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[alleyoxenfree]

Despite efforts not to pack at the last minute, I frequently find that the day before I leave I have to refill all prescriptions, do laundry (which will not be dry in time to pack it), purchase more comfortable shoes, do dishes, eat all fruits and vegies that will go bad in my absence, pay bills that were postponed for no good reason, and spend too much money at Kinko's printing something because all other available printers are suddenly down.

Do you have a checklist - one week prior, two days prior, etc. - for leaving town, from anywhere for a weekend to several weeks, that keeps you sane?

[hegemony]

I have a hard and fast rule that I must be completely packed, with suitcases zipped and standing ready to go, two days before leaving.  That takes care of a lot of the problems.

[yellowtractor]

I have a hard and fast rule that I must be completely packed, with suitcases zipped and standing ready to go, two days before leaving.  That takes care of a lot of the problems.

All packing one day prior for me, for any trip longer than overnight.  All errands the day before that (I do make a list, yes).

It's not that I'm usually this organized.  It's that I'm so desperately disorganized that only this rule keeps me from losing my mind ahead of major travel.

When I started doing it this way, a few years ago (when I was on the market, actually, and flying out for campus interviews), I actually had to buy extra clothes to make sure I had enough outfits to pack ahead of time and allow for not having the laundry done on schedule.  Some of the best money I ever spent.

[seniorscholar]

I have a hard and fast rule that I must be completely packed, with suitcases zipped and standing ready to go, two days before leaving.  That takes care of a lot of the problems.

Me too -- gives me time to remember I don't have the belt for that outfit and need to replace the toothpaste that lives full time in the ready-packed toiletry kit.

And at least three days beforehand: make sure there's enough dogfood for the house-sitter.

[elsie]

I make a point to use up and throw away consumables on the trip. So if my toothbrush is due for a change, I buy a new brush, leave it home for when I get back, and then I pack and throw away the toothbrush when it's time to leave the hotel. I've also learned to choose shoes very carefully and make sure to have two pairs that rub my feet in different places, just so I can switch off when the blisters start rising.

[anon99]

I don't have a formal checklist, but the week before I check my fridge before going shopping to make sure I don't buy too much fresh food.  Plants get watered the night before.  I always pack my clothes the night before or the morning of my departure.  Papers and stuff are packed ahead of time and gone through to make sure I don't have too much cr@p.  All my bills are automatic, so I don't worry about that.

[elsie]

How much last-minute tweaking do you do? I leave in about 4 hours, and I'm considering changes in what I've packed just to make sure I have a potential lost luggage outfit to carry on.

I check bags because it's common at my small regional airport to have to carry one's bags down to the tarmac and then up the plane's steps, which is hard on my back.

[hegemony]

I have a standard checklist list I made up of what to pack for different situations (conference, vacation, etc.), divided into "checked bag" and "carry-on bag."  I always make sure I have a change of clothes and toiletries bag in the carry-on bag, in case the checked luggage is lost, which it sometimes is.  I keep some things stored permanently in my luggage: toiletries bag with all contents, travel umbrella, a silk travel bathrobe that fits into a teeny-weeny bag, and a drawstring bag in which to put dirty clothes.  This makes traveling much less horrific.

[alleyoxenfree]

I have a standard checklist list I made up of what to pack for different situations (conference, vacation, etc.), divided into "checked bag" and "carry-on bag."  I always make sure I have a change of clothes and toiletries bag in the carry-on bag, in case the checked luggage is lost, which it sometimes is.  I keep some things stored permanently in my luggage: toiletries bag with all contents, travel umbrella, a silk travel bathrobe that fits into a teeny-weeny bag, and a drawstring bag in which to put dirty clothes.  This makes traveling much less horrific.

I keep these things in the bags too, but clearly, I need to develop a real checklist that I can just tick off - keeping it in my head ("don't forget socks!") is just too stressful now. 

Compared to others here, I am a last-minute packer without knowing it.  With family and friends who pack in the last hour before, I though I was doing well to do it the day before...but it would be definitely be less stressful to observe the 2-day rule and multiple days in terms of the fridge.  I knew this trip was coming up for several weeks, but didn't even think about it when I was at the supermarket a few days ago.

