It takes a lot more effort to pack less than more. I have been known to sit on my small suitcase to make the zipper close and worry that I’ll be singled out during boarding to check in a bulging carry on. I weigh and reweigh the bags to make sure they’re within the limit. Despite that, I see it as a fun puzzle to solve. This is one of the rare instances in which I actually live “less is more” and find it quite liberating. I love not having to fear that my belongings are lost. I feel a little bit smug walking off the plane and right onto the taxi line. I find pleasure in realizing how little I really need and notice that I don’t miss much of what I’ve left behind. If I’m really missing something I can replace it at my destination. I have discovered that even with the smallest suitcase I may come home with something extra I didn’t use.

Of course, this light and easy travel is quite the opposite of what we did for so many years. It’s easy to be self righteous now, but for a dozen years or so, we couldn’t fit our stuff into a normal size cab, needing to reserve a minivan. Relatives awaiting us at our destination were appalled to have to fetch us in two cars. We were the ugly Americans, traveling heavy - lugging car seats, strollers, port-a-cribs, packaged foods, extra changes of clothes and hostess gifts. We schlepped stuffed animals, Legos, Game boys and snacks. I carried a diaper bag that weighed me down into a hunchback. It’s no wonder I now wear only the tiniest of handbags.

Now let’s discuss unpacking. There are two schools of thought. Some (like my husband) relish unpacking every single item out of the suitcase into hotel drawers and the closet, making himself feel at home, even for an overnight stay. Others, (including myself) can live right out of the luggage, even for a couple of weeks. I don’t like to spread out into alien surroundings, and confine myself and my stuff to a small radius, continuing with the theme of minimizing, or perhaps a way of controlling my unfamiliar, temporary environment.