Solution: wear it
This Washington Post article will break no new ground for OBOW readers. The writer says she only travels carry-on, but…
Honestly, though? Packing light is a giant pain. It requires tough decisions and a willingness to sacrifice both vanity and dignity (see black pants, above). Carrying on is not for the weak.
Which is why, when getting ready for a long-awaited trip to France several months ago, I found myself wavering. It was just a 10-day vacation, but try as I might, I couldn’t fit everything I needed into my regulation 20-inch roll-aboard. City clothes, country clothes, guidebooks, hiking shoes, laptop - none of these things was expendable. Yet I was committed to flying with the proverbial one personal item and one carry-on. What to do with all my extra baggage?
Reader, I wore it.
Now, she’s a member of the Scottevest cult. I’ll bet we could teach her a few other ways to cut the weight.
(Brad)
Reader Comments (11)
Cannot understand why she carried a corkscrew (with attached knife) through security.
She got nervous standing in line?
She wimped out on the return journey and checked her bag.
Yeah, we could teach her a lot. ;-)
No doubt this story was sold to the paper by the column inch so I wouldn't put too much in the fluff factor of her narrative.
Others that are looking into their first trip with carry-on only may read article this and think this is the way to go. Hope they do their research. And have a good tailor / seamstress for the ScottEvest product they may buy!
As the rest of us try to remain humble. :)
I went to France for almost 3 weeks with just a soft sided carry on (Quickload travel pack). In the fall, witih bad weather. I had plenty of clothes, and the Europeans said I dressed "nice". I went to the Louvre, I went to church, and I went canoeing and hiking. I ended up at the Medeterranean, in HOT sunny weather. I had everything I needed.
I have a Scott-e-Vest, and it stays at home. It is a baggy frumpy coat that looks wrinkled and ugly. It immediately makes me look like an ugly american. It is NOT the solution. The author needs to learn that going carry on and packing light are NOT the same thing.
BTW, I did take my curling iron. Because it was Paris. :)
Look at what she writes:
"Honestly, though? Packing light is a giant pain. It requires tough decisions and a willingness to sacrifice both vanity and dignity (see black pants, above). Carrying on is not for the weak."
Her attitude is terrible. She has made packing light such a negative thing it's no wonder she has so many problems.
Henry Ford said, "Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right."
She thinks she can't. We know you can.
I feel more dignified carrying one light bag, dignity flies out the door if I'm wrangling large, heavy suitcases.....not that I do that anymore!
And what is wrong with black pants I ask? Most of my pants are black and smart looking, even when casual.
Personally, the hardest thing about packing light is planning whcih clothes I'm going to bring (including shoes). Everything else, like my toilet kit and sundries, are pre-packed and ready to go. But figuring out which pants, which tops, which jewelry, etc. take me a while. The longer the trip, the worse it gets, as I'm trying to get more outfits out of the same pieces of clothing.
I do have a few bits of clothing that I pack every time but I do like to vary other items so that I don't get bored with my monochrome colour scheme.
What would packing heavy involve? A library and sitting chair?