Ramblings of a Reformed Over-Packer

We don't have airline tickets.  We don't have travel dates.  Heck, we don't even have travel approval.  But...by golly, I am packing.  Why?  Because in this jumble of adoption paperwork, waiting, uncertainty and more waiting, this is something I can control.  Control freak, you say?  Yeah...I've been accused of that a time or two. But it's true - my comfort zone is about being in control, because that is what is familiar to me.  I'm used to manipulating my environment.  I'm used to calling the shots, making the decisions.  Two years of almost constant back-to-back waiting for one thing or another in our adoption processes has been my undoing.  The wait, uncertaintly and lack of control does not get easier to deal with.  At least not for me. 

So.  I manipulate what I can within Jillville - my own little corner of the universe.  I stack.  I sort.  I organize.  I make lists, mental and otherwise. 

To say my dear husband and I are well-traveled is an understatement.  We've been around the world and back together and he is a great travel partner.  I've had the privlege of visiting four different continents with Lee and I couldn't ask for a better person to see the world with.  We don't exactly see packing the same way, though.  His "night before we leave" approach...well, that just doesn't work for me. 

I can finally say that I'm over my over-packing.  I used to be a big-time contingency packer.  As in two suitcases plus carry-on for a week away from home.  As in accessories for all occassions and several "just in case" outfits.  I'd shake my head when I returned home when I unpacked and inveitably came accross all of the stuff I'd taken that I did not use.  I've actually gotten pretty good at taking what I need, using what I take and dealing with it if I needed (but didn't have) what I didn't think I needed. 

The two suitcases in the picture are the China trip suitcases for me and both of my boys.  The smaller one could actually be a carry-on, but I will probably choose to check it.  It is already about 75 percent packed and has lots of room.  It will have more room when Kyle's backpack (that blue camo thing) comes out.  More room for the stuff I might buy in China.  I do love shopping. 

The larger suitcase is for me and will hold a few miscellaneous things like medications/first aid stuff, an extra duffle in case we need to bring more back that we anticipate, and the gifts we are required to give the officials in China who help us complete our adoption.  It is a medium sized rolling suitcase and will have room to spare. 

The gifts - pictured above - were chosen with space and weight in mind.  It's a bag full of small makeup items that were all bought using coupons stacked with clearance sales.  Covergirl eyeshadow was marked at $3.50 on clearance (which is really cheap) and I had a bunch of $1.00 and $2.00 off coupons.  Score.  Each gift will consist of two makeup items...the orphanage director will get a larger bag of assorted makeup. I bought the tissue paper on clearance for 75% off. All of this cost about $30.00 and fits in to the front pocket of my bag.  Yes...I'm cheap.  I prefer frugal but I will answer to cheap. 

My entire family is traveling to China...I've got myself and the boys covered.  The other two are responsible for their own packing.  I am not saying there will be the eleventh hour "so, did you pack my underwear" because I'm in denial.  But seriously. Everyone gets 6 outfits plus what we wear on the plane and everyone takes 2 pairs of shoes, except the boys.  I know we can find cute and cheap shoes in China for both little guys and I'm not going to try and guess Kyle's shoe size.  Hopefully, he will have shoes when we get him.  If not, we'll deal. 

We are taking a small packet of detergent, in case we need to handwash some stuff.  We hope to get to Guangzhou before having to do laundry (cheap and easy to send out there).  Everyone says "oh my goodness, don't do laundry in the provinces, it's soooo expensive".  But...in the grand scheme of things, I am thinking a small load probably isn't going to bankrupt us at this point, so we'll look at laundry service in Shandong if we must.  I favor prints and things that sort of go together, so I can mix and match and hide the spills. 

We are going to be in China in the summer and it's hot.  I plan on wearing mostly summer dresses/skirts.  I like skirts a little better than shorts in the summer, especially when going to adoption appointments.  For anything "official" like signing the paperwork at the notary office or going to the consulate, I generally wear a dress and my husband would wear a shirt with a collar.  I know it isn't a fashion show or about what you're wearing, but for us, these are important occasions with lots of pictures being taken, and we want to treat the day accordingly. 

