✈️ Packing Light (Or So I Told Myself)
What’s in your suitcase? 🧳
Let me tell you about ours — because our trip to Maine turned into a masterclass in overpacking.
As some of you know, I won a trip to Maine last year. 🎉 I was thrilled! Never been before, so naturally, I hit the internet for tips. Every post, every blog, every chirpy travel influencer said the same thing: “Pack for all kinds of weather.”
Well, they weren’t wrong. We left Montana at four in the morning. October. Freezing. ❄️ Heavy coats? ✅ Check.
But here’s the kicker: as soon as you hit the airport, you’re in climate-controlled comfort where coats become dead weight. Did we leave room in the suitcase for those big fluffy coats? Of course not. So there we were, dragging them through every airport, every terminal, every coffee line. ☕ On the bright side, they make a fantastic pillow during a long layover. 💤 Silver linings, people!
Now, let’s talk about Rick — my husband, the photographer. 📸
If you’ve ever traveled with a photographer, you know “packing light” is a foreign language they will never learn. He packed two cameras for himself — and one for me (which I didn’t ask for, by the way 😅) — plus lenses for every possible moment. Whale watching? 🐋 200mm lens. People shots? 50mm lens. Night photography? 🌙 You guessed it — another lens. Meanwhile, I’m over here with my trusty phone, hitting the shutter and hollering “Oh shoot!” when I accidentally take ten blurry pictures of my thumb. 👍
Of course, camera gear is sacred, so those became our carry-ons. Can’t trust the airlines with your life’s work! ✈️
And then came the clothes.
Some genius (cough—probably me—cough) decided we didn’t want to do laundry on vacation. So what did we pack? Two weeks’ worth of clothes.
Fourteen pairs of pants EACH. 👖 FOURTEEN!
Socks, underwear, and yes, fourteen shirts for me — because, well, feeding the girls often leads to wardrobe casualties. 🍽️ But it didn’t stop there — sweaters, tees, long sleeves, short sleeves, just-in-case sleeves… We basically packed an entire department store. 🛍️
Now here’s the fun part: souvenirs.
You’re supposed to bring something back for the kids and grandkids, right? 🎁 Cute idea — until you realize your suitcases are already bursting at the seams. We debated leaving clothes in the hotel, buying another suitcase, or just wearing all our extra layers home like a pair of travel-weary marshmallows. 😂 In the end, we went with tiny trinkets. Sorry, kids — no moose antlers or lobster traps this time. 🦞🦌
But hey — now we’ve got a fifth wheel! 🚐 Suddenly, packing feels a whole lot easier.
Of course, it won’t help much if we ever go to Hawaii — pretty sure they frown on towing a camper across the Pacific. 🌊 But when we do hit the road closer to home, souvenirs might finally have a fighting chance.
So — what should I bring you back? (Other than great stories, of course!) 💬
Stay tuned — Monday’s the big day!
👉 Wanda-ism of the day: “Packing light sounds responsible… but overpacking makes a much better story.”
🌟 Have you checked out my other stories?
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There’s a little something for everyone — happy reading!