= Premium Content

  • Monday, May 28, 2012

Previous

Next

‘I Seem to Have Forgotten My Pants’

February 22, 2012, 9:42 am

By Allison M. Vaillancourt

I know several people who travel so much for work that they have “home clothes” and “travel clothes” in addition to always ready-to-go bags with toothpaste and conditioner. I travel enough that I don’t find packing stressful, but not frequently enough to have an established routine. Given that, I almost always forget something.

Last week I traveled to Phoenix to attend a board of regents meeting and forgot my running shoes and toothbrush. When I met my early morning walking group wearing cowboy boots instead of my hot pink Asics, it prompted a conversation about how common and embarrassing it can be to leave vital items at home. One person shared that she went for an interview and discovered she had forgotten to pack the skirt that went with the top part of her ensemble. Another recounted wearing shorts on the plane and realizing at 11:00 p.m., when all the stores were closed, that he had a blazer, shirt and tie, but no pants for his 8:00 a.m. consulting meeting. I confessed to an unfortunate three-day trip to San Diego in which I reached the airport only to realize my suitcase was not in my trunk, but at home on my bed. “Hey, everyone,” I began the first committee meeting, “we are going to have to end early because the mall closes at 8:00 and I have arrived without underwear.”

Given that I seem to be challenged to pack required pants, power cords and potions, I decided that it was finally time to create a reusable travel checklist. I was inspired by both my latest packing gaffe and the completion of The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande. This book, which focuses extensively on the power of checklists to reduce medical and aviation errors, applies to everyday life as well. It argues making a checklist requires a bit of sustained thinking, and then frees up later brain space for worrying about other things. Phone charger? Check! Allergy medicine? Yes! Running socks? Got ‘em.

I did a quick Google search on “travel kits” and found a variety tools that helped me build a customized checklist this weekend. It is a thing of beauty, but something tells me it is probably missing a few key items. I’m sure all will be revealed during my next trip.

Do you have any tips for making it easier to pack for professional meetings? What is the most interesting thing you have ever forgotten?

This entry was posted in General Interest, Work and Life. Bookmark the permalink.

  • Print
  • Comment
  • rick1952

    We, as a nation, will  continue to struggle with Affirmative Action, whether it is class or race based as long as our society continues to provide advantages and disadvantages to young people based on their SES and skin color.  Waiting until college to try to address this falls in the category of “better late than never.”  It would be less necessary to pursue these remedies if all low-income students whose skin color marks them as other than white were not so egregiously concentrated in poor elementary and high schools in so many of our urban areas.  Address this disparity earlier in the pipeline and we will reduce the need for correction (i.e., affirmative action) at the level of higher education.

    When all is said and done, however, I believe Kahlenberg offers a clear and reasonable strategy for addressing the fundamental inequity in our society, and this is especially relevant as we continue to see the widening economic gap between the top tier and the middle and lower tiers of our society.  If we don’t want to foment true class warfare, we need to be sure low-income youth have a real opportunity to advance themselves via higher education.  Failure on that agenda will only lead to greater conflicts.

  • yellow1

    If you have a laptop, get a slightly bigger bag for it if the bag you have/it came with is only large enough for the actual machine. I have a docking station at my desk, so my laptop is my desktop. My slightly larger than standard laptop bag (which never is questioned as a carry on and has a shoulder strap) has a power cord, data cord, business cards, a binder with legal pad, writing utensils, and I put my phone charger in it when I leave. I could get through any meeting/event, assuming there was power/data/wireless, with what’s in that bag.

    Clothes? I always forget something. Can’t help anyone there.

  • angustias

    I travel a lot, but on a foreign trip found I had only the bra I was wearing.  As the place was tropical and I am, ahem, somewhat buxom, one bra was not going to do it.  Did I mention the place was populated mostly by people 6 inches and 50 lbs smaller than I, so a local store was not an option. I was saved by an email home to my husband who delivered a couple extras to a (fortunately female) colleague who was joining the group a few days later.  Otherwise it would have been sink washing and wearing it damp.