What we don't skimp on -

1.  Medications.  I have a nice toiletry case that I have stocked with all sort of over the counter remedies for all occassions.  Hopefully, we need NONE of it, but we have it if we do.  I actually needed some cold/allergy stuff last year when we were in Taiyuan and I was glad that I didn't have to go to a Chinese pharmacy and hope they understood what I wanted.  Although...I really did great with scoring Lee some "Tinactin-like" stuff by pointing to his feet and pointing to my noise and making a yucky face.  I'm sure they thought I was nuts, but I got what we needed. 

2.  Diapers.  We're packing as many diapers and pullups as we can.  I'll buy diapers in China as needed but they're not great diapers, in my experience. 

3. Plastic bags of all sizes - ziplock bags, plastic grocery bags, etc.  I pack these in all of the available crevices of my bags.  They can be used to pilfer snacks from the breakfast buffet for later, pack toiletries/liquids, pack wet/soiled clothes, etc.  It seems like we always accumulate more rubbish that the hotel trashcan can accomodate. 

What we don't bother with -

Food, toys and hair appliances.  Although there is always a snack or two in the backpack when we travel, there is no mini-kitchen setup in our bags.  No peanut butter, oatmeal, mac & cheese cups or beef jerky.  They have food in China.  I've seen it.  Not afraid to go and find it.  We aren't dealing with picky eaters, food allergies or any dietary restrictions.  Maybe snack food "isn't the same".  We can deal with that.  I read a blog post last year where someone took an entire suitcase of ramen to China.  Yes, really.  To each their own.  The only food exception I make is small packets of instant coffee. I really need coffee first thing.  Yes, need.  Most hotel rooms I encountered in China had teabags - coffee was hit or miss.  I tucked a few of these in my bag and used each one.  Everyone around me was thankful I had that coffee...they maybe didn't realize it, but trust me. 

As for the toys, all of the playthings/kid entertainment fits in the boys' pre-school sized backpacks, with the exception of some inflatable shark toys I found on Amazon.  Inflatable toys are great for the minimalist packer.  None of the stuff I packed is expensive and it's new stuff that Zack hasn't seen.  If it gets left behind or broken...oh well.  We can find some cheap stuff in China for them to play with.  Last year at 26 months, Zack's favorite things to play with were the comb from the hotel toiletry kit and wet naps. 

I'm not that attached to any of my hairstyling appliances.  My hair is kind of curly and I wear it in a bun or a pony when it's hot.  I'm not going to deal with adapters or frying an expensive hair appliance in China.  I'm not taking Clorox wipes, dishsoap or duct tape.  I'm sure people have their own good reasons for taking these items accross the world...if you feel you need them, then more power to you.  Before I pack something, I ask if I need it or if I just want it. And sometimes just wanting something is OK.  I definitely don't need eyeliner, but I do take a small makeup kit.  When considering wants, I think about how much it weighs, how much space it takes up, what happens if I don't have it and can I buy it there. 

This bag packs down flat and sits in the bottom of my bag.  It can be used as a laundry hamper, a shopping bag or a pool bag. 

All in all, I think a good rule of thumb is to pack your suitcase and then take out half.  I consider my trip a success if I have used everything I brought with me and didn't have to scramble to find an essential item. 

My husband has watched me collect piles, bags, sort and organize over the past few weeks.  He's been watching me put things in suitcases that won't be going to the airport for another month - maybe more - without commenting on what he probably thinks is my OCD going in to high gear.  My sorting and packing and preparing aren't going to make the paperwork any faster or the waiting any more tolerable.  But it is something I can do, something I can control during the waiting that is so intolerable for me. 

If I could offer any words of advice as an experienced traveler it would be "less is more" with the caveat that you have to know your own comfort zones and sense of adventure.  Back in my overpacking days, I remember struggling to get two full bags and a carryon through the airport and this was pre-little kid.  Being on the move with a small person and their assorted paraphanalia is definitely made easier by lightening the load.  The lighter packing approach has definitely reduced an element of stress when traveling as a family. 

It has said that adoption is more of a marathon than a sprint.  I'm on mile 25 and I'm ready to get to the finish line.  Cheers.