Travel “mind map” helps you pack

by Jeremy Kressmann on

Have you ever arrived at the airport only to kick yourself for forgetting something? Maybe it was your digital camera battery that you left in the charger or that swimsuit you put next to your bed and then forgot to put in your suitcase. Didn’t that suck? If you’re a geeky, obsessive-compulsive like me, you avoid this hassle by making yourself a packing list. I find that creating a checklist of essential items helps me stay organized much better than if I leave it up scatterbrained chance (and prevents me from descending into a panic).

But as good as it is to have a packing list, it might be even better to have a mind map. What is a mind map, you might ask? It’s a more visual way of organizing information around a central, common theme – in this case “travel.” For example, think about the items you might pack as falling into categories. Perhaps one would be your “beach wear,” including your sunglasses, your swimsuit, your towel and your suntan lotion. In a separate category would be important “travel documents” like your passport, your plane tickets and your baggage claim check.

Writer Paul Foreman has taken this mind map concept to the next level, crafting a packing-themed mind map on display above. You can see the full-sized version on his website. Is it kind of dorky? Yeah, probably. But you know what? Not only is it pretty cool-looking, I think it’s a novel way to organize yourself before that next trip. And besides, maybe next time you won’t forget that swimsuit…

Good Deed Travel (Mexico here I come): Packing list justification

by Jamie Rhein on

Tomorrow I’m flying to San Diego on Southwest Airlines and on Sunday I’m going by bus to Mexico to build houses with more teenagers (one of them my daughter) than I’ve been around in awhile. That’s the plan anyway. I’ll fill you in on how that goes.

With Southwest Airlines’ woes of having to ground planes and cancel flights, I’m wondering about the first leg of this endeavor. Since I’m supposed to be at the airport at 6:30 AM, I’m hoping that there are no snafus. I plan to dress appropriately for my time with Southwest, and I will be very polite so, I don’t think I’ll have problems there.

Last night my daughter and I headed to the store with our packing list to pick up the items we don’t have, or don’t know where to find in our house. Questions like, “Do we need a toothbrush holders?” came up. Big trips always seem to need a toothbrush holder. This trip counts as a big trip–an occassion. For smaller trips, I use a plastic sandwich bag since I can’t seem to remember in between larger trips where I put things like toothbrush holders.

We always buy more batteries too. For this trip we need flashlights since we will be sleeping in tents and without electricity. It’s not that we don’t have batteries, but they are stray ones rolling around in drawers–maybe a half dozen. Who knows if they are any good? A big trip says, “I need a fresh pack.” Same with the band-aids. I don’t want old ones with wrinkled wrappers. A trip big trip says, “brand new.” No half-filled bottle of shampoo either. Maybe for a short trip, but not for a big one.

Big trips are occasions like a Junior prom or a wedding. If one gets married a second time, you don’t wear the first dress even though it’s perfectly good and still fits. Brand new gives a level of importance–a fresh start. The possibility that one will have a life changing experience. Since we’re building houses, I didn’t get new old clothes. I’m taking my old old old clothes, the ones with paint splatters. I have packed a new shirt that I was given as a present. Perhaps I’ll wear it on the plane tomorrow. It is not revealing.

No matter how much I travel, I overdo. If I could use one package of Wet Ones, three might work better. While building houses in Mexico, I’ll be back to my bucket bath days from the Peace Corps period of my life. Also, when traveling with a large group of teenagers, if you’re using a Wet One, you have to share. It’s an unspoken rule. Then there’s the chewing gum–another item to share. Same with cough drops with vitamin C.

Of course, I could buy any one of these items in San Diego, but it’s the control factor. I can control variables like going to the store on this side of a trip. I have a car here. Once I step on a plane, all bets are off. I’m in new territory where anything can happen.

Tonight we’re packing using our handy packing list as a guide and I’m still wondering if perhaps I shouldn’t head to the store one more time. For what? I have no idea, but when I see it, I’ll know. Then I can buy more than one–just in case.