Whether I’m traveling on a 10-day vacation or an overnight stay at grandson Capt. Adorable’s house, I overpack. I can’t help it. It’s not that I’m a fashionista and I have to change clothes three times a day and always be perfectly and impeccably dressed. On the contrary, I’m pretty low maintenance and can even wear a pair of blue jeans, like, three days in a row. It’s just that I’m wishy-washy and notoriously indecisive and when I’m standing in my own closet it takes me many many minutes to figure out what to wear. So when I’m packing to go somewhere I have to plan for that. I mean, how do I know in advance what I might think that I want to wear? I have to include all the choices I would mull over so I can dilly-dally in front of my luggage the same was I hem-and-haw in my closet at home. The result, of course, is that I end up with 2 1/2 tightly packed bags for a friend’s out–of-town wedding weekend, my husband as always brings along only a half-empty tote and I’m highly embarrassed when we stop on the way to visit another friend and she’s got everything she needs for a two-week tour of Italy tucked into A KID-SIZED BACKPACK. Read more in my weekly newspaper column at http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20100604/NEWS/100609931, and share your packing tips. Please!!!
Coffee with Cathy
Pour a cup & take a break
Coffee with Cathy 
I do that also. Last week when I went for a 2 day conference in Montgomery I took 5 days of clothes.
my tip? roll everything up. doesn’t get wrinkled and takes up less space. as far as what to pack, i say black, with a couple of colorful cardigans and a couple of scarves. and comfy shoes.
I used to go nuts like that as well. Now? I take only the bare minimum. I figure if I absolutely need something else, I’ll buy it there. And so far I haven’t had to buy a single thing.
Love these tips! Thanks, all. And, Mary, I had no idea you were an overpacker, too. Nice to know I’ve got company!