O.A.-Over packers anonymous

[firegurl]

Hello. My name is firegurl and I am an over packer...
We leave on Saturday morning. We are waking DS6 up and going to the airport. Its a surprise trip for him so I have to pack mostly when he is asleep. We have to leave for the airport around 4am so everything has to be ready to go on Friday night. The suitcases and carryons are out, clothes are mostly set aside. And I realized that I am an overpacker/over planner. I am prepared for any situation and I dont feel comfortable any other way so that won't change. The clothes-well there is still time to review what I have packed. I know I have a problem when DH said we have to take my truck (Expedition) to the airport because everything I have packed won't fit into his car (Nissan Versa Note). Luckily we are flying Southwest so we have free checked bags.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

I used to be the same way and now try to pack only what I need.

Because I'm a bit or a bedbug-a-phobe, I wash everything I bring whether I wear it or not. Washing loads of unnecessary laundry has made me change my ways haha.

I'll bring one nice dinner outfit rather than one per dinner and don't bring a ton of extra stuff if I can avoid it.

I will say or weather down here is a bit wonky, it's been freezing this weekend but then is supposed to be back up in the 80s so it might be good to be an overpacker right now lol

 

[Jbausch]

I'm with you! I packed 2 outfits per person per day! I refuse to wash, cook, or clean on vacation! My poor car was riding LOW!!!!

 

[firegurl]

Does it make it even worse that I plan on doing laundry at least one time? I have been trying to keep an eye on the weather because it has been crazy where I live. Last Monday it was 80 and I wore flip flops. Today it was freezing. Around 40 degrees with 40 and 50 mile gusts of wind. Its so hard to pack when I am freezing because I feel like we won't be warm enough.

 

[nkereina]

In the same boat as you all! We leave in two weeks and my suitcase is mostly packed, clothes and all. I need time to mull it over and make sure I'm not missing anything, which usually leads to me just adding more stuff I don't need! This trip, I'm bringing a full on medicine bag. A large toiletry bag stuffed with a full medicine cabinet. Last trip, I only brought things like advil and Pepto and ended up coming down with pneumonia. Had to truck myself with a fever to the gift shop and buy their overpriced medicine, and then crawl all the way back to my room (at POR). Not this time!

 

[cattywampus]

We leave in 10 days stacks of summer shorts next to hats and gloves. Bipolar packing!!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I am totally the opposite. I don't want to pack that many clothes only to have to come home to mounds of dirty clothes. I prefer to pack 1/2 the amount and do laundry while I am there.
The laundry is free for DVC folks and laundry rooms are by the pool. So we go to the pool and relax while doing usually 2-3 loads all at once because there is never anyone using the laundry room which means I use all the machines at once. In 1 hour and 15 minute I have all clean clothes. I mean how hard really is it to get up from the lounge chair you are sitting in to go move the clothes from the washer to the dryer and then from the dryer to the laundry bag! I do the same thing the day before we leave. I have to fold the clothes to repack the suitcase so they may as well be clean clothes. Take them from the suitcase and put them away when I get home. Then I don't have to wash clothes one load at a time when I get home. And I got to wash them for free! Then you are only spending 1/2 the amount of time packing and gather up outfits to go on vacation.

 

[ZoZo]

I am totally the opposite. I don't want to pack that many clothes only to have to come home to mounds of dirty clothes. I prefer to pack 1/2 the amount and do laundry while I am there.
The laundry is free for DVC folks and laundry rooms are by the pool. So we go to the pool and relax while doing usually 2-3 loads all at once because there is never anyone using the laundry room which means I use all the machines at once. In 1 hour and 15 minute I have all clean clothes. I mean how hard really is it to get up from the lounge chair you are sitting in to go move the clothes from the washer to the dryer and then from the dryer to the laundry bag! I do the same thing the day before we leave. I have to fold the clothes to repack the suitcase so they may as well be clean clothes. Take them from the suitcase and put them away when I get home. Then I don't have to wash clothes one load at a time when I get home. And I got to wash them for free! Then you are only spending 1/2 the amount of time packing and gather up outfits to go on vacation.

I totally agree - I'm a notorious over-packer. I've learned to put out the clothes that I want to take, then cut that amount in half. I always do at least one load of laundry mid-trip - it's nice to hang by the pool in the afternoon, so why not do a load or two of laundry since I'm there!!!

 

[ZoZo]

We leave in 10 days stacks of summer shorts next to hats and gloves. Bipolar packing!!

I love this term - I may have to steal it! This time of year is such a packing challenge. You might be swimming one day, then need long pants and gloves the next day. It's even harder for over-packers - you have way more "just in case" items now.

 

[Michblue]

I am a overpacker in recovery. Back in 1996 on our honeymoon I packed 8 bags for our two week Disney trip. Eight bags for two people! Now I try my hardest to have one bag and one carry on. But it's a constant struggle. Trying to decide what to take and what to leave home. My latest victory is lightening my carry on. It's much easier to carry a light one. I have a list of what to pack and what to leave and I work hard to stick to it.

I agree with the bed bug comment. That fear goes a long way in helping me keep the packing down.

