I packed my bag with…

…aardvarks, bananas, convalescent unicorns, daliks…

Did you ever play the roadtrip game “I packed my bag”? I feel like I’m playing a long game of that with myself as I decide what to pack for our trip! How do you prepare for a trip of unknown length and consisting of unknown destinations? The answer: you don’t.

I laid out the main items I am planning on taking (of course I had to put it on a grid layout – you can’t take the wireframe out of the UX designer!):

I’ve got a mix of cycling clothes, workout clothes, 1 nice dress, and about a week’s worth of casual outfits. You can see my immediate issue with the number of shoes! New product idea: create a woman’s shoe for hiking, biking, walking around, and formal occasions…go!

Since laying these out, I’ve already removed some shirts. Thanks goodness for travel vacuum bags, though.

In all seriousness, it did make me stop and think about what I really need for day-to-day living. Most of the things I am packing are replaceable things I could buy in Spain. Since we are planning on getting a semi-permanent place and not moving around every week, though, it works out more economically to bring a little more and not pay for it there.

The one thing I found myself not being able to cut back on was jewelry. There is something grounding to me about my jewelry. Most of it has been gifted to me, or I’ve purchased as a memory of a trip or special event, so it carries special meaning to me. Lucky for me that jewelry is easy to pack and doesn’t take up space. I have a feeling my jewelry will provide grounding for me. And who knows what new pieces I will pick up on this trip that will remind me of this special time!

Here is my current favorite go-to jewelry mix for the trip – James Avery ring gifted from my mom (I’m not taking my engagement or wedding ring so this is my trip replacement), copper bracelet I made in a jewelry workshop here in SF, Pura Vida bracelet gifted from my lovely co-worker, additional Pura Vida bracelet I bought because I loved the first one so much!, leather ring I purchased in Shanghai, and leather cuff gifted to me from my mother-in-law from Spain originally (and I’m taking it back!)

Any packing tips from the peanut gallery? Things I should pick up here because I’ll miss them there?