Part of it is that I have a tendency to overpack because I often don't know what the activities will be.  Will we go swimming? Hiking?  Will it be cold/hot?  It seems I am often going on trips where great clothing flexibility is needed, and my big pet peeve is winding up with too many shoes.  Yet when I don't take them, I usually feel underdressed, wandering around in the Teva's I wore to the airport because I don't have nicer sandals to go out to dinner, because I didn't think we were going out to dinner.

It's a work in progress, so it helps to hear others' methodology.

[elsie]

I know I overpack clothes, but I like being have a couple of options, not just a set number of outfits per trip. The shoe thing is really hard for me because I have a lot of orthopedic issues with my legs and feet. I have a hard time figuring out which pair can get me through security quickly and through the airport without too much pain.

[marigolds]

I have a standard checklist list I made up of what to pack for different situations (conference, vacation, etc.), divided into "checked bag" and "carry-on bag."  I always make sure I have a change of clothes and toiletries bag in the carry-on bag, in case the checked luggage is lost, which it sometimes is.  I keep some things stored permanently in my luggage: toiletries bag with all contents, travel umbrella, a silk travel bathrobe that fits into a teeny-weeny bag, and a drawstring bag in which to put dirty clothes.  This makes traveling much less horrific.

This is so anal. I LOVE it. I'm going to do that.

Post your sample lists?

[hegemony]

At the risk of seeming ridiculous to everyone, I'll post my list for a 2-3 day conference.  I developed this after years of traveling the way my mother did, which was to pack everything but the kitchen sink, struggle desperately with luggage on the journey, find I'd forgotten a couple of crucial things despite having packed umpteen unnecessary things, etc.  I do a lot of traveling and this is the only thing that's kept me sane.  I also travel in an outfit that's comfortable but reputable enough that I can give my paper in it in case my luggage is lost, after one embarrassing experience when my luggage was lost and I had to give my paper in the sweats I had been traveling in.  And I also buy clothes (especially shoes -- especially sandals!) with eye towards combining wearability and some minimal degree of respectability.  This aim is clearly going against the manufacturers' design principles.  Anyway, here's the list:

Conference Packing List

to wear on plane:
___reputable outfit for travelling there
___comfy shoes if possible
___jacket if warranted
___watch
In onboard bag:
___Airplane ticket or receipt
___2 pairs glasses
___wallet
___1 pair undies
___1 pair socks
___T-shirt for sleeping
___toiletries bag, incl. earplugs
___small notebook
___ book for reading on plane
___ text of paper
___ address book
___small purse
___ phone, recharger
In suitcase:
___undies x days gone
___black socks x days gone
___reputable outfit for travelling back
___travel umbrella
___heavy-duty cold medicine, aspirin, antihistamines
___bathrobe
___pajama pants
___black pants
___conference shoes
___black top
___ other tops x days
___2 conference jackets
___travel iron (unless staying in hotel)
___travel hairdryer (unless staying in hotel)
___ earrings

[ab_grp]

I am a terrible travel planner.  I usually pack way too much.  If I pack too far ahead of time, I end up pulling everything out and re-inventorying it.  I also tend to run around in the last few minutes before leaving, throwing various odds and ends in.  This is the case despite the fact that I always prepare a full list of items that I'd like to bring with me at least a few days ahead of time.  Maybe I should bring a flashlight! What about an umbrella? A second container of dental floss? A travel wine opener (priorities)? A hat of some sort? Yet another pair of shoes for some unlikely occasion?  There's always the optimism that tells me that I might go to the gym this time, so I should definitely bring my fitness gear and sneakers.  The vacuum-seal bags seem to work well for transporting dirty clothing back.  That's about the only tip I feel that I can offer! My carry-on always contains my "best" outfit, which is usually my presentation outfit if I'm headed to a conference. I am very interested in hearing what works for everyone else.

On preview: this is a great list, Hegemony.  I would have underwear x days gone +  2 or so, just in case.  This is just one example of how my plans to pack as lightly as possible start to unravel.

[elsie]

I'm packing my own hairdryer this time. I've rarely been pleased with any of the hotel versions. I do extra underwear, in case of travel problems or other kinds of 'accidents'.

[larryc]

I travel a lot mostly for consulting, sometimes for conferences and research. I pack the night before, throwing a bunch of crap into a very small suitcase. Often I forget stuff, but you know what?, they have it there. People worry too much.