Part 3: LIVING a fibroLIFE Absolutely Includes Vacationing

One thing seems to be consistent for Hubby and me: We always over pack! Maybe you are thinking that is not a big deal, but remember, the more you pack, the more you have to carry, load and unload several times, and the more you have to put up when you get home. I do not know about you, but none of that sounds much like vacationing. To me, it sounds like work! I am going to share with you my current, ever evolving notions on packing.

Check the weather before you start packing.
Today we are blessed in that forecasters predict the weather several weeks out. Granted, they are not always accurate, but there is a good chance they will be in the ball park regarding temperatures. Once I have an idea of the expected range of temperatures, I start planning accordingly. If it is the end of one season and the beginning of another, I do go ahead and pack one outfit that fits the possible variation. For example, this trip we are supposed to have temperatures in the 80's. I am taking capris and short sleeves, however I am including a pair of jeans in case we do have some unexpected cool temperatures, which is highly possible at the end of April.

Determine what type of clothing you need.
Once I know the expected weather, I then move on to what type of clothing I need to take. This trip, we have no formal plans that require dressing up, so packing was very easy. I am taking clothing that does not wrinkle, that I will be comfortable in, and that is machine washable. I do not have to be picky about how I put them in the suite case like I do when packing formal clothing that wrinkles easily. I always take a light jacket, usually my denim one, because it will go with about any casual wear and it is light to medium weight. I also keep a raincoat and umbrella in the car. Vacationing almost always involves a good bit of walking so I take practical, comfortable shoes and I take as few pairs as possible. They tend to take up a lot of room in the suite case and are quickly add to the weight of my bags. Luckily this time, again since we have no plans that require dressy shoes, I have determined I will only need the shoes I am going to be wearing when I leave for the trip.

More tips on packing next time!
Blessings all!
Meshea

Start packing early.
I cannot stress this enough. You wanted to be rested up for your trip and you do not want any last minute stress to tire you or throw you into a fibro flare. A couple of weeks before the trip, I do the first two steps of checking the weather and determining what type of clothing I will need, and then I actually start packing. I keep the size of suite case I will need on a bed in one of our guest rooms. As I do laundry and come across items or when I just decide on something I know I want to wear, I put it in the suite case right then. I check the weather the day before I leave and adjust what I have packed accordingly, as needed. When it is time to go, I make one last review of my suite case's contents, zip it up, and I am good to go.

Will you be able to do laundry while on your trip?
This is a major deal to me. We frequently use our condo which have a washer and dryer. Also, many hotels have them as well. If I know that washing clothing is a reasonable option, I do not stress nearly as much about possibly forgetting something. Nor do I over pack just in case I spill something or such. This decreases my stress wonderfully! Also, I usually wash everything the night before returning home. It does not take long, and the washer and dryer can be going while having dinner, going to a show, etc. It always comes as such a relief to know that when I walk in the door after being away, basically everything I have is clean and ready to put away.

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