No matter how detailed you are, you’re bound to forget something. With luck, it’ll be something easily replaceable, like swim trunks or a tooth brush. What you definitely do NOT want to happen, is to rush off in a flurry of excitement, and leave behind an item that could absolutely ruin the best laid plans.
Should I mention Passport?
I’m no longer a novice, and checklist packing has become routine for me, but it wasn’t always so. Every now and again, I’m reminded the hard way, that I should still use one.
Here’s what I do:
First, I go over all of my routines for the day. What is the first thing I do when I wake up, my bathroom ritual, prepping for work, decompressing once I get back home, etc.
Start a list.
Bedroom
work clothes
wallet
car keys
cell phone
Bathroom
shower
shower items: soap, shampoo, washcloth, drying towel
shave
razor, shaving gel, after shave
brush teeth
toothbrush, toothpaste, mouth wash, floss sticks
brush hair, or in my case, beard
lotion body
take vitamins/meds
Kitchen
make a quick tea
fruit, bagel or sandwich, whichever I have available
Return from work:
Bedroom
change of clothing/quick shower
grab laptop
Living room
make a couple of calls
go thru mail
fire up laptop
Kitchen
fix dinner (if didn’t pick up and no leftovers)
straighten up (most times)
Bathroom
brush teeth
floss sticks
Bedroom
cell phone
set alarm
change of clothing
work clothes for next day
Second, all of the things I may need for air travel, international or otherwise, whether I actually need it or not.
passport
Global Access ID
shot records
money (cash)
credit card
boarding pass
over-the-counter meds
emergency contacts list
Last, anything required for accommodations or rentals at my destination.
printed copy of hotel, Airbnb, etc reservation (with address)
printed copy of rental car agreement
Once that’s done, I don’t look at it again, until a day prior to departing, after I’m fully packed. I line thru things that I’ve already visually checked as packed, or that which I don’t require for this particular trip.
Things like:
work clothes
drying towel
food items
alarm clock
shot records
What’s usually left, are items I’m glad I checked for. The things I may have set aside, but haven't been physically packed yet, like paperwork.
Keep in mind this isn't a clothes packing list, that is a different animal all together. I’ll be the first to admit, trying to figure out which clothes, shoes, accessories and how to fit it all into a carry-on, can be a daunting task. It requires another article to come.
Hope this helps.