happy packing!

Photo credit: Arturo Elena

Packing for trips is no easy task. Even if you claim to be a professional, it certainly can cause stress for an impending trip.

I for one have a love/hate relationship with packing. I love it because packing means I am traveling somewhere. Obviously, I enjoy traveling. That goes without mentioning.

I hate it, however, because I tend to pack either too much or little. Often, I will have packers' remorse and regret not bringing certain items. This is when I start shopping and then I am in real trouble...

Anyway, with my Florida trip looming ahead and my traveling to Washington D.C. next week, I have some packing to accomplish.

Of course, I will be packing for two different climates and two different purposes.

The purpose of my trip to Washington D.C. is to attend a conservative conference called CPAC where I will network with prominent politicians, authors, and other important people. This will be my third CPAC trip and I always enjoy it. I will be traveling with my fellow College Republicans via cars and we will be staying at the luxurious Omni Shoreham hotel. While most of the days will be spent at the conference listening to speakers or networking at the job fair, we will also be exploring D.C. in order to visit the monuments and museums.

For this particular trip, the packing can be quite tricky. Business professional is the required dress code for the event so that means I will be packing business suits, dresses, heels, and pearls. Sightseeing, however, will require jeans, comfortable shoes, coats, etc... Of course, we will also be going out which will require fancier tops, nicer jeans, and so on and so forth.

As for my trip to Tampa, that will be for pure fun and relaxation. I will certainly need that after finals and these last few stressful weeks of winter quarter. Laying out, shopping, eating delicious food, and spending time with my aunt and friends will be heaven. We will be flying to Florida and staying with my aunt the majority of the time.

Packing will most likely be more fun and certainly less complex for this particular trip. Swimsuits, sunglasses, sundresses, and sandals will be the required dress code.

Some general packing rules I abide by are as follows:

1. Bring clothes you can wear more than once.
2. Limit shoes to three or four pairs maximum
3. Establish a color theme. Mine is pink and black.

More will follow but for now, happy packing!