There are no tips.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger      7 comments      link this post     


As much as I searched, I could not find any helpful packing tips to cover packing for:
  1. Three months away from home in a dorm-like setting.
  2. Hurricane/rainy season in Central America (Nicaragua)
  3. Weddings that I am a part of

There wasn't a lot of overlap in my mental diagram, in which I imagined each event as a circle. Except for a few instances in the "summery T-shirt and shoes" department, the circles remained a bit autonomous. The bug spray/sunblock combo isn't going overlap the items I'll need for the wedding events, for example.

So, as I stood in front of an ever-growing pile of stuff that I had to winnow down to a more manageable mountain, I faced the toughest packing of my life.

Oh my!

Usually, in January or February when it is time to go to Nicaragua, the packing and prep seems to take about a week and involves extreme heightened "what if/just in case" (i.e. "What if I need this multi-tool, just in case such-and-such a thing happens? I'd better pack it. And three extra shirts. Just in case."). It's such a huge flurry of nerves and excessive readiness as if I'm...heading to Central America...or something. But this time? This time...no. I had made lists of things I'd need for each event, and tried to figure out what stuff would fulfill it in the least amount of hassle. I really had to pare it down.*

I kind of liked the idea of packing without thinking "just in case" which ends up with too much stuff, and instead, went with the "well, if I don't have it I'll just have to do without." (The Theory of Enough, for the traveler.)

Packing and living out of a duffel bag is starting to become a normal thing. Between the constant packing for Pracs studies which involve staying in a community dorm room and bunking at my sister's house, to past forays into urban camping to save gas while working, I've got a kind of system worked out.

I won't tell you that system.

It would scare you.

Regardless, I've never had to pack for an entire summer for very different locations and events like this. Throw in a handful of tech help calls from my nephew, two rush orders that I had to complete today, and an uncooperative computer, and you have the picture of wild multi-tasking.

To make things go a bit smoother for me, I took Claritin** to combat the effects of extreme mowing yesterday (I did it just to give my parents a free week ahead on the mowing and complained about how dry it was only to have it rain today) and finally cracked open a box of chocolate lard my friend had given me months ago. I, essentially, medicated myself twice, for chocolate is a medication.

As it is, I've loaded up the Jeep with:
A couple more things to finish tonight, and that's it.




* Kind of like I should have pared down this blog post.

** I rarely take any kind of medicine. I'm wary of the possible side-effects. I just couldn't deal with it today, however. Too much to get done.

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Copyright (c) Julie R. Neidlinger  6/03/2008 06:29:00 PM   (7) comments   Links to this post    

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7 Comments:

Julie --

I stand in awe at your ability to pack all of that into a Jeep. Are you able to fit yourself in? You must truly be the "Master of the Pack".

Anyway, I wish you bon voyage. May you have a safe and uneventful journey to your destinations. May God watch over you and may His grace inspire you to achieve all you hope to. And may you return from your adventures filled with new inspiration and ready to tackle new and exciting challenges.

Take care.

Rey

By Blogger Rey, at 4/6/08 03:22  

You do realize that I look forward to all your little twitters or whatever they are called. I really HOPE this is an enjoyable summer!

By Blogger Jacqui, at 4/6/08 06:29  

We (I) will miss you and will check in from time to time to see if anything appears.

God Bless your next few months. Things are changing.

By Blogger Gene Redlin, at 4/6/08 07:40  

I still miss you. Even though you brought me a sugar-free Big Train. I appreciate that you paid me back...except it was sugar-free, did I mention that? And, yes, I still miss you even though I usually see you only once a week and who would miss someone they see once a week? But I miss you.

By Blogger Anna, at 4/6/08 21:23  

Anna, you are officially a stalker.

That's awesome.

:-)

If I get around to designing the official "Lone Prairie Stalker" T-shirts like I've considered...you must get one.

By Blogger Julie R. Neidlinger, at 6/6/08 11:44  

I take an XXL for the Tshirts whenever you get around to them. It will be on my "must get" list.

By Blogger Will, at 6/6/08 14:53  

Now is when I prepare a lawsuit against you for calling me a stalker and then we'll be in court together and I'll get to see you and be ever so happy as I'm drinking my sugarful Big Train and you won't have one and then I can visit you in jail because you won't be able to pay the judgement against you and I'll be wearing my brand new extra special artist-designed stalker t shirt. Oops, too much medication can be a bad thing, too!

By Blogger Anna, at 7/6/08 09:01  

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