TRIPPIN

A while back, maybe 5 years ago, I was packing for a trip, going back and forth from drawers to closet and room to room – I could hear my own footsteps had the same quality I’ve heard in dog’s nails pacing a wooden floor; lost and frantic, looking for someone to come and put the leash on. I kept going; picking up a shirt, some pencils, the big coat or the raincoat? Eight pairs of shoes, ten different kinds of face hair body potions. Do I need a dress-up outfit? Appointment book, toothbrush, then running over to the dirty clothes basket to see if the only skirt I ever wear was buried down in there.

Then – practically shouting – a clear cry from my body, ”Just tell me what to do and I’ll do it, but don’t make me figure all this out!!!” It stopped me in my tracks. I sat down with a pencil and paper and a clear logical mind, thought through the trip I was about to take, and made a list of what I’d need.

Then, good as gold, I simply went from place to place gathering up the items. 

A few months ago I realized I’d been making pretty much the same list each time with just a few variations depending on the nature of the trip and I typed it into my computer. So now all I have to do is print it out and highlight and maybe add one or two specifics.

What have you discovered that makes traveling easier?