 

[nkereina]

I am totally the opposite. I don't want to pack that many clothes only to have to come home to mounds of dirty clothes. I prefer to pack 1/2 the amount and do laundry while I am there.
The laundry is free for DVC folks and laundry rooms are by the pool. So we go to the pool and relax while doing usually 2-3 loads all at once because there is never anyone using the laundry room which means I use all the machines at once. In 1 hour and 15 minute I have all clean clothes. I mean how hard really is it to get up from the lounge chair you are sitting in to go move the clothes from the washer to the dryer and then from the dryer to the laundry bag! I do the same thing the day before we leave. I have to fold the clothes to repack the suitcase so they may as well be clean clothes. Take them from the suitcase and put them away when I get home. Then I don't have to wash clothes one load at a time when I get home. And I got to wash them for free! Then you are only spending 1/2 the amount of time packing and gather up outfits to go on vacation.

This is a good plan for those with definite pool time in their plans. We are going next week and weather is on the cool side, which means pool time may not be a viable option for us. I'd hate to plan on doing laundry while in the pool, only to not be able to use the pool!

 

[JandD75]

We leave in 10 days stacks of summer shorts next to hats and gloves. Bipolar packing!!

How true! But as another poster pointed out, it's SO difficult to pack for this time of year, because the weather just won't behave. My family always thinks I overpack, yet I always forget something or run out of something. Also, one of the reasons I pack so much is so I won't have to do laundry. DH doesn't seem to realize that this is MY VACATION, TOO!

Just a side note: Not only do my family laugh at me for bringing so much, but someone seems to be trying to get us all to bring less, because these days, there are never enough shelves/drawers in a hotel room. I just can't win.

 

[klitteral2009]

I've been an overpacker but last trip I swore to myself that would be no more! For our January trip I'm planning on a pair of shorts and a pair of jeans per person with a change of about 4 shirts and a few layering options as well as rain gear. I was able to pack the five of us in a large checked bag and one carry on last year for 7 days I do laundry about halfway through and who's gonna notice if we re-wear an outfit? Lol. It's just not worth the hassle for me. I will say I pack every imaginable medication and first aid supply as a precaution. I'd rather do that than be caught trying to find something in the gift shop where it costs 3 times as much!

 

[auger]

I suppose I must join this elite club, as well. Try as I might, I just can't seem to let go of those "just in case" items. I end up with enough clothes for twice the length of my vacation, but I hate not having a variety of things to choose from.

My family laughs at me everytime we make a trip. In September, I organized an adult trip for extended family, and they all laughed at me when I forwarded my packing list to them. Sigh,... it's a curse, but at least I feel better knowing I have whatever I might need.
Funny thing is, everytime someone needs one of my silly just in case items, they sure are grateful that I packed it!!

We leave next Saturday for WDW, and I am already packing my overload of clothes and "stuff" for the trip. I started out thinking we could get away with three carry-ons and three small backpacks. NOT!!!!
Right now we have two large checked bags, a carry-on, and three backpacks, and I'm not sure that is going to be enough room!!!

 

[davedmaine]

You're not an over-packer, just a woman.

 

[Phoenixrising]

WRONG!! I'm a reformed over packer, and have gotten to the point where I can use a carryon for a 7 day trip. But I don't, and carry a large suitcase, primarily for the souvies I plan on taking back with me. My suitcase is mostly filled with air until I return home and will put very little stuff in the suitcase on the outward bound leg of the trip. My DH on the other hand will take a large suitcase stuffed to the max. I will only take a 1/4 of the stuff he does, and still be fine for the trip. So overpacking is a universal problem, not limited to us women. The only thing I insist on is taking a full medicine cabinet in case someone get's sick on vacation. It's bailed us out on a couple of trips, so it's good to have.

 

[Michblue]

A story about the "just in case" packing style. When our first was born I had a suite case packed with every just in case item I could think of. After he was born we could not agree on a name. Later on we were moving rooms and an orderly commented on how heavy my bag was. He asked if I packed my whole house. I just smiled and said " just in case". My husband says " That's it!" Justin Case. He tried for the rest of the day to get my agreement on naming our first born son Justin Case. I just couldn't do it. Funny memory though.

 

[firegurl]

We are here and I guess my overpacking wasn't terrible. 3 checked bags and 2 carry-ons for 3 people for 8 days.one of those checked bags was officially carry-on size but I checked it anyway. Thanks SW for free checked bags. Our suitcases were also not stuffed, there is lots of room. I plan to do a lot of Christmas shopping and wanted to make sure I have plenty of room to bring it all home.
Funny that I tend to overpack odds and ends. Every medicine possible. I will continue that. I also always pack the over the door shoe organizer. The room we are in seems to be a modified handicapped room. Shower/tub, toilet and sinks are in a separate room together with a sliding door between. No door to hang my organizer. That will teach me.

 

[Phoenixrising]

I always purchase all new drugs for the trip every time. That way if I don't use them, they stock up the house with fresh meds after the trip. I usually buy the basics along with Earplanes, as my kids can't fly without them. Earplanes are the only thing I've found to help equalize the kids ears on take offs and landings. And I've tried everything, and it's the only thing that works. My DH was skeptical until I brought them on the last family trip. They were the only things that prevented my kids ear drums from bursting.

 

[lauradis]

hi Im laura and Im a recovering over packer.

Making a list and checking it million times helps me.

I still have to over pack things like shoes, cute dresses and health care items, you never know what you will need while on vacation.

But im truely getting better, darn airlines charge for all those extra bags, oh wait thats my excuse to drive everywhere.