    Carry on bag must always have extra undies and a top that is wrinkle free and packs small.  Always take small scissors (rounded for the TSA) and duct tape. And toilet paper rolled into small easy to put in your pocket lengths if you travel to non-Hilton kind of places.  Bring both paper and zip drive copies of your paper.  More business cards than you think you’ll need.  A tee shirt of your institution can be an emergency top at meetings – people will think you are promoting.  Women- neutral shawl is a must, can cover a lot and keep the air conditioning off, and tossed over the tee makes you sort of presentable for meetings.

    Learn to keep a straight face.

  • 22280998

    On longer trips, your suitcase may not arrive with you. So, your carry-on should hold one or two changes of underwear along with an extra shirt and pants. I also have some of the non-liquid laundry soap and a sink stopper.

    Of course, it should contain all prescriptions, tooth care, and shaving stuff.

  • totoro

     Yeah, I ended up in Atlanta in heavy snow in January with no real shoes just the sandals I’d been wearing in Australia because my bag didn’t arrived. At least the other bag with my coat did arrive…. I bought some shoes the next morning but had to walk through the snow in sandals to get to the store.

  • recalcitrant

    Make your list using a spreadsheet so you can plug in the number of days you will be gone to magically generate the correct count of items needed.

    I now carry my medication (with a couple of extra dosages) in my carryon after being stuck at a hub during a snowstorm for a few days.

  • 22086364

    I keep Ziploc bags of various sizes in my suitcase and carry.  Then, as I pack, I can see that I have enough (and extra) underwear, socks, and toiletries for my time away.  The ziplocs in my carry on remind me to pack  at least one change of foundation wear.  As a bonus, the TSA folks may squeeze or fondle the white shirts or sweaters I pack in plastic, but they’ve never opened the bags.  Thus, I have what is to me the reassurance that my clothes have not been pawed through.

  • 22086364

     ”suitcase and carry on”

  • blendedlibrarian

    I’ve been using a checklist for years because I know I’m going to forget something – and the list has really cut down on that happening. I recently added sunscreen and sunglasses. When you live in the northeast, and travel to any sunny/warm destination in the colder months, the last thing you are thinking about is sun protection. I also found some sunscreen in single packets and I just keep a few of those in a suitcase pocket. I also switched to wearing underwear (ex officio is the brand) that you can wash in the sink and wear the next day – it dries that fast. If you wear one set and take one set you’l never be short a pair for any trip.

  • singfasola

    I also use Excel spreadsheets. I have one for going to conferences (2 days plus travel) and one for a long trip that I make every other year.  The spreadsheets really are my packing checklist.  I wear slacks/jeans for most of these excursions so if I’ve packed for the wrong weather I can usually put a decent outfit together anyway. But  a checklist is only as good as the one checking. I almost always forget socks.

  • missoularedhead

    I always pack a pair of dark wash jeans in my carry on (along with extra underwear, of course). They can work with a top as somewhat presentable in a professional setting, just in case everything else gets lost.

  • cwinton

    In packing I don’t have trouble with clothes … if nothing else because you at least have the ones your are wearing (packing for a climate shift is another matter) and I have made a habit of mentally dressing myself from feet up as I pack.  It’s the little things I use on autopilot at home that I found would get left out, even with a list.  I haven’t had to refer to a list for years now since I set up a carry-on in which I permanently store items I typically need while traveling.  For me this amounts to the TSA quart bag, a kit of appliances (like comb, toothbrush, floss, throw away razor, small bar of soap), a prescription drug container, travel umbrella, bed room slippers, light weight pajamas, small flash light, travel pack of tissue, extra pair of glasses, and small containers of OTC stuff (e.g., aspirin).  I even include a spare cell phone charger now because I once went a week on the road without one (the cell phone spent a lot of time off to conserve power).  If you travel with a lap top as your personal carry-on item, the advice to use a somewhat larger lap top bag is apropos … among other items I permanently keep in mine are an extension cord and snack bars.  One other thing – always take at least an extra day’s worth of prescription drugs (the prescription drug container that permanently resides in my carry-on is my prescription drug reminder as I prepare for a trip).  While multi-day delays are rare, single day delays happen regularly.

  • marjo

    You can always find slacks at a 24 hour Walmart.

  • abreaux

    I not only have a checklist for what I’m taking with me, but also for shutting the house down. When you live alone and the trip is more than a few days, shutting down the house is also a part of the prep. Water plants, stop mail, turn the heat down or a/c up, set alarm, send itinerary to my brother (so someone knows if my plane crashes!), put out trash, set out of office phone and e-mail messages, back up hard drive before disconnecting laptop, run dishwasher, print relevant paperwork for the trip, etc.

