Depending on my energy level and the amount of work it takes to get from my room to the car, I can get all of my stuff to the car in about 6 loads. As I have mentioned, I have brought a lot of things, I was not quite sure what I would eventually need with me and it is better to over prepare. Though I will say, at this point in my adventure, I have used almost everything I have packed. Most times, especially due to the weather, I have brought almost everything into the accommodations with me. This keeps things from melting or having damage to them and it keeps my car from looking like a treasure chest of belongings.
My packing list is as follows:
1. Medium sized suitcase with my clothes, mostly summer, with a few cooler weather items
2. Travel bag with toiletries and shoes - I can rarely get this one zipped
3. Two reusable bags with canned goods, dry goods, breakfast items and other non-refrigerated food items with multi-use intentions
4. Backpack with writing tools, a book to read, headphones etc.
5. My work bag with laptop and paperwork
6. My work printer and laptop raiser - I learned early on in COVID that staring at a screen for hours that makes you look down actually made my headaches worse
7. Cooler
8. Depending on the amount, a bag for laundry - sometimes I can fit this into another bag
9. Laundry basket holding two other bags
- one bag serving as a medicine cabinet of sorts (headache meds, bandages, extra sunblock, bug spray, COVID tests, laundry detergent packs, a bag of quarters, dryer sheets, etc)
- one larger bag holding all of my cooking and kitchen essentials (cutting board, silverware, ziplocs, tupperware, dish soap, a sponge, a bowl, a big mixing bowl, wipes, etc)
10. Case of water - a must given the stomach issues Piper and I had early on possibly due to changes in tap water we drank
11. My digital camera and case - it takes ok pictures but I assume when I go to print a bunch of these they will be way better quality than the ones off of my camera phone
12. My over the body purse - gotta have both arms handy for these adventures!
There are several things I generally leave in the car:
1. A bag with my swimsuits and a beach towel for myself and Alex
2. Two camping chairs
3. My rain boots, my hiking shoes, Alex's hiking shoes
4. My rain jacket, my fall/spring jacket, a cute scarf
5. A small carry on size suitcase with Alex's clothes - so he does not have to pay for a carry on if he ends up flying Spirit or Frontier
6. A bag with a crockpot, a fan and two different frying pans - some places with a kitchen actually don't give you kitchen items
If anyone watches me unpack or pack my car, they must think I am weird. Why am I bringing a laundry basket into a hotel? I am sure I am an anomaly. I am guessing not many people have to return to their car as many times as I do, especially for one person! I have developed a rhythm though and it's a built in work out once every few days, so I do not mind it. It is nice that I was able to think through all of this before leaving and haven't had to purchase anything but food and water while I have been on the road.
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