Three large suitcases, one garment bag, two rolling carry-ons, a computer bag/briefcase, leather carry-on and one canvas bag full of paperwork and books are now lined up in the guest bedroom. In addition, we will take a carton packed with a four month supply of toiletries and cosmetics and my handbag. The bags are all a couple of pounds under the airline's 50 pound weight limit for checked baggage and 26 pounds for carry-ons. Not all of the bags will be on the flights home since we will use up or leave behind the paperwork, books, and any remaining toiletries.
Much to my surprise we were able to fit everything into the bags. In fact, we still have too much stuff and clothing. Of course, if we had to fly to the port as well as home again, we would have had to pack differently. I would have had to be much more selective about the clothing to pack. But, lucky us, our neighbor will pick us up in the morning and 35 minutes later we will be at the port.
Now the question is what will we forget. One of us always forgets something important. For the QE2 WC, we forgot to pack scissors and a comb for me to use to cut Jerry's hair. We spent half a day in Montevideo comparison shopping for scissors! That half a day is best forgotten. When we went on a cruise to Alaska from our home in Florida, Jerry went without a jacket! Fortunately we arrived in Seattle the day before and went immediately to a shopping center where he bought a winter jacket. I forgot the garment bag on one trip on land and just got along without it. We arrived in Quebec in the summer with two teenagers and no raingear or jackets for the cold rain we encountered. Misery! We went to our lake house and left the cooler full of food on the kitchen table and since it would spoil and stink, Jerry had to turn around and make the trip there and back - another half day best forgotten.
Maybe this time we will not forget anything. I have never had such a good packing checklist to work with.
