I like all of this. I’m similar in my approach, although I generally don’t carry on if I am going somewhere that requires dressier clothing/shoes.
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Has to be an issue much more common for women than men, right? Packing doesn’t stress me out at all. Usually don’t start until the night before or morning of. But I have 2 pairs of casual shoes so I could wear one and pack the other (most trips I just take one pair). Two pairs of dress shoes. Really wouldn’t need to take both unless I was traveling for a month or more and needed to dress up often.
Bring glasses and contacts and anything else that is forgotten can be purchased there.
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I’m going on a 24 hour out of town trip. I’m taking the tiniest suitcase we own…it actually is a carryon that’s fits under airline seats. It will be less than half full. I just tossed everything I need in, and will load it into my back seat tomorrow.
I have to leave the trunk empty because I’m driving a friend who will bring a 26 inch suitcase packed to the gills, heavy and with a ton of stuff in it. 
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I have almost been that person @thumper. While not a 26-incher I have brought a full carryon bag while others have brought a tote for a weekend trip.
I’m not even talking about the amount of luggage as she can take as much or as little as she wants. I’m talking about just the process. She told me one of her stresses is whether the thing she wants to fit under the seat actually will fit under the seat. One, hasn’t she traveled with this thing a dozen times and so doesn’t she know whether it fits? Her response was that different planes have different seats so what fits under one seat may not fit under another. OK, well, if it doesn’t fit, can’t you just put it in the overhead bin?
I don’t mean to be unsympathetic as this clearly is a stressor for her, but, wow, I’m glad packing doesn’t stress me out as it sounds miserable.
I ordered packing cubes for a trip coming up next weekend. Have never used them before. I’m Team “roll the clothes” - this thread prompted me to finally order some!
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I saw some packing cubes offered as the latest gift with purchase for AARP. Almost enough to make me enroll! I’m also a clothes-roller.
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I had packing cubes, and my H and I got some as a Christmas present, so I get to use lots of them, and he uses none. I like them bc I can pack like things together, and they stay organized.
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My daughter is leaving for Europe tomorrow. We bought some cubes (just 3) today and as I packed her underwear, socks, bras in the tiny one, she said “I think I like these.” Then got her shirts in one and pants/shorts in the other. All squished easily into the big backpack with lots of room left over.
She’s a natural slop and had just stuffed all this stuff into the backpack. She’s taking just that pack and then a smaller one for a day pack/ipad holder, etc. She’s touring for a few weeks then doing research in London and Oxford, already has plans to buy a few sweatshirts, gifts, anything needed, and plans to buy a small duffel or tote to bring back any purchases.
But she seemed to like the cubes.
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I often wonder why I am both a good traveler and a mess when it comes to packing. I procrastinate or used to when working and obsess over the house, as usually someone is either staying here as a housesitter or coming in feed the cat.
The diversity of destinations is usually my problem. Arizona or California in the spring requires both cold and hot weather clothing, something nice for the city, boots, hiking pole and clothing. Plus gifts. My feet are bad and nothing feels better than a change of shoes. Or two.
The easiest was Mexico this winter, as it was all summer clothes aside from the down coat for arrival and departure from home.
Currently am packing for a trip to go camping with my Ds and spouses. So, camping clothing, city clothing, plus whatever camping gear will fit. I check bags a lot.
Leaving for a trip, it is often the last thing instinctively added that becomes most useful on a trip. And the carefully considered item packed first never gets worn.
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We are hoping to do a three week vacation next year. We will do carryons only. Tricky part is needing everything from hiking clothes to dressy outfits. My personal item is a small back pack which will have all my shoes. The rest will be made to fit in the carryon. We will check bags on the return.
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I bought packing cubes a few years ago based upon CC recommendations. I don’t use them every time I travel, but they were great when my daughter and I went to Italy for a week. I think they are especially useful if you will be changing hotels a few times, so you won’t unpack at each stop.
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You need to download the Tripit App! It does all that for me…and I used to do all of that. I had a file folder with all the bits and bobs in chronological order and a color coded post-it - just in case.
Control freak? Who? Me?
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Tripit has become my best and favorite traveling companion! I love that app!
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I also have a “Hawaii bag” (was going 3-4x a year pre Covid days, down to 2x a year) and a “cruise bag” - sadly I don’t see that one seeing the light of day any time soon.
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Saw this on Facebook and thought of this thread. 
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True, we have a crawl space…
I typically unpack my suitcase in the laundry room as soon as I get home.
You all better stay away from me…
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Memes like this just make serial procrastinators like me happy.
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We used to quarantine our suitcases on the deck for a couple of days when we came back from Hawaii. ‘Cause roaches! 
Now, we can afford to stay at properties with substantially better bug control, so suitcases get unpacked as soon as we arrive home. 
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