Did I just pack for Six Months...in a Carry-On?

In an earlier post I mentioned that I intended to pack only a carry-on bag and a little backpack on my globetrotting adventure.

This is planning for ease of movement.  Much of the world lacks smooth concrete sidewalks, and there is unlikely to be anybody to help you lug your bags half a mile over cobbled walks or up four flights of stairs to your hotel room or rental apartment.

So I am following the advice of a many bloggers and world travelers like Rick Steves and packing everything I'll need for the trip into carry-on that I can easily manage myself.

Easy?  Haha, no.  But doable.  Here's how I did it:

The first (and most difficult) task was to pare down my packing list.  I left behind anything that I thought I "might" need, and took only what I absolutely know I'll wear and use.  After a dry-run, I still had one bag too many, and the suitcase was stuffed so full I worried about stressing its zippers, so I had another go at streamlining.  I ended up with the items in these two photos, all standard clothing fare, with the addition of:

• 1 large infinity scarf (multiple uses as skirt, dress, wrap and shrug)
• 1 sholdit infinity scarf (my favorite travel accessory; it has a hidden purse)
• 1 small purse

• Then the stuff to make me feel like I look good: blow dryer, make-up and toiletries.
• Necessities like clothesline, clothespins, bottle opener.
• Finally, electronics:  laptop, iPod, speaker, flashlight, flash drives, car charger, and charging cables

This is more than what some travel guides advise, but I have to account for a wide range of weather and multiple destinations.  

How I packed is just as important as what I packed.  

To conserve space in my suitcase, I'll be the anti-fashionista and wear (and not pack) the biggest and bulkiest items, including my jeans and hiking boots and sweater.  

Also, I'm a fan of big zip-lock bags.  I used 2-gallon bags to hold my shoes (after stuffing each shoe with a dryer sheet to keep 'em fresh, and then filling them with other small items like the clothespins so as not to waste the space.)  I also used the bags to compartmentalize socks, underwear, and other small items.  (Bonus: Later, a zip-lock bag can keep dirty clothes from smelling up the clean items.) 

Travelers tend to fall into one of three types of packers: the "throw in everything and jump on the suitcase until it closes" type like my son; the "fold each item neatly onto the next" type like my husband; and, the "roller", like me.  Rolling your clothing together makes good use of small spaces and also helps keep items from wrinkling.  I first stack a few items, then fold in outlying pieces like sleeves, then roll tightly, starting from the bottom.

Shirts, ready to be rolled

Rolled, bagged and placed

In my backpack I always stash one change of clothes "just in case" (the dress and leggings, today) as well as all of my electronics, the sholdit, and a notebook.


Done - with plenty of room left for souvenirs!

If anybody has any other tips for packing light, I'd love to hear them!

**It turns out our first apartment in Dublin is the third floor up, and no lift!  44 stairs later, I was super happy I packed light. In fact, most of our accommodations throughout the trip were multiple flights up with no elevator access.