Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913

Packing Bags Made Easy

Up until November of 2005, the only trips I’d taken were to southeast Iowa to my birthplace to visit my brother, nieces and nephews, and some lifelong friends.

Over the last eight years or so, I’ve been able to take some long desired trips. For instance, I was fortunate in getting to spend three weeks with a friend who lives a few miles from London, England. With each journey, I’ve learned many little tricks to packing.

An example. If you are visiting family and friends who live in or near large towns, you don’t need to pack half your closet of clothes. Instead, take along one or two changes of clothing - just enough to get you to your destination. Once there, for $30 or so, you can purchase quite an amount of clothing at thrift stores to wear for the duration of your visit. When it’s time to return home, wash the items you bought and take them back.

Where toiletries are concerned, the travel size of items such as toothpaste, shampoo, and so on, take up very little space and are large enough to last you until you get home.

On a recent trip to Sun City, Ariz., to visit family and friends for several weeks, I received an education in packing jewelry-making supplies.

I’d purchased a large amount of beads as well as several compartmented cases to put them in. I’d decided to pack the filled cases in my suitcase at the end of my visit, as I had a day’s layover before I’d be home. That way, I could continue making jewelry in order to pass time.

Arriving at my nephew’s home, I opened my suitcase to retrieve the jewelry I’d made. What awaited me was a surprise, the likes I’d of which I’d never experienced, and hopefully, never will again. During transit, the bead cases had popped open and what seemed like 50,000 beads were scattered throughout my clothing.

Lesson learned - tape shut filled bead cases. You can bet that when I repacked my suitcase, the partially refilled cases were securely taped closed.

Always - I repeat - always have a list of what you wish to pack. It saves having to buy a power cord for your computer and one to recharge your cell phone.

With the passage of time I know I’ll learn even more of the do’s and don’ts of packing. One thing is certain - the more I learn the more efficiently I’ll be able to pack my suitcase.

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 
Rendered 02/25/2024 12:02