Packing it in...

Prep School Admissions
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<p>I thought I'd open this thread for the benefit of those who need to get all their student's earthly belongings to boarding school, but only have one vehicle trip to do so (those of us who live several hundred miles (or more) from school.</p>

<p>What I've learned from being through 1 cycle of taking it to school and bringing it home.</p>

<p>1) Stuff grows to fill all space available. Our example... We packed up our Mazda van with out one of the middle seats (leaving one seat and an entirely open back end with the 3rd seat folded into the floor cavity) last fall, so the 3 of us (Goaliegirl, Goaliemom, and Goaliedad) could make the trip. We had the backend up to the front seat (on the 2/3 that Goaliegirl wasn't sitting in) filled to within 8 inches of the roof. On the return trip in May, it was just Goaliedad and Goaliegirl with NO rear seats and the stuff was even closer to the roof.</p>

<p>From this we have learned...
2) Packing is a science that needs to be taught to students. It is easy for kids to throw things into suitcases, boxes, laundry baskets, etc. But to make the best use of room, learning which things to put in which containers (so that they fill all the empty space AND so that the student can find them when they arrive) is a critical skill. Techniques I've been trying to stress.</p>

<p>2a) Keep things of similar use or storage together. This may seem like common sense to adults, but not necessarily to students. For purposes of this exercise, I've had Goaliegirl divide her stuff into A) clothes, B) desk decoration & personal hygiene (stored in her desk area) and C) Linens and large items D) Hockey and other athletic stuff.</p>

<p>2b) Pack soft things with soft things (in soft containers) and hard things with hard things (in hard containers). For example, all her linens (sheets, foam pad, comforter, blankets, towels) are all soft items that filled a wheeled duffle bag nicely, pushing out firmly against the sides. School supplies etc.(binders, books, clock, etc.) were packed in the 2 laundry baskets she uses at school. </p>

<p>2c) Pack like size and density things together, starting with the biggest and heaviest first. For example Goaliegirl has an area rug that is rolled up tightly. We put her Swiffer pole and curtain rod (for hanging stuff) inside the rug. With school supplies filling empty binders with paper and books allowed the density (mass/volume) to be increased so that they could be efficiently and safely (no crush problem) boxed with other heavy items (printer, clock, etc).</p>

<p>2d) Pack your winter stuff separately. You won't be needing it right away and it will probably be stored separately in your room. Most importantly, if you run out of room in the car (See #4), you can ship it later.</p>

<p>2e) Don't put into containers things that don't need to be. All of Goaliegirl's hanging clothes will be left on their hangars and loaded into the car last, draped on top of the other packages (goalie bag, laundry baskets, suitcases, etc). This minimizes work in both loading and unloading (who wants to rehang clothes?).</p>

<p>3) Have 3 days of clothes set aside for the last 2 or 3 days at home that will NOT be going to school. This allows you to not be waiting on the dryer while you are packing. And you'll need these clothes for trips home anyway.</p>

<p>4) Start packing the car at least 1 day in advance. This will give you time to thin out your packing if you suddenly discover that your car has gotten smaller sitting outside. The winter clothes bag is usually the first casualty here.</p>

<p>I'm sure more of you have some experience to share, so with that, let the panic, er, packing begin. LOL</p>

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<p>Thanks for the helpful tips!
Since we live close by, I am going to "forget" a few things to have an excuse to go visit. ;)</p>

<p>I would imagine goaliegirl's hockey equipment alone takes up a fair amount of space!</p>

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<p>
[quote]
I would imagine goaliegirl's hockey equipment alone takes up a fair amount of space!

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yes, indeed it does. Her goalie bag cannot fly on an airlines without paying for oversized baggage. To get around this a few years ago (when she was wearing 1 size smaller pads) and we had to fly to Colorado for Nationals (2000 mile drive each way is just a bit too long when you are missing school), I packed her equipment in 2 max sized (for airlines purposes) soft-sided luggage (barely fit). Her helmet was hand caried on carry-on so it wouldn't be crushed.</p>

<p>Another good story is how she and a teammate both zipped themselves inside her goalie bag together at the same time. Don't try this at home kiddies!</p>

