Packing

Packing is never fun for me, since I am a chronic over-packer. I can't imagine my life for the next weekend/conference/week without far too many things. I just imagine all the scenarios in which I might need certain shoes, tops, purses ... So I pack them all. And then end up packing all the wrong stuff.

So packing to move to Spain is a particular type of torture. I can't take everything I own. More than that, I don't want to take everything I own since I will eventually have to move it all back. I'm also hoping not to ship things, so I'm planning on checking two big suitcases and a small carry-on size suitcase.

So, two weeks ago I cleaned out my closets and dressers. Three big garbage bags full of clothes went to charity, and I sorted things into "stuff I have to take", "stuff I'll take if I have room" and "stuff I'm not taking.". Unfortunately, the last pile is tiny ... And the first pile is huge. So that first pile got subdivided into "stuff I need to take" and "stuff I want to take".

Then I started actually packing today. So far I'm done with pants, skirts, blouses, blazers/jackets, cardigans and shorts/capris (the last pile is easy because I have almost none of these ...).  I'm also done with sweaters, t-shirts/other tops, pajamas, dresses, jeans, and work out clothes.  I managed to be totally ruthless and am hoping to not have to cut out even more items from what I've already packed.

Still to pack? Coats, handbags, shoes, belts, socks, etc. Plus all of my non-clothing stuff. All my clothes so far fit in my two big suitcases with plenty of room in each of them for some non-clothes stuff, shoes, etc.  I'm hoping to carry on my backpack (the smaller of two options) and a purse ... but I might have to take my big backpack and/or another bag.

Deciding what shoes and bags to take is probably going to be as hard as the clothing stuff so far ... but with 5 full days before I leave, I feel pretty good about what's done!

More to come that's not just a laundry-list of what I've packed!