But? There's always a but. When this is over, can we have a big 'but' moratorium?

Fred ,'Smile Time'


Natter 74: Ready or Not  

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, butt kicking, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


Zenkitty - Jan 08, 2016 9:03:15 am PST #13075 of 30003
Every now and then, I think I might actually be a little odd.

All I'm reporting about this dumb thing is, from now on I'm packing for every trip two weeks in advance. Just so I can be calm and think about what I'm doing, and so I'll have time to change my mind when I realize I've done something inexplicably stupid.

I don't have anxiety about travel, or flying, or any of the normal things normal people fret about. I'm not afraid of things. I know how to take care of my shit. I thwarted a thief in the crowd at the fireworks on NYE. No, my madness-inducing anxiety hits me when I contemplate packing. Not even normal fears there, either. I don't fear forgetting my medication or losing my glasses; I've got this. No, it's about my clothing. What shoes, what coat, what pants, what shirts? My BFF just tosses some stuff in a bag and goes. Katie wears black pants and fannish t-shirts everywhere. I am baffled by this unconcern. Unless I had a TARDIS to carry every item of clothing I own and several I haven't bought yet, I couldn't possibly bring everything I might need. So I have to choose the right clothes/shoes for circumstances that I don't know what they are yet, and -- panic. Every time. Never mind that I've traveled a lot and nothing terrible or even particularly notable has ever happened from me not having the right things. Well, except this time, but only I was affected. And I did do better this time with packing clothes, the stupid fail was shoes. I'm calling it a learning experience and moving on.


Zenkitty - Jan 08, 2016 9:05:47 am PST #13076 of 30003
Every now and then, I think I might actually be a little odd.

Zen, I am trying to tell you that my workplace is badly in need of some gin and a dog bowl.

See, I just feel that you could have communicated that more clearly.


-t - Jan 08, 2016 9:10:02 am PST #13077 of 30003
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

Oh, anything right under your bra is awful. Sympathies, Scrappy.

Aw, Zen, that doesn't sound like an actual dumb thing. But good for you learning from it.

Gin and a dog bowl, two bits.


meara - Jan 08, 2016 9:20:18 am PST #13078 of 30003

I feel like shoes are always the hard part, Zen! Because they take up so much space and are heavy, so you want to minimize the number of pairs, but there is no magic shoe that is good for everything (like, flip flops for showers or beach, walking shoes, cute shoes, sandals, warm shoes, shoes for wet weather...these cannot all be the same shoe!)


-t - Jan 08, 2016 9:24:50 am PST #13079 of 30003
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

Agreed, shoes are the hardest part of packing.

I'm sorry, JZ, what is you need me to do with Q? Maybe I should ask Zen.


Zenkitty - Jan 08, 2016 9:35:24 am PST #13080 of 30003
Every now and then, I think I might actually be a little odd.

They itch and I hated them, so got them taken off.

Off with them! Right under the bra strap, that's a bad place to get an itchy/hurty thing.

Aw, Zen, that doesn't sound like an actual dumb thing.

Thanks! But nope, it was dumb. I packed a old pair of black boots somehow mistaking them for a unworn pair of (otherwise identical) brown boots, and had to walk for a week on broken-down soles because I didn't have another pair of shoes that was appropriate for walking in chilly rain. I remember thinking, wow, these are a really dark brown! Dummy, they're black. They're the same black boots I took on the first UK trip and walked the soles out of. The dumbest thing is, I never realized it! I spent the whole trip thinking, damn, how could these boots have worn out so fast? Gosh, my feet hurt, am I that much heavier now than I was four years ago? It wasn't until today when I went to throw away the empty shoebox (I ditched the damn boots in the hotel) and saw BLACK BOOTS written on it, and found the untouched BROWN boots still in the closet, that I realized I'd been hiking in the old boots. That's what makes me feel stupid - not, taking the wrong boots, but not realizing they WERE the wrong ones.


msbelle - Jan 08, 2016 9:49:29 am PST #13081 of 30003
I remember the crazy days. 500 posts an hour. Nubmer! Natgbsb

my vacation packing:

Look at weather predicted. If no access to washers (i.e.: staying with family/friends with washer in home or renting place with washer), pack 1 outfit per day. If laundry access, half that. Pants and skirts to be worn twice, shirts once. Dresses twice unless summer travel. Avoid any piece that will not go with more than one outfit. Aim for outfits that limit # of shoes required (for example: aim for outfits that will all work with black shoes). Most outfits should work with most comfortable walking shoes you bring. If you are doing any sightseeing at all a known pair of very comfortable walking shoes and good socks for each day. Unless there is a known formal/really nice event as part of the trip I will not pack any dress clothes. If traveling where I will not be staying where I can borrow from friends/family and I will be sightseeing I always pack my rain coat.

I wear the heaviest pair of shoes I can slip on and off that I am taking as well as the bulkiest jacket on the flight.

So for my trip in Italy in March, we will be gone 6 days, I am probably packing 4 outfits and probably 2 pairs of shoes. 3 pairs pants, 1 skirt, 3-4 shirts, 1 raincoat, 1 jacket, 1 wool hat, 3 pairs socks, 3 underwear, 1 bra, 1 pair pjs, 1 pair tights - this includes what I'll be wearing on plane. Carry on, nothing checked.


-t - Jan 08, 2016 9:57:27 am PST #13082 of 30003
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

Ah, I understand. Been not exactly there, but done quite similar, boggled at my own inability to recognize reality.

I used to be pretty good at packing but I think I've lost it. I don't have any, like, guiding principles or anything. I do like to buy my clothes so that I can mix and match within co-ordinating pieces and theoretically have a diverse travel wardrobe while packing light but I haven't actually done that.


shrift - Jan 08, 2016 10:00:58 am PST #13083 of 30003
"You can't put a price on the joy of not giving a shit." -Zenkitty

I am at the doctor's office waiting to get blood work done! Look at me, with the adulting.


JZ - Jan 08, 2016 10:08:35 am PST #13084 of 30003
See? I gave everybody here an opportunity to tell me what a bad person I am and nobody did, because I fuckin' rule.

msbelle is me WRT packing. Also, I usually wear 2-3 layers on travel day, including, if more than 1 pair of footwear is needed, whatever's the biggest and bulkiest pair to further lighten the packing. Same thing on the return trip.

::waves adulting pom-poms at shrift and her blood::