The Luggage and Packing Saga Continues

Okay, as stated in a previous post, the luggage I originally bought was RIDICULOUSLY small and despite my best intentions, there was NO WAY I was getting to London for 3 ½ months with it. Judit had been telling me for days that I needed to start packing and getting my stuff together, etc. etc. Since I hate packing for ANYTHING and am a fairly inexperienced traveler, I kept putting her off and telling her that I would “get it done!” That is until I proudly brought my suitcases up to show her. “You can’t fit anything in those! You are going away for 3 ½ months, you need to take stuff with you!!” So we decided to go luggage shopping…

Our travels first took us to Sam’s Club where I was hesitant to buy anything because I felt that I did not need another entire 4-piece set of luggage for $150, the amount I thought I had eluded paying on my very FIRST luggage shopping trip, but rather just one big suitcase. We decided that if worst came to worst, we could come back and get the set there. So we then ventured to Target (which I had been bugging her the entire time about going to for luggage anyway since I thought they had individual suitcases…), where we did not find individual pieces but instead found a 6-piece set. “This is insane!” I proclaimed. “I don’t need this much luggage and I am not paying $170 for this!!! Let’s go back to Sam’s club, that one was cheaper!!” Then, as the look of exasperation on her face grew, I saw it! The sale sticker! “Wait! It’s on sale for $125!!! I will buy this one, we get more pieces that I will never use for cheaper!!!” We grabbed the luggage, put it in the cart and began to walk away. “But are you SURE this isn’t too big? There are size requirements, you know!” I pestered. “The one I went to Hungary with a few months ago was even bigger then this, it will be FINE!!!” she assured me. After a few minutes of going back and forth with this, Judit won the battle and I was mostly convinced, but still hesitant!


The new luggage and old luggage. Can you see the size difference?

So with the luggage in the cart and my mind made up and fairly at ease, we decided that I needed a few more items of clothing for my trip. A few hours and a pretty hefty amount on my credit card later, we were finished! Now to get it home and begin packing!

Almost from the second we walked in the door that night, Judit said “We have to pack! You have to get your stuff together, these next few days are going to fly by and you are not going to have time for anything.” So we sat and began to cut price tags and strings, etc. from all the clothing we bought. Since I started on this feat first, I decided that I would cut the tags and throw the item of clothing into the open suitcase, unfolded…

I thought she was going to pass out when she walked into the living room and saw what I was doing! “This is how you are packing!?” she asked. “Well, no! I just want to get everything together in one spot first,” I replied with a big grin. Luckily, my way flew that night as we were both too tired to do much else.


All my junk thrown together waiting to be folded/packed!

Then the next morning came and I knew I could no longer put off the inevitable. We began to pack, and as Judit was folding everything and beginning to pack it, I would second-guess it and try to take it out citing that there were “too many clothes and I didn’t need that many!” Or I would fly up the stairs with yet another item that I “REALLY want to take, more than the other one!” Despite the chaos, I was feeling pretty optimistic and naively said “This is great! I think I will be able to fit everything I need into one suitcase!” With much patience and a slight amusement, Judit tried to be serious while saying, “Tammy, you don’t have sweaters, shoes or pants packed yet. Plus, you’re going to want room to bring stuff home with you…”

So two suitcases it is...! =)