Jun 21st, 2007
Taking What You Need
Take from this world only to the measure of your needs, and forgo that which exceedeth them. Observe equity in all your judgements, and transgress not the bounds of justice, nor be of them that stray from its path. Baha’u'llah, Baha’i writings
I’m flying off to Geneva this weekend - for work and some social time with my George Ronald colleagues. I’m away for only three nights, so my little overhead bag will do.
When I travel anywhere, no matter how long or short the journey, I use a packing list - I can’t tell you how many toothbrushes/hairbrushes/throw away cameras I had to buy before creating the list. I have refined it over time to fit in with my changing life - the things that are on it now are things I have actually needed on a trip somewhere. If I don’t need that item on this particular trip, I just cross it off. As I pack things, I cross them off the list. When everything is crossed off the list, I am packed and ready to go!
The list is in two parts - `stuff’ and `clothes’. Here is my present `stuff’ list. You will be surprised, I guess, at some of the items on it. If you can’t think why you might need dried mashed potatoes and a big jug, you have clearly never landed in a soft currency country on a Sunday with no prospect of getting money - and therefore no prospect of eating a hot meal - until the banks open on Monday. When my friend Virginia and I went to the Beijing Women’s Conference in 1995, we ate mashed potatoes until we found a bank able to change our money.
(Men, you will see this is a list for a woman. I also have a list for a man, although much of this list you can use - your list available soon!)
ticket
directions/maps
driving licence
international licence
passport
money: UK, USA, other,
traveller’s cheques
US cheque book
UK cheque book
PINs
credit cards
insurance details
CVs
computer
computer case
leads
converters
memory stick
plugs
telephone
telephone charger
pens
book to read
paper
addresses
phone numbers
emails
business cards
prepared talk/materials
diary
prayer book
readings book
clock
camera
film
hair drier
umbrella
bag to carry things
sewing kit
hair scrunchies
combs
shower cap
glasses
sun glasses
hairbrushes
perfume
jewellery
sweater
swim suit
safety pins
tape
make-up bag
contact lens case
contact lens cleaner
hair conditioner
shampoo
shower gel
buff puff
toothpaste
toothbrush
floss
ear cleaners
razor
talc
make-up
tweezers
nail scissors
Vaseline
soap
face cream
deodorant
medicine bag
omega-3
paracetamol
aspirin
throat lozenges
steroid cream
sudafed
antibiotic
dioralyte
rennies
zirtec
bonjela/rinsted
metanium
rescue cream
arnica
band-aids
contact
nasal spray
Canesten
possiblytowels
torch
batteries
hair curler
iron
electric kettle
playing cards
blow up pillow for neck
pillow for floor and cover
big jug
cling film
plastic baggies
plastic bags
mashed pots
salt
dried milk
tea bags
washing up liquid
spoon
TP
first aid kit
rubber gloves
weights
gym clothes
Cold climate:coat
scarf
gloves
shawl
Tropics:fly killer spray
insect repellant
mosquito coils
malaria tablets
matches
suntan lotion
fan
hat
electric fan
Clothesunderwear
bras
socks
tights
slip
long underwear/slip
PJs
See clothes sheet
Work to do:
Materials, talks, workshops
spelling dictionary
red pen
presents
food, e.g. raisins, crackers
Technorati Tags: Baha’i, George Ronald, travel, packing, luggage
Dear Wendy! A very good idea, such a list. I used to make a new one every time we travel, but an always ready list is much better.
One question: do you get through the security with nailscissors in your handluggage? I don’t. When we went to Greece some years ago, I had them in my handbag but they were ‘discovered’. My scissors got then a big box for themselves and had to be checked in seperately!
PS I too have travelled with mashed potato powder! Not always though, just when I espected ‘famine’.
Great list. Men can adapt it to their own particular needs. I don’t think I’ll take an electric kettle to Geneva this weekend, though!
Hi Wendi, I found your blog through Tabbot’s
Something I don’t see on your list is any type of luggage tags. Personally I love Global Bag Tags, check them out and see what you think.
All that in a little overhead bag huh? Great idea posting it on the site, very useful since I am moving to Asia in a few weeks, thanks!