Packing (again)

You’d think I could do this in my sleep by now, but oh no, the nerdy perfectionist side surfaces each year and makes trip planning and packing a dissertation in motion. I shall not bore you with the details of my hand drawn tables containing the weight of some clothing categories in milligram and ounces. Let’s just say, I am what they call “detail-oriented”.

And then the day comes and the zippers are sliding towards one another to be reunited again for another journey. If my luggage could talk, I think they’d want to make a mini-series of it. It’s a black Eagle Creek 22 inch, 42 liter rolling duffle bag carryon named Dinky because well it’s just that when standing next to other luggage at the airport.

Dinky has never flown in cargo and is used to being adored. He is a prince in utility clothes.  He is my beloved travel companion and the thought of ever replacing him panics me. I treat him well and he knows it. He is always meticulously loaded, the packing cubes fit perfectly, and I make sure not to abuse his flexibility. He has once or twice been expanded with zipper set number two released but it doesn’t really help his breathing and I get the sense he too likes the challenge of the original size limitation.

So here we are again going to Europe for the summer. He loves it over there, well, obviously he loves any outing, but the European way of life, he digs it. Especially the public transit. Or rolling past street life in the evening, cafes and restaurants abuzz with chatter. Some routes he knows by heart now: the way from the airport or train station to my mom’s house up the stairs. I bet he too regrets there is no elevator.

This year we are doing a bit of an “oldies but goldies” trip, lots of time planned in familiar beloved locations amid western comfort. No roughing it. No exotic adventure. Not many foreign languages. A little new thrown in of course because I just have to, it’s in my blood. Starting with Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Small neighboring countries hugging the Baltic Sea. I usually prefer slow(er) travel but can’t fit it all in so am joining a weeklong tour covering the territory. Stay tuned. We are on it.

Follow me on my trip ‘Baltic capital highlights ’ at https://www.polarsteps.com/BETTINASPORKENBACH/26035293-baltic-capital-highlights?s=68c5e4c9-10d5-4fa8-aff2-f4e48d03921e

Oh, two new gadgets are coming with me to test: I am putting my phone on a leash and bringing a Kindle eReader. Reviews pending.