What Would You Pack?

The Cropseys have made it through. The Faders are in the throes of it all. And the McLaughlins see it looming on the horizon. What am I talking about? Packing, of course. I thought it would be an interesting exercise for our faithful readers to think about what you would pack if you were leaving the country for two years...and you had around 8-10 suitcases or so (for your whole family). 50 pound limit, of course. I think the Cropseys had 13 bags, and the Faders get 11, while the McLaughlins get 8 (a complicated algorithm based on the number of children you have and the number of plane tickets purchased for your family). We are moving into furnished apartments, so no worry about carting your bedroom set over, but there are definitely kitchen gadgets that need bringing. The Cropseys brought their Kitchenaid mixer. The McLaughlins are bringing a food processor. And things like laptops are a must. We need to bring some bedsheets, obviously clothes, entertainment, and things that would make our house a home for the next two years.

So I ask again, what would you bring? Things on our list currently include Eric's guitar, Maggie's Christmas toys, and a cuckoo clock from my parents' trip to Germany in 1977. Our Pampered Chef knives, and a down mattress pad. Luxuries? Yeah, I guess. But some things are worth bringing. Do we take the Christmas ornaments to start some traditions? Obviously not if it means we leave the 20 BumGenius diapers for Maggie. Settlers of Catan? Of course! Betty Crocker? Absolutely. But I have a sinking feeling that when it comes time to pack our pile of necessities into 8 suitcases, some things just aren't going to make the cut. Maybe that means they aren't really necessities after all.