It always starts with a frantic treasure hunt all over the house.

I’m searching for a laundry list of essentials, some of them actually related to laundry—I need my detergent and clothespins, but also my small salt shaker, plastic bags, dish detergent, three pairs of socks, eight pairs of undies, my sarong, a top sheet, cotton, a lighter, a lock, and many, many Ziploc bags.

Feng and I occasionally bump into each other in the basement, where most of our travel gear is stored, or in the bathroom, where we fill up travel-size containers with rubbing alcohol.

Packing is everything but a last-minute chore. At home, it’s a carefully planned three- or four-day event. We get ready for travelling the same way many families are getting ready for Christmas or any other celebration.

I’m not playing backpack Tetris. I have a backpack, I know everything will fit. Instead, my packing strategy focuses on rationalizing all my essentials and organizing everything for easy access.

I let my control freak side take over.

I sort, downsize and rearrange until it makes complete sense.

It’s a very soothing task, in a way. I like when everything I need fits in a bag. It makes life easier. It gives me a sense of control. I hate clutter, it clutters my brain and weighs me down. Ironically, I feel lighter with a 12- or 14-kilo backpack on my shoulders because that’s it, nothing else to worry about.

Over the years, I developed and refined a packing system that works for me:

  • Work from a master control list. Improve it each trip, adding what you missed and deleting what never gets used. Fun fact, my clothes have nicknames because I can’t just write “denim shorts”—that’s pretty much what I always wear and I have half a dozen pairs.
  • Always put things in the same place. This way, it’s easier to notice if you’re missing something.
  • Keep most-used items easily accessible.
  • Tape the lid of shampoo bottles, conditioner, etc. Keep them in a separate Ziploc bag. They can leak or pop open because of the air pressure in the plane.
  • Use light and sturdy water-resistant storage bags for clothing and toiletries, and large Ziploc bags for other items. It’s a great way to organize your gear and keep everything clean.
  • Research what you can realistically buy on the road for the same quality and a better price. If you’re going to spend weeks in a remote jungle village, bring all the conveniences you’re used to. If you’re a Westerner going to Asia, bring shoes and jeans because finding your size can be a challenge. My destination has supermarkets and (probably) everything I need, so I’m bringing the bare minimum, considering how ridiculously expensive Canada has become.

All you can hear in the house right now is the ziiipppp of zippers and a few sighs.

I have butterflies in my stomach.

I’m not ready but I can’t wait to go.

It’s a good thing we don’t know the future; otherwise, we’ll be too scared to do anything.

It’s time to jump into the unknown once again.

Master packing control list, Ottawa, december 2022
Master packing control list, Ottawa, December 2022
Master packing control list, Ottawa, december 2022
Master packing control list, Ottawa, december 2022
All my tops, Ottawa, December 2022
All my tops, Ottawa, December 2022
All my tops in their travel ba, Ottawa, December 2022
All my tops in their travel ba, Ottawa, December 2022
Jeans and shorts in the light-blue bag, Ottawa, december 2022
Jeans and shorts in the light-blue bag, Ottawa, december 2022
Salt, coffee and more, Ottawa, december 2022
Salt, coffee and more, Ottawa, december 2022
Taping bottles, Ottawa, december 2022
Taping bottles, Ottawa, december 2022
Contents of the backpack, Ottawa, december 2022
Contents of the backpack, Ottawa, december 2022
Tad-da! Ottawa, december 2022
Tad-da! Ottawa, december 2022

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6 Comments

  1. Christiane December 27, 2022 at 1:52 pm

    Love the use of packing list! Can you share it via email?
    I used to be a chronic over-packer until we went to Malaysia and I realized I needed to change. Now I have backpack too and I love it. And yes packing takes me 2 days too lol. I pack, downside, repack, and do one last check i did not overdo it.

    Reply
    1. Zhu December 28, 2022 at 1:29 am

      Will sent! Send me an email as a reminder anytime 🙂 I don’t publish it on the blog because it feels oddly personal 😉

      Reply
  2. Melanie Aubert December 30, 2022 at 7:51 am

    That is an impressive and enviable level of organization!!

    Reply
    1. Zhu January 2, 2023 at 11:46 pm

      I freak out when I don’t have any control at all… so the energy spent in organizing everything, or at least what’s under my control, is actually worth it.

      Reply
  3. Isa February 7, 2023 at 3:20 am

    Oh no! I’ve been too self absorbed so I missed my annual “Juliette is leaving so I’m going to live through her adventures” check! I’ve got so many articles to read to catch on!

    Reply
    1. Zhu February 7, 2023 at 3:32 pm

      🙂

      Reply

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