today I'm off to pay far too much for undies that don't last as long as they should.

Speaking of laundry, Once we added 5 more days to the trip last week I decided I wasn't buying any more clothes. Yet, it's my honeymoon...of which we will only take one, and I'm not spending a day of it doing laundry. Back in the day, I always did wash-dry-fold on the road. Ten years ago it was $1.00ish a pound. In Saratoga today it's $1.20/lb...in Louisville...it's only 60cents/lb! ding ding ding. Found a nice place with great reviews...sounds like a winner to me! Not to mention, I'd have no place to put more clothes when they came back home! Wayne and I share a 5 shelf clothing station....no closet. So yea...done buying clothes:)

Then there is TSA guidelines...oy vey! They are clearish on exclusions, but don't give an exhaustive list off acceptable items. ie: scissors less than 4" are ok. So how about tweezers? I'm throwing them in.

Joey's spending his two weeks at the farm filling in for Daddy...so we had to pack his clothes (in laundry baskets), independent school work so he doesn't forget how to write, medical release note, #s for all his Drs/specialists.

The amount of time invested is kinda crazy...but once we sit on that first plane, all alone, and properly stocked with clothes, electronics and acceptable toiletries...it will be worth it:)

I need a vacation from planning a vacation:-)