Packing for Thanksgiving

I'm basically a professional at packing up my life's essentials and commuting across New York State. I've taken planes, I've taken busses, I've been driven and today, I'm taking the train. It's an art form, but I've gotten it down almost to perfection.

I'm super excited to be heading home for the first time since September, but what I'm not excited about is all the forward thinking. I'm flying home in December and will not be checking a bag. So, I'm bringing home some things that I'll want over winter break so I can leave them there. So I need to think ahead to what I'll need this week, the next three weeks I'm here, and what I'll need in a month when I'm home for a month.

The planning was a pain and I'm still not convinced I have everything but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.



I started by making some really annoying lists. I don't always stick to them (spoiler: I didn't) but they help focus me so I know what I'll need for each day or activity. And then I also have to write down things like  toiletries or else I'll forget them.



Then I really obsessively lay everything out. Note: I also watch too many documentaries (which is what's on my iPad there in the middle). While I write this, I'm on my second of the night.

And finally I shove everything in my giant suitcase and pray that it all fits. This trip actually fit with plenty of room. It's not the most beautiful suitcase, but it is really sturdy, which I need for when I'm dragging it around Manhattan.



So there you have it.

I also have my Kate bag with my wallet, train ticket and iPad that I'm just going to throw across my body so I only have to really worry about pulling around the suitcase.

Can't wait to be home!!!