<p>Yes, we fit that goalie bag and her player bag (about 18 x 18 x 42) in the Mazda van with all her other worldly belongings, hence the necessity for packing efficiently. She likes to play some pickup as a player from time to time at school. She has played as a player and a goalie at Nationals as well which is a very rare feat.</p>

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<p>Goaliedad-
That 2-in-1-bag trick could really save on airfare!</p>

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<p>That reminds me of this story:
<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Southwest/09/09/plane.stowaway/index.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Southwest/09/09/plane.stowaway/index.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Yes, my brain is full of useless information.</p>

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<p>Oh, yeah. I forgot to mention that I also have to transport a large suitcase for her Goaliegirl's Korean roommate. Full of her winter clothes that she didn't want to pay to ship 2 ways, I am assuming. I don't look, I just load and drive.</p>

<p>Perhaps Blair, and Olivia may find such generous roommates parents this year?</p>

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<p>My wife had this thing about putting D'yer, Jr.'s clothes into suitcases. She even tried to buy him a luggage set for BS.</p>

<p>Laundry baskets, sweetie. They've got nice grips. I can stack a ton of crap on top (fan, clock radio, desk lamp, etc.) to reduce the number of trips. And we bring them back home empty.</p>

<p>I won the battle. Kind of. In the process of showing her how superior my method was, I made 5 trips to the car. She measured windows for window treatments.</p>

<p>WINDOW TREATMENTS!?!!?</p>

<p>Okay, THAT battle I won...without having to make any extra trips.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the tips.</p>

<p>My S had left some stuff in storage at the school and I still can't believe ALL the stuff we have at home to take with us. We live "relatively" close to the school (3 hours) so, we can always use some other weekend to take the rest.</p>

<p>I'm printing this out to remember.
Thanks again.</p>

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<p>We're wondering how we're going to fit everything into two suitcases. It'll be hard. (I have loads of clothes).</p>

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<p>Olivia,</p>

<p>I assume then that you are flying with a parent (or 2?). The best way to take advantage of that is to make sure your parent(s) can carry the 2 or 3 days of clothes they need in a carry-on, leaving 2 suitcases (boxes?) per passenger for your stuff. Then you can use their 2 free checked items to get even more on the plane.</p>

<p>I mentioned that trip to Colorado earlier. 2 Suitcases full of goalie equipment 1 stick bag (counts as a checked item) + 1 suitcase of clothes/books for both of us for the week = 4 checked bags = max free luggage. Carry-on bags had helmet, laptop and other things not easily replicated quickly if the luggage was delayed.</p>

<p>Good Luck.</p>

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<p>Yes, but my mother refuses to carry her clothes in a carry on, when she's staying for two nights. ;( I'll try to convince her. </p>

<p>My dad lives in NYC.</p>

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<p>I know last year I packed in my gym bag for 6 days including toiletries. Measurements - 12 x 12 x 20. That's 6 pants, shirts, socks, workout clothes, etc. pajamas and even an extra pair of shoes. Efficiency.</p>

<p>A little neat trick for packing pants like jeans, sweats, that don't need ironing...</p>

<p>Fold in half (left to right down the middle) like you are going to hang them and then roll them from the waistband down. Rolled pants fill tight spaces in suitcases.</p>

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<p>goaliedad - spoken like a man! :)</p>

<p>olivia - get your mom to put your stuff and hers in a very large suitcase and also have her pack a small soft bag in the suitcase so she just has to bring home her 2 days worth of stuff</p>

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<p>She says that we can take 4 suitcases, if she'll put her clothes in with mine, so that's good. :)</p>

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<p>Or - fly Southwest -- you can each check 3 suitcases, plus carryons!! Works for us!</p>

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<p>Great advice, goaliedad. I will be sure to remember all of those points!</p>

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<p>American Airlines allows a personal item, a carry-on, and two checked items.
There's a different weight limit on all of them, but it seems hard to exceed. After having said that, I confess that because I am flying solo (and using up my entire luggage allowance!), I am having Mom bring AND mail stuff. There I was thinking I was a minimalist...</p>

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<p>I'm a bit between. If I had to prefer a style, I'd prefer more basic than "stuff", but right now I have a good system in my house.</p>

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<p>wow. my stuff is not going to fit in the car... even if I leave behind winter clothes and unecessary items.</p>

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<p>Msu</p>

<p>What model of car? How many passengers (including yourself)?</p>

<p>How far are you travelling?</p>