By now I should have more experience, or at least more wisdom. My long-awaited trip has reached its packing stage. A round-trip plane ride of several hours. To take advantage of schedules and preferred airlines and avoid plane transfers, we selected 8AM flights both ways, which will require us to rise much before my daily smartwatch signals. It also seemed prudent to turn our car rental in one day early, while transferring from more luxurious lodging to a hotel with airport transportation for our final night. Those inconveniences bookend four full days and most of the first day. Our purpose of travel this time is a family event, an informal gathering of people dear to us, including two in utero, most of whom we only met once or twice previously. Other than that afternoon, I have no compelling reason to make a personal appearance that leaves a favorable, enduring impression. I bought a new shirt for the occasion, one that looks better without a tie, which I will not pack. The remainder of our visit will include a day trip, visiting a synagogue where I had wanted to worship on a Shabbos morning for fifty years but never had the right circumstance. The hotel has amenities, so every incentive to try out their treadmill which has more features than mine. There are aquatics at the hotel. My usual summer wetness at home in recent years has been limited to two beach outings and a water park linked to an amusement park, which I opted to forgo this summer.
Packing does not seem difficult. My daily and seasonal clothing is fully organized by each type of garment. Polo shirts stacked neatly in the closet. Pants on hangers, with dress pants, chinos, and jeans sorted. Three t-shirt bins. A drawer devoted to colored socks and a section with white socks. Just go through each section. When I did that, it filled a laundry basket. Having lived in that city, I remember the seasons well. Organizing clothing properly, which I have, allows for appearance choices with little advance planning. If I want to put on blue shorts, moccasins, and a team t-shirt, I take them out and put them on. Suitcases do not handle contingencies as easily. I can take only a few t-shirts, so priorities matter. Regionals, like Philly, alma mater, and Delaware logos. Maybe my Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle selection should have representation. And as a platelet donor, the many appreciative t-shirts I've received make a statement about what I value. And our trip spans Memorial Day. Must have something that says USA. Summer weather invites shorts. Plaid or solid, plain pocket or cargo. White socks some days, colored others. A team baseball hat, but I can only take one of dozens. And shoes, multipurpose shoes that go from treadmill to street. The good carry-on remains in the closet in My Space. It would get rather heavy if everything I put into the laundry basket gets transferred to it, but it has wheels. Finally, grooming, including the TSA liquid restrictions. I've accumulated multiple Dopp sets over the decades.
The SDS Weatherman, or the reasonably predictive weather.com, altered my preferences considerably. Downpours at home on both my travel days. Rain at my destination most of my visit days. Unseasonably cool temperatures. That means long sleeves, which I did not intend to bring, fewer shorts and T's, an undershirt most days, long leg pajamas, maybe a sweatshirt with a home logo, and a baseball cap that would not cause distress if lost or ruined by the storms. Some layers. Less using clothing to showcase myself as a sojourner among natives, including our hosts at the family event.
What I intended, assuming better weather than the forecast indicates, was not very smart. Too many outfits, decisions on appearance deferred to the times of dressing with too many options, much like at home. Some of my logo items can stay home. Or better, buy a new t-shirt or two while I am traveling, one that announces where I've been when I return home. Layer things. Bring a poncho. Replace the coarse canvas tote with a mini-backpack.
And do not get sidetracked from the trip's purpose. Family event. Overdue visit to a once pioneering synagogue. A day trip to a place I've not visited before. Being with my kids. Celebrating their pregnancies. Enjoy some hotel amenities. The suitcase and its contents enable that. I really do not need to display all my teams, the Blood Bank, or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
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