Do I Like to Travel?

My first question to myself is: Do I like to travel? Hmm! Well now, there’s a question! I guess answering that might bring up more questions to which the answers might be a bit complicate.

Yes and no!

I have friends who travel several times a year. I’m not talking about my friends that here in Florida are called snowbirds. You know the ones: they live in Florida during the winter months and move back to their northern homes in the summer. I’m talking about people who travel to different places, to see different sights, go on tours – that kind of traveling.

There are also friends of mine who are just as content to stay home.

I’m somewhere in the middle.

I really do enjoy touring but not that often. Also, I honestly have no desire to leave the United States - unless I'm going on a cruise.

My number one issue is that I hate packing! With a passion! What to take? What to leave home? Can I get away with only my carry-on? Should I just take my larger suitcase? Do I need both? Somehow, no matter how I try to fit everything in one suitcase, I always need more room.

What a dilemma!

No matter the season, I always overpack. What if we’re going to an area where the temperature is fairly cool? Okay, pack warm clothes! But, what then, if they have a spurt of warm weather? I’d need something light to accommodate the heat. And the dilemma is always reversed depending on the time of year.

You can see where I’m going with this.

The clothes are always an issue but then so are the toiletries. My husband needs his razor! Well, now, if he brings his razor, he’ll need shaving cream. He won’t bring his electric razor because he says packing the smaller, lighter bladed razor is easier. (He forgets that now, I need to think about the shaving cream thing!) He won't be allowed to bring an aerosol on a plane.

I want to bring my perfume! But again, there's the plane issue.

We both have our own deodorants.

Thank God, we don’t have to worry about shampoos and conditioners. Oh wait! The last hotel we stayed in, didn’t supply those luxuries. Yeah, it was a cheap place to say but according to the price we paid for the room, you wouldn’t think so. I was glad we brought our own hair supplies. And speaking of which, we have our own hairbrushes and I need my hair dryer and straightening iron. Yes, the last motel did supply a hair dryer but that isn’t always the case. We’ve been in higher-end hotels where hairdryers were not supplied because in the hotel was a hair salon. Like, come on, really? You’re on vacation! Who has time to sit in a salon for hours, not to mention the cost?

Shoes! Heck! We always need an extra pair or two of shoes. We can wear our sandals but what if the weather turns cool or rainy? We’ll need closed shoes – and socks. Then if we go out to dinner, we might want to wear a better pair of shoes, depending on the restaurant. And then when we visit the grandkids, they usually have a special outing in mind. You know, we’ll need sneakers.

I also bring a few plastic bags for our dirty laundry. Yeah, Yeah, I know, the kids always tell us we can use their washers and dryers. However, they have their own laundry to do, and their machines aren’t always available. For instance, we had one issue where we really needed something washed and while our granddaughter took the item to the washer, she forgot all about it and left it in the hamper! I washed it by hand as soon as we reached the next stop which was the following day – at the hotel in the next state. True, no matter where you go, you can always find a laundromat but now, you’re talking about using some of your vacation money, not to mention the time it takes to wash and dry the soiled clothes.

Oh, and hey! I’m just, so far, talking about visiting family and friends. If we traveled like some of our friends do, finding a laundromat isn’t always easy.

Let’s get back to the issue of what to pack! We’ve already breezed through clothes and shoes and the minimum of toiletries.

This was all about driving. While a long drive is taking its toll on us, we find it more or less easy because of what we need to bring. I should state here that my husband is 82 and I’m 75. No, driving long distances is definitely something we need to think twice about.

Ah! You’re saying to yourself, “What about flying?”

Yeah, what about it?

Can’t take our perfumes or aftershaves. And I’m not leaving them home only to be forced to buy them anew wherever we’re going. And then what? Toss them out because we can’t take them on the plane for our return trip? Something to think about.

Our medications! Yes, we take daily medications and yes, I can carry them in an oversized tote bag that is allowed as a second carryon. Well, not exactly. We’re allowed one carryon and one tote so if I have my carryon and tote, I can’t “carryon” my purse. Not a problem. I’ll just stuff my purse in the tote providing I’ve left enough room.

Here’s where it gets complicated. My husband has COPD and is on a daily regimen of nebulizer treatments. Where the heck am I supposed to carry that medical device?

He’s not the only one. I have severe sleep apnea and need the machine to help me keep breathing at night or risk not breathing and not waking up in the morning. Yes, it’s that serious. Another machine to carry!

Looks like I’m finished, huh?

Nope! If we’re driving, I’ll bring my laptop and camera (you just never know what kind of awesome photograph possibilities you’re going to see) and as soon as possible, I’ll download them to the computer – that’s just in case the camera breaks or gets lost. Yes, I know most people now-a-days use their phones to capture those awesome photos. Problem with that is while the phones really do take fantastic pictures, those same pictures eat up the phone’s memory very quickly. Best scenario? Download them to your computer and quickly. Hence - laptop!!

I guess my best option for traveling is to win the lottery and hire my own personal plane with my own pilot when I need him (or her) so I can take whatever I want, whenever I want, and wherever I want.

Ah! Problem solved!

Oops!! I need to stop typing and go buy a lottery ticket. See ya!