Last Thursday I ventured to Atlanta, Georgia, for the big composition conference, where I presented an endlessly fascinating paper about contingent faculty and our role in creating a shared vision for a composition program. The presentation went just fine, although it wasn’t my best moment of public speaking.
In fact, I was more proud that I packed for three days and two nights in two very small carry-on bags. I believe I have officially become a savvy (and perhaps minimalist?) traveler. Pictured to the left is my Fourmi S Un Apres Midi de Chien bag, purchased in my favorite (now defunct) boutique in Albuquerque, circa 2004 (also, that is a fantastic deal on the site to which I linked. This bag can be stuff insouciantly. I recommend it!). In it I packed my one crochet project (see how disciplined I am! Only one project!), my iPhone/earbuds, wallet (I like the Sutton Skinny), a folder of papers to grade, my moleskine journal, my iPad (I’ll tell you all about it another day. In a word? LOVE!), my wifi keyboard in its clever case, an orange, three Cliff bars, a few tissues, two of my new favorite pens, and a small ziplock bag with my liquid toiletries. That is a LOT of stuff in one bag, and it wasn’t even close to jam packed.
My clothes for the weekend were in the sweet, tiny Floto Imports Venezia Mini. I’ve loved every bag from Floto, but up until this trip, Venezia Mini has been my least favorite. I wish I’d gotten it in another color; the lack of interior pockets hasn’t suited me. I’ve just never used it much. In January, as I cleared out clothes and unused accessories for Project 333, I put it in the “to sell” pile, but Neal convinced me to keep it. I realized as I packed for my short trip that it is perfect (at least for warm-weather travel) to carry a weekend’s worth of clothes. Want to know what I fit in it?
- Tomboy dress in blue (I have an older version, sans pockets and less of an a-line. The new version appeals to me more.)
- Print dress for presentation
- Far-too-large ditty bag (need to pare down the non-liquid toiletries and use a smaller bag)
- J.Crew flip flops in gold (bought on sale for far, far less than the website’s price) (Yikes! $50 flip flops???)
- Four pair knickers
- Bra (I’m a dirty girl and wear them more than once when I travel)
I wore my black Tomboy dress, bone cardi, and high black Fluevog sandals. One I arrived in GA, I used the black bag as a handbag. Sure, I would have liked another outfit to change in to to go dancing, and a smaller bag would have been nice for bopping around, but for such a short trip, I only felt I overpacked by taking the blue dress. I was afraid I’d spill on the black one and not want to wear it to travel home in. I never did put on the blue dress.
All of these items are part of my Phase 3 list, which has taken me a while to formulate. The research for and writing of the paper I presented occupied most of my free time for the last month or so. Now that my time has freed up a bit, I’m excited to focus on my spring/early summer minimal, elegant wardrobe, which I’ll share with you next week!
In the mean time, Courtney recently posted about packing to travel, so if you’re interested in traveling with less, be sure to hop over to read her post. How about you? Do you have any travel tips to share? How do you keep from over packing?
Well done! I still have to plan for phase 2. It’s been so cool here that I’ve been using phase 1 . . . plus I’ve been kind of busy.
Go, Bev! I’ve always been a light packer. My goal is to use everything I bring with me. I spent 5 months traveling the Pacific Rim with a carry on, and 3 months in Europe with the same backpack. My rule of thumb? If you can’t carry all your own luggage for a quarter mile AND up 3 flights of stairs, you have too much!
I am a horrible packer and always bring too much. Most of our trips are by car and it’s not that big of a deal but I find airplane travel quite challenging.
I’m with Carole – hate to pack and especially hate to pack light! but I love the bags you have…maybe that’s the inspiration? hope you enjoyed ATL – we had lovely weather and you got to see Spring!
wow, great job! i always always overpack. my clothes i can control, but i panic and toss extras into my bookbag; more books, more knitting, more work. i hope the kindle will help with that.
What a timely post for me! Leaving for France Monday and tomorrow is devoted to the packing! I am taking a larger suitcase that I will check, half full, but will be loaded for the trip home, I suspect! One very small, roller carry on and a new purse that will work as a day bag when there. I find rolling bags easier even if they are light as there is so much walking. I will pop over to Courtney’s post now. Thank you for the inspiration….this will help settle me out tomorrow. Shoes are my stickler!
I am so incredibly impressed. I really need to take some lessons from you in this. I tend to overpack and am always upset about how heavy everything is. Thanks for the reminder and the encouragement, Bev!
LOL! Apparently, I’m a dirty girl as well because I take only one bra for a weekend trip.