Elizabeth G. spills her guts: ANOTHER Dirty Little Secret.
It was only four weeks ago today I came out of the closet and admitted right here at Running With Quills that I’m a pack rat. I gave all the sordid details, including the stilettos I have squirreled away for “someday,” while in reality I go barefoot most of the time, and the half dozen pairs of assorted blue jeans neatly hanging in the guest room closet when I haven’t worn a pair of jeans in a decade.
It is now public knowledge that I haven’t seen the floor of THE ABYSS (aka the large storage closet in my office) in heaven knows how long — certainly not in this century. I also volunteered that I’m a Virgo and blabbed about being an inveterate list maker.
So, here goes with Confession #2: I HATE PACKING!
Hold the phone, Josephine! I’ve just noticed something curious, folks, something odd, something kind of peculiar. Packing and pack rat are from the same root word: pack, meaning to make into a compact bundle, to crowd together, to increase the density of, to fill completely.
Hm . . . something to think about.
Anyway, as I was saying, I hate everything about packing starting with the thankless job of lugging the suitcases up from the basement. (Okay, so my husband carries them up the two flights of stairs, but I’m the one who has to make the tough choices: like which suitcase/s we’re going to need for the upcoming trip.)
From there, it’s one annoying decision after another. What clothes to take? Dressy or casual? Wrinkle-free or the ones that claim to be? Use the rolling method of packing or the plastic cleaner bags technique? What shoes will I need? How many pairs? Handbags? Jewelry? Cosmetics. Toiletries? (Tricky category, toiletries: you have to double-check every darned bottle and tube to make sure you’re not packing empties.)
The list goes on and on.
You’d think because I hate packing so much, I’d put it off until the last minute. Au contraire, my friends. I start at least a month beforehand with a computerized packing list tailored to the specific trip, taking into account climate, length of trip, type of activities planned, events to be attended, etc. Then I begin. You see, I trick myself into doing the odious job of packing one teeny, tiny task at a time. Press one shirt. Fold one nightgown. Fill one shampoo bottle. You get the idea.
It’s almost like I’m NOT packing at all.
Anyway, it's summer and that means a lot of traveling for a lot of people, which translates into packing and more packing. (I don't even want to go into that whole subject of UNpacking.)
So, of course, Inquiring Minds want to know: Are you an organized packer or do you procrastinate until the last possible moment? Do you have any helpful hints for the rest of us when it comes to the odious job of packing?
Happy Travels!
EG
It is now public knowledge that I haven’t seen the floor of THE ABYSS (aka the large storage closet in my office) in heaven knows how long — certainly not in this century. I also volunteered that I’m a Virgo and blabbed about being an inveterate list maker.
So, here goes with Confession #2: I HATE PACKING!
Hold the phone, Josephine! I’ve just noticed something curious, folks, something odd, something kind of peculiar. Packing and pack rat are from the same root word: pack, meaning to make into a compact bundle, to crowd together, to increase the density of, to fill completely.
Hm . . . something to think about.
Anyway, as I was saying, I hate everything about packing starting with the thankless job of lugging the suitcases up from the basement. (Okay, so my husband carries them up the two flights of stairs, but I’m the one who has to make the tough choices: like which suitcase/s we’re going to need for the upcoming trip.)
From there, it’s one annoying decision after another. What clothes to take? Dressy or casual? Wrinkle-free or the ones that claim to be? Use the rolling method of packing or the plastic cleaner bags technique? What shoes will I need? How many pairs? Handbags? Jewelry? Cosmetics. Toiletries? (Tricky category, toiletries: you have to double-check every darned bottle and tube to make sure you’re not packing empties.)
The list goes on and on.
You’d think because I hate packing so much, I’d put it off until the last minute. Au contraire, my friends. I start at least a month beforehand with a computerized packing list tailored to the specific trip, taking into account climate, length of trip, type of activities planned, events to be attended, etc. Then I begin. You see, I trick myself into doing the odious job of packing one teeny, tiny task at a time. Press one shirt. Fold one nightgown. Fill one shampoo bottle. You get the idea.
It’s almost like I’m NOT packing at all.
Anyway, it's summer and that means a lot of traveling for a lot of people, which translates into packing and more packing. (I don't even want to go into that whole subject of UNpacking.)
So, of course, Inquiring Minds want to know: Are you an organized packer or do you procrastinate until the last possible moment? Do you have any helpful hints for the rest of us when it comes to the odious job of packing?
Happy Travels!
EG
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posted at 12:08 PM