  • jsibelius

    Provided the place you’re headed actually has a 24-hour WalMart.  Or slacks that fit.

  • copesan

    I have just stopped checking bags.  I found a black canvas  no-frills duffle at a yard sale for $3 that fits into almost any overhead compartment (except those itty bitty jets that look like they have been shrunk in the dryer.  Then I gate check).   I have to wear whatever fits, and it sure has taught me some wardrobe efficiency.  It did not keep me from forgetting my toothbrush recently, but it does prevent having the airlines lose the suitcase.

  • ttfromnj

    I use the packing list created by FlyLady, who has all sorts of systems for keeping on top of household duties. Sometimes FlyLady is overwhelming but sometimes the simple steps really help.

  • fenster1

    I arrived in a distant city for that interview for a senior position at a college.  Well prepared, I thought.  All clothes checklisted, check.  Only problem was that the pants to my suit slipped of the hanger at home and I though I thought I was packing my suit I was in fact only packing my jacket.  But the show must go on!  So I wore the suit coat with a pair of informal pants and made it the highlight of my entrance.  I got the offer.

  • kronicul

    We have used travel lists for years both for personal travel and professional travel.  For professional travel in country for just several days up to a week, I travel in business attire and try to use only a carry-on and a personal bag.  No checking, no lost luggage.  If I can go to Europe or China for a month with only that amount of luggage, I can go to a professional meeting the same way.  Keep it simple.  Roll clothes for fewest wrinkles.  Coordinate everything.  I put address labels on all electrical cords having left some in rooms before. 

  • jclarkhpa

    I travel extensively internationally across climate zones since I work in the admission office. Three important suggestions:

    First, buy packing cubes. I have several kinds but I’m partial to Eagle Creek. If everything has a place in your luggage and it’s hyper-organized, it’s easy to identify if something is missing. I remember going through the airport in Mexico City with a colleague, my luggage was searched but since it was all visible and easy to see, they opened the bag, nudged a couple things, closed it and waived me through (typical of what happens to me). My colleague was more of a drop it in and hope it all fits kind of gal with her suitcase. It was embarrassing for her when security opened the luggage and then proceeded to take everything out as if they were shopping in the bargain bin at the local clothing store. EVERY piece of clothing was lifted up for inspection and for all to see, along with everything else in the suitcase. She was mortified and now swears by the packing cubes since she can breeze through security inspection without showing the world what kind of underwear she wears.

    Second, I moved my travel lists over to a great app called Packing Pro. I can’t remember if it costs any money, but it’s worth it. I can keep different lists according to the length of the trip. What I also found useful is to organize my list by bag or suitcase, not by topic. Although I carry a lot of electronics, I don’t keep them all in the same bag, some I need all the time and it’s in my backpack, some go into my checked luggage because I only need it rarely, and the rest go into my carry-on roller board to keep it safe and quasi accessible for any meetings straight off the plane. This goes the same for clothes, some are in my backpack in case I lose my luggage. If I keep my lists by bag, it’s easy to make sure I got everything, but also I got it in the right place. After a while, using the “everything has a place, and there’s a place for everything” philosophy you will be familiar enough with each piece of luggage so you know exactly where to find anything, and you’ll also know immediately if something is missing because there’s a void in the bag where the thing should go.

    Finally, a critical mistake people make is not forgetting stuff at home, but forgetting and leaving stuff in the hotel when you check out. In my early days of travel, I left my passport in the safe in the room, checked out, and went to the airport in Seoul to fly home after eight weeks on the road. Needless to say I bribed my taxi driver to break every traffic law to get back to the hotel and then speed back to the airport, and I walked on the plane as they were closing the door. That taught me a valuable lesson. A few years ago a friend gave me the best travel advice I’ve ever heard and now I use it constantly. When checking out of your hotel, use SCAT. S stands for the safe, make sure you empty your safe of all valuables, passports, airline tickets, etc. C stands for closet, be sure to get all the clothes you ironed and had hanging or the laundry you had the hotel do and they left in the closet for you. A stands for the area around the desk, be sure to pick up all your paperwork, but equally important all your chargers that are plugged in the wall, or other electronics. T stands for toiletries, scan the counter tops and shower for any of your toiletries and make sure they go back into your kit. By following SCAT you will ensure that all those important things you packed at home are available to you throughout your trip rather than an accidental gift for the person cleaning your hotel room.

