rechelle's lifelyrics

The first two years in my retirement, I flew to Tennessee three times a year in order to visit my daughter and her husband. Flying across the country by myself gave me good reason to evaluate my travel gear and find practical ways to lighten my load. Now I’d like to share some of the things I’ve learned after trying several different luggage options and streamlining what I pack.

• Learn to live with a very small purse. This has been a huge benefit for cycling as well as being able to easily consolidate my essential items into my “personal item” on any flight. I found this Nanette Lapore bag at TJ Maxx, which fits perfectly in our tandem rack-pack and slides easily into my Light Flight backpack. I had to work on trial and error to get the right balance of carrying what I miss if I don’t have it, and eliminating bulky items that don’t need to be handy at all times. This is what fits in my cross body bag from left to right, top to bottom:

1. Slimline ID & cash wallet (tethered to my bag)
2. My car fob (tethered to my bag)
3. Rorry iWatch portable charger
4. Slimline coin pouch
5. Essential pouch for eyedrops, Chapstick, lipstick, nail clip/file
6. Gel pen
7. Eyeglass cleaning cloth
8. Hand lotion
9. Pill box for mints
10. Pouch for teeth aligners
11. Kleenex
12. Toothbrush
13. Wipes
14. Purse insert organizer
15. 3′ Tape measure

• Bring an iPad instead of a laptop. This was a game changer for me, because of the difference in weight and the size that easily sits on the plane tray with extra room to place a beverage and snack. When I was working on Cherished Hymns, I really needed to bring my laptop for the full function of Sibelius to create the sheet music. I bought a rolling under-seat bag as my personal item, so I wasn’t lugging the extra weight on my arm or back, but there were several flights where the bag didn’t fit under the seat. Once I was finished with the project, I finally switched to an iPad for smaller projects and writing. I really wondered why it took me so long to discover how much easier it is to travel without a 15″ laptop!
• Limit what is in your “personal item” to the bare essentials – with room to stuff your jacket or a to-go box while you’re in line and boarding the plane. These are my bare essentials that go in my Light Flight backpack:

1. Cross-body purse
2. Travel journal & pen
3. 1/8″ jack headphones in case I want to use seat-back entertainment
4. Insulated, no-spill bottle for hot tea or coffee (this has come in handy on so many trips!)
5. Tea bags
6. Emergency Snacks & baggies, napkins, wipes
7. Extra bag in pouch for shopping
8. Ice Water bottle with straw
9. Kleenex & moisturizers (nasal, eye drops, extra lotion)
10. iPad & accessories
11. Eyeglass case
12. Book or magazine (sometimes)

• Check out my blog, Ready, Set, Travel Times for an example of how to efficiently pack a carry-on suitcase without using packing cubes (the way Grandma taught me!)
• Choose a light-weight, rolling carry-on that is within the measurements for overhead storage. I started out with a Travel Pro that was at (or over for some planes) the size restrictions, and found that it created difficulties for me when traveling alone. I finally decided to invest in a Travel Pro that was an inch or two smaller, and it has been perfect! I worried about being able to fit everything I would need when traveling in colder weather, so I started watching YouTube videos for packing tips. I found a great resource in Aly Smalls’ channel, and she helped me realize I didn’t need to pack as much as I thought.
• Watch 6 Habits To Instantly Stop Overpacking Your Luggage by Aly Smalls.