Are you an "overpacker"?

[Papa Deuce]

My wife packs WAY too much. Me, OTOH, bring a bare minumum as far as clothes. For last week's WDW trip, we had a condo with a washer and drier. I brought what I was wearing, 2 shirts, 2 pairs of shorts, 2 pairs of underwear, and 2 pairs of socks. No extra shoes, but I did bring flip flops, which I did use.

That is it. We did a small load of laundry everynight before bed.


Now, as far as electronics, well.... there I do bring too much!.... iPod, Nintendo DS, Pixters, camera, camcorder, and various DVDs. I was able to leave my computer home. I thought I would go nuts w/o it, but I did survive!

 

[NMAmy]

I'm not but my 16 yo dd sure is. Anytime we're going on vacation, she gets her bag ready then I come in and sort it and talk her into leaving half the junk home. You really don't need 20 t-shirts for a 7 day trip. She always tries to bring her entire closet with her.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I'm worse-because I overpack both clothes and toys! I'm leaving on Wednesday for a week-3 days at a 2 bdr at SSR (which has a washer/dryer) and then 4 days at Mom's (she's got a washer too!) But, I must have jeans, shorts, t's, sweats and a nice outfit for Christmas eve Mass. Florida gets cold at night when the sun goes down you know.
Then I have to have my iPod and my PSP, my camera and my cell phone. I would LOVE to take the laptop, but I don't think it will fit!!!

 

[wendy46001]

I guess it depends, went to Europe for a month with just a 20lb backpack...went on a 10day cruise with four bags and 15 pairs of shoes....bottom line if I have to carry it I won’t over pack...

 

[Sparx]

I can live out of an overnight bag for a week.

That, however, doesn't mean that I choose too.

Yes, I overpack if I can, but if its just impossible, I can cram everything into a tiny bag.

 

[TreslovesWDW]

Yes , I always overpack. But we are leaving for Florida the 25th , since we are only going for 4 days I am going to try real hard to pack light. If my husband did the packing he would probably pack clean underware and that's it.

 

[GIOny]

I always was an overpacker but I am getting better because I use to bring half of my clothes homes without wearing them. I always do laundry while we're away, so I now bring half the amount of stuff but I tend to overpack other junk now ex. stuff to do in the car sort of stuff/food/books etc.

 

[Chattyaholic]

When we go to Florida and take a cruise we're usually gone 2-3 weeks. I like doing laundry once during that time so try to pack only a week's worth of clothes. But! I do like to pack a few extra tops, extra jeans, because you never know when you might sit in something sticky on a chair, or dribble your lunch down your front, or something might rip/tear, etc. I like to be prepared so I do tend to overpack, just a little!

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

According to my DH, I overpack just to go to the grocery store. He always knows that if he needs something, I put it in the bag, though!

 

[dreamcometrue]

I am the worst overpacker in the history of overpackers! I get in trouble with my DH every time we travel, and he has started to refuse carrying my luggage out. Now that we live in a 2 story house, that may really be a problem! My philosophy is...better pack it and not use it, than wishing I had packed it later on! I also never fill my suitcases all the way, since I tend to buy a lot while we are on vacation and need the space on the way home!

My DH is like you...we could go away for 2 weeks and all he packs is a duffle bag!

 

[shortbun]

Hey, if I'm going someplace I CAN overpack, I do! Like our week at the beach: yeah, we have a washer dryer but why the heck would I want to do laundry unless I have to? I mean, I'm trying to make it to a jello blob state of mind and laundry just does NOT further that effort. OK, by the end of the week, the laundry bag is full of wet things and the mildew smell is growing so I throw the towels in the dryer and wash a few things to avoid blackspot. I also would wash anything covered in mud, blood or red wine. I DO NOT PLAN to do laundry and I would resent anyone coming with me who DID unless they totally handled it and did not involve me in any way including making me wait for them to finish before we went somewhere.

On the other hand, take me on a safari and tell me I have to live on 20lbs of clothing and equipment for two weeks and I'm washing my 'smalls' in the sink every night!!!

P.S. I always throw in extra shirts for my husband because he packs like you but does not do laundry. If his underwear is dirty, he can turn it inside out but I want him in a clean shirt. lol!

 

[disneymama73]

Guilty as charged.

 

[U2_rocks!]

Never had a reason to. In fact, any time we go to the US or Canada there are shopping plans afoot, so I actually try to make the suitcases as empty as possible, and put one suitcase inside an empty one!

Our next trip involves taking all three kids away for the first time. DH thinks we need at least 3 large suitcases. I don't want to drag too much stuff. The boosters will be separately packed, since we'll be using them as soon as we land. So the suitcases will be filled with just clothes and a few things for the kids to do - but I want to keep that aspect small and flat (activity books etc.). We can buy a few pool toys etc. as soon as we hit Wal-Mart, plus, I'm sure there will be new DVDs etc. that the kids will want that we can get from Wal-Mart. Plus, they will no doubt want Disney souvenirs - those count as toys!

Our condo will have a washer and dryer, and I will definitely be using it. I'd rather do that than lug too much around, considering we'll be there for 2 weeks and that's a lot of clothes to not do laundry!!

I'm just worried about the trip home - that's where we'll be overpacked and overweight! It might pay us to ship some stuff home. Or maybe my parents (who will be with us) will take pity on us and take one of our suitcases!

 

[Poohbear123]

Count me in as an overpacker, however, this past trip, I left with ONE bag, and came home with ONE bag! I used to bring my 2o inch suitcase AND a travel bag that went ON TOP of it, but now I just use the 20" bag. I found I can put whatever was in the travel bag, in my Tour Pouch, which was a Camera and Cell phone and makeup. Now, I just pack it all in the Tour Bag and Suitcase.

 

[crazygirlscotland]

We were in WDW in Jan 03 with my friend and her DH and she had decided it would be hot and only brought shorts, t's and skirts!

Panic shopping to the Premier outlet where she bought a couple of pairs of adidas bottoms and a jacket and washed them every couple of days to keep cosy.

So we got home and looked at our pictures and it looked like she did the whole trip in 2 days instead of 2 weeks because she had the same clothes on in every picture!

 

[apirateslifeforme]

Me, no. I can get away with an overnight bag for a week. I figure I can find a place to do laundry, or, barring that, at least rinse the item out in the sink or bathtub!

My ex, though...you really would think he was a woman. We would take one suitcase for the two of us. My stuff would take up maybe 1/8 of the suitcase. He had to cram his stuff into the other 7/8