One of my greatest finds is the compression packing cube. I’ve used packing cubes before and found them to be surprising helpful. Then I discovered compression cubes and I got excited. I’ve used compression bags before, but rolling up each bag as you pack takes a lot of time and strong hands. While compression cubes takes just a quick and careful zip and voila the volume is reduced by 40 to 50 percent. Just what I needed!

So I set out all my clothes, folded them into cubes and filled my backpack and carry-on tote. After weeks of thinking about what I would need and wanted to take with me, I was surprised that almost everything fit. I would need to eliminate a few items but not many. Now to see if I could carry it. So I took a walk around my block. It was in the high 70’s and there is a nice hill up in one direction so I thought it was a good test. My backpack weighed in at about 30 pounds and my tote a few more. And although I was able to complete the walk, it tired me out and my shoulders ached. So I decided not to use the backpack but instead rely on the kindness of strangers or hire someone to help me when my roller bag doesn’t work. But I did like the idea of a backpack, so I ditched the tote bag and bought a smaller bright red backpack to use as my personal item.

So back to my little yellow suitcase. I repacked for test number two, removing a few items and everything fit! I used every bit of space as well as the expansion area of the suitcase, but it fit. So this is what I’m taking: 4 pairs of pants, 5 dresses, 1 skirt, 3 long sleeve shirts, 2 short sleeve shirts, 4 sleeveless shirts, 2 scarves, 2 pair shorts, 2 pair leggings, 2 sweaters, 2 pair pjs, I long underwear top, a swim suit and coverup, 1 rain coat, a mid-weight jacket, and a jogging jacket, 2 hats, a ball cap, a pair of hiking shoes, I pair walking shoes, 2 pairs of sandals, 1 pair of flip flops, underwear, bras, hiking socks and no seeums. Lots of layers and multi-functional items and enough I hope to only have to do laundry every two weeks.

Of course besides clothes I also need my laptop, a mini iPad – as my e-reader, my phone and associated cords, a battery pack and an adaptor. Ear phones, ear plugs, eye mask, face masks, a deck of cards, a day pack, prescriptions, antibiotics, malaria pills, liquid bandaid, hydrocortisone cream, razors, toothbrushes, deodorant, bar shampoo and conditioner, tooth powder. Limiting my liquids to just one quart size bag was a challenge but with a few substitutions I managed. It’s surprising how much room these things take up. Just the pills took up a lot of space.

I think I’ve thought through everything. My goal is not to buy things along the way, unless I need to replace something that’s worn out and not to leave a trail of things behind. Shopping isn’t my favorite thing and when you need something it’s even worse. And at 5’10” with size 11 shoes replacements won’t be easily available. When I was in Croatia last year (their people are the third tallest in the world) I saw a cute pair of sandals and asked the clerk if they had an eleven and she replied as she waved her hand at me “no big feet here, no big feet.” So I can imagine what they would say in Japan for example. And in New Zealand I needed another layer and although I shopped over several days, I was unable to find anything I liked that didn’t cost $350. I did finally find a sweater in a thrift shop only to have the temperatures rise on the rest of the trip.

I’m ready to go and super excited. Take off at 5 pm!!!