  • jmargerum

    Not about a professional trip, but a camping trip:  I was driving out of the woods a few years ago on a rutted, remote mountain road.  Propped to a tree by the side of the road was a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood. On the plywood was spray painted in orange the message “Don’t Forget The Dog!”.  I figure whoever posted that had either left the dog at camp and made it all the way home dogless or had a spouse who had done so.

    Jon

  • revbookdoctor

    Went to a conference in DC one time and forgot a belt for my suit pants.  Luckily a nearby department store opened early enough to go get one.  As the clerk was ringing up the sale, she started to cut the tags off and said “I assume you are wearing this out?  Men that buy belts first thing have always forgotten them and usually wear them immediately.”  I didn’t feel so bad at that point, especially when she told me that it happened 2-3 times per week.

    Now I just mentally run through my schedule and what I would need to get dressed, do business, etc., for each day.  Seems to work for me.

  • tfriel

    I have travelled a lot in my life.  I have my toiletries and make up, travel hair blower and curlers as well as some items that are helpful to have in special bags in my suitcase at all times.  I never unpack them.  As for clothes, I don’t travel enough to leave them packed but there are a few items that I do leave in the suitcase.  Umbrella.  first aid kit and allergy medications. 
    when I pack clothes, I lay everything out on the bed.  i choose one color to travel with.  So a black suit and if I choose a red blouse, then all other items coordinate with that color for the duration of the trip.  I limit myself to one emergency item like a dress for possible formal event..one that does not wrinkle.  I have a black jersey knit dress that I use for that purpose.  it’s a perfect dress for a jacket or with a pashmina.  I carry a pashmina on all trips.  Good for just that extra blanket at night when I can’t get one (europe especially) or on the plane.  I always carry a change of clothes for the next day in my carry on in case my suitcase is lost.  (if I check a bag)  I try to plan to exercise simply.  I always carry my swimsuit, goggles and a cap incase there’s a lap pool (I’m a triathlete) and if there’s room I carry running shoes and workout clothes for one work out that can be washed and dried over night. 
    Oh yes I have several packets of single use detergent for washing clothes so I don’t have to carry enough fo rthe whole trip..only half or less.

  • headcrash

    I highly recommend the iOS app called: “TripList,” which combines a “packing list” with a “to do before you go” list as well.

  • minnesotan

     I need to make so many checklists that I’ve decided to make a checklist checklists, so I don’t forget any of them.

  • nyhist

    I once was traveling to give a lecture. . .and forgot it at my office. Fortunately, I had traveled a day early so I called the dept secretary and she faxed it to me. 

  • 11182967

    The first time my attorney son appeared before the US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals he discovered as he dressed at his hotel in the morning that he hadn’t brought the pants to his suit.  Time was short, so he had to appear in full lawyer regalia except for the jeans he’d worn coming in on the plane the night before.  He began his presentation by apologizing to the court for his “wardrobe malfunction” (it wasn’t long after that Super Bowl event), and succeeded in his argument notwithstanding his apparel.  When he appeared before the same court again many months later one justice (a female as I recall the story) congratulated him on having worn his full outfit this time.  A little humor can go a long way. 

  • http://twitter.com/jenfoolery Jenny Reiswig

    Happily or unhappily, 24-hour Walmarts are rarely located within easy striking distance of major convention centers.

  • 11164975

    I once arrived at a conference where I was presenting only to find I had reached into my dark closet and grabbed  one black shoe and one navy blue shoe.  Oh, well, I thought, who will notice, until I realized they were both for my left foot! My only other shoes were sneakers, which definitely did not go with my dress and would be noticed.  Luckily my talk was at 10 am and the mall next door to the hotel opened at 9:30 am.  I was standing at the door and quickly bought a lovely pair of navy blue heels. 

    —Linda

Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.

  • The Chronicle of Higher Education
  • 1255 Twenty-Third St, N.W.
  • Washington, D.C. 20037