Friday Five: Packing or Packrat?

Deb has devised an interesting FF:

We are 90% done with the pack-em-up-and-move-em-out week here are our hacienda. One daughter is moving to her first apartment, the other daughter to her dorm for her freshman year of college. Not gonna lie, it was an adventure these last few days!

As a part of the process, we let our daughters manage their own packing (with our input and support.) Part of that educational experience (for all of us) was letting them figure out how to create their own organization, make choices, and consolidate what they were packing. And also pack carefully enough so that they could still get everything in the car -- and in the dorm/apartment!

It made me realize that there are some elements to packing and moving that are learned, and some that are innate. So let's talk "packing or pack rat?" for this week's Friday Five.

1. Are you a sorter or a pack rat? What I mean by that is, do you select what you are taking with

you (on a trip, a new assignment, a vacation), or do you pack with abandon (overweight suitcases be damned!)

We moved almost a year ago and we are still unpacking.  Neither of us are sorters and this last move was made under duress--too little time and broken ribs and a separated shoulder.  We were still trying to recover from a major car accident.  But it is just too hot in the garage to spend any time in there to sort and unpack.  We have moved so many times in our careers that we have boxes that have not been opened in years.  J is the more of a pack-rat.  I am just not able to organize.  It leaves us with some of the aspect of Hoarders  but not the fear of that disease.  At least the cleaning ladies come every week. ;>D.

2. Who first helped you learn how to pack? Or did you just come into it by osmosis or natural gifting (and need)?

J is a better packer than I.  She folds things for suitcases much better than I.  I hate small suitcases that are not prepared to meet the needs of 'big girls'.  Just trying to get a pair of size 11.5 sneakers into a carry on is a pain in the tush.  We are going on a 3 week vacation in a couple of months.  J will pack

3. What's your favorite kind of suitcase? Duffle? Soft-side? Wheels? (I am personally a fan of my "expanding

zipper" wheelie suitcases. Saved my bacon on many a return trip home!)  WHEELS!  The 4w drive kind where it doesn't pull against my back when I wheel it.  I prefer a hard case but for big trips I prefer a duffle just so I can stash more stuff.  I tend to look like a ragamuffin when I get there--but I don't own an iron either. ;.>}

4. Do you have that "packing gene" -- or do you pack and cram what you need into every available space?

I do not have the packing gene.   I am also a total klutz when it comes to packing things in the car or even packing a box of books. It is also the reason that we have multiples for almost everything in the house.  I have been recently told that my ADD has been life long. ( I wished I had known that BEFORE I started on my doctorate! ;>])  It is also the reason why I cannot seem to organize my kitchen and for the most part can't find what I bought just last week.  

5. What's one thing you've learned in traveling, packing or storing your belongings that you

think everyone should know?

Don't marry someone who is as ADD as you are!