How to Pack Light, Travel Better, Take Less, Enjoy More

 Stop thinking, 'Look how much stuff I can cram into this thing!

In March of 2015, before leaving for England, I followed the Rick Steves packing guidelines and fit everything into the standard 21x14x9 carry-on.  For some odd reason, I stuffed as much as I could get into that thing before leaving home, simply because I could! Result? I got so sick of dragging that carry on around the airport, down cobblestone streets, through train stations...that I decided NEVER AGAIN.

You can almost see my bag in there!
There is no allowing for an extra, like a purse, either.
You get ONE carry-on, unless you want to pay extra.

But, in March of this year, when I made airline reservations on Spirit Airlines (MSP-DFW) because the tickets were so much cheaper, I did it knowing that space would be limited and that I refused to check a bag. (I hate wasting time standing in line). Spirit only allows a small school-type backpack. We have two of those, and we were determined to make this work. You can see in the photo above that my bag fit easily into the 'included' part of the test box.

So here's what I wore on the plane (because you're dying to know):

Blue jeans, t-shirt, unmentionables, Dansko shoes (slip on and off easily and always look nice), and a black kinda dressy coat.

This is everything that went into my bag.

Here's my packing list for 8 days:

1 pr. black dress slacks and dressy top (for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, as our daughter informed us that they had tickets for us! That's also why I wore the nice black dress/rain type coat)
1 pr. black denim jeans
4 shirts (and I notice that most of them are prints, making me a liar for what I told you in the Hodgepodge a couple weeks ago! I guess the prints were bought most recently. I hadn't realized that I've been moving over to prints!) You'll also notice that everything goes with blue or black.

(Important: When you're taking very few items especially, everything needs to go with everything else.)

pajamas
pretty knit socks to wear as slippers (provided by Nancy at TiredTeacher blog!!) Thank you again, Nancy. I love them.
4 pr. black socks

Did I mention the unmentionables?
black rain hat (crushable)
flat iron (no hairdryer because my daughter has one)
hairbrush
camera (It does fit, it's just that I was holding it to take the photo) Actually, at the last minute, I didn't take my bigger camera, but used the camera on my phone for this trip. Other places, I might actually take my camera or get a smaller, good camera to use - or a better phone.
Kindle
phone
tiny flashlight
money/cards case
phone charger
extra camera battery
extra SD card
camera battery charger
cosmetic case with all the little odds and ends, including vitamins
quart ziploc bag with any liquid things, such as wee shampoo, toothpaste, soap

Total weight of backpack, loaded? 11.5 pounds.

I did decide to do a small load of laundry once while at our daughter's. For traveling abroad, I'd stay at a B&B or hotel, make sure they had a hairdryer, and I'd buy laundry detergent once there and wash out the unmentionables in the sink. I've done that a number of times. Most places don't notice and don't care. The places that do care probably charge more money than we want to pay anyway.  :-)
What's important to me re. accommodations is: CLEAN, SAFE, CHEAP, LOCATION

Spirit Airlines plane and UFOs at MSP

Waiting - comfy blue jeans.
Did I tell you the cane is part of our vaudeville act?

We plan to pack this way the next time we travel abroad also, if there is a next time.  I know, it seems a little crazy, but it's so much nicer not to be waiting in lines or hauling huge suitcases here and there. From what I understand, even if we get desperate, they actually do sell clothes and laundry detergent in other countries. Wouldn't it be fun to come home with a shirt made in China  Italy? or somewhere else?

And we'll be traveling lighter and cheaper than Rick Steves you-know-who. We always do. Just sayin.'

 This was just before he tickled my knee, hard! and I slugged him.

(In a totally non-abusive, loving sort of warning way) 

You'll be glad to know I did something about that hair!

We might have to renew our passport photos before next time.

Doesn't he look like he's up to something?

Some things never change.

***

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Pack light. You won't ever wish you'd had more to haul around!