Overnight trip upcoming. By car. With wallet and credit card and enough cash. To a major city with retail options exceeding what I have at home. I should be able to put my worldly goods in something more compact than my airline carry-on. Clothing for the next day. Grooming needs for the morning. PJs. Even my laptop with its charging cord.
But over an adult lifetime of short trips, my ability to plan sensibly has yielded to the what-ifs and what else might I like to do while away. Some things I never take, especially stuff that's not mine. My two checked-out library books stay home. When I complete the return drive, I may not go directly home, as I have a synagogue event to attend. A casual one, but not t-shirt and shorts for a kabbalat shabbat gathering. I will need to drive home in something I can wear there. And I will need an extra outfit in
case I spill something on what I would have worn in either direction.
My grooming kit is largely set from previous longer travel. It takes some room, and I probably won't use more than a comb and dental supplies which can fit in a TSA quart-size clear plastic bag, much smaller than my dopp kit. Spare glasses can stay in their usual car compartment. I need them most when I need to drive home, though I always exchange my good pair for a more expendable set when I risk losing them at a beach or amusement park. Neither of these destinations planned.
Even though I will only be with my daughter and granddaughter for about 24 hours, they may want to eat out. Need something suitable. Bought a VLog kit to record the little one. Have to take that. And there are things I work on. Laptop. Mini-recorder. Moleskine clone. Some pens. Maybe a small portfolio with paper. Transistor radio? Can stay home. My medicines I will transfer to another case. Two pills at night, seven the next morning. No reason to take two weekly pill cases. Prescriptions I cannot easily purchase while away, though nothing will seriously happen to me if I miss those pills for one dose. Or maybe not work on stuff for two days, other than what I can directly perform on a laptop and cell phone. Charging cords? I keep a car charging cord, so I could charge the cell phone en route or use that charging cord in my hostess' port that she uses. And VLog charging cords part of the package. Same port as cell phone. Maybe leave smart watch home and wear the more functional Casio 168, which needs no charging. Cell phone can do pretty much the smart watch tasks that I use. Count down timer mostly.
YouTube has ample short videos of how to best pack. Most are based on experience. None addresses my fears of not having what I need when I need it, let alone the easy ability to compensate. I'll overpack as usual, but try to show some restraint.
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