Packing

I don’t like packing. I don’t know what it is about putting all the things you’ll need in a bag that makes me cringe. What if it’s lost? What if I forget something? What if, what if, what if?

Of course, no matter what happens, I can always buy more things on the other side. But I always leave it to the last minute.

My goal here is to pack like a guy, though. I’ve already managed to roll my shirts into two “tubes,” and I’m just waiting for the rest of the laundry to dry so I can just dump it into the duffle bag. Nine shirts, two shorts, a pair of jeans (maybe two if I can fit them), sneakers, sandals, nine sets of underwear, and some electronics are all going in the bag. Also, meds and stuff.

What to Pack

Two months is a long time. Sixty-one days. Can you even think of everything that you might need during that long a period? And when you do know what you use, how much of it can you take with you? How much should you?

It’s a daunting proposition, really, and I’m tackling it by going minimal for somethings and maximal for others. Clothes are in the minimal section. Take as little as you can get away with and do laundry along the way. But what of the daily needs: toothpaste, contact lens solution, pain relievers, cough medicines, and on and on.

I know most of the stuff I “need” are available in Europe, but I’ve never been to Asia, much less set foot in a Tokyo drug store. I’m sure they have contact lens solution there, but will they have my contact lens solution? What about Advil? Neosporin? No idea. So I decided to take what I know I will use, and hope for the best when I need something I didn’t take.

Here’s a few of the things I’m taking:

• Advil (200 count)
• Neosporin
• Crest (new tube)
• ReNu contact lens solution (large bottle)
• Simply Sleep (100 count)
• Pepcid AC (70 count)
• Mitchum deodorant (new)
• Listerine (small)
• Qtips
• Band-Aids
• Gillette Custom Plus (10 pack)

These things should last me through all or most of the trip. What doesn’t will last until Europe, and I should be able to find it there.

I’m also taking rechargeable batteries (Enloops are my preferred brand), chargers for all the electronics, a spare hard drive, memory cards for the cameras, and on and on. About the only thing I’ve forgotten is a good book and a couple of magazines.