How to keep luggage and clothes dry?

Joan! You're from Portland! You can't be afraid of a little rain!

Seriously, it's likely to be the same weather we have here. Your suitcase should be reasonably rain resistant. If not, carry a dry cleaning bag with you and wrap around for your trip outdoors.

you can also try the back-pack covers - come in many diff sizes from the sporting good stores - or REI.com on line. They are not expensive and can snuggly fit around the pack. If you use just the rollabord - large heavyduty trash bags work too. A water-proofing spray may not be a bad idea before you go - do a few applications. And if all else fairs - take a few extra large zip locks for the stuff you dont want wet inside.

I pack almost all my clothes in ziploc bags and then put them in my suitcase. This makes for easy repacking (you don't have to refold anything).

I always take a large leaf bag with me. I put it over my luggage to protect it in case of pouring down rain. You could "custom" fit it before you leave - cutting a hole for the handle, shorten it, etc. Fold it up and pack it. It may seem silly, but it's worked well for me.

We also keep a large leaf bag in each of our Roll Aboards and a rain cover for our day back packs.

Joan, I'm with Doug. Come on, light rain is a given around here and we even moved in the pouring rain and I didn't worry about my clothes getting wet. Most good suitcases have pretty tight zippers and depending on how and where you are moving you can get under overhangs if you need to while waiting. I took the bag but never took it out of the pocket. Were were in No. Europe during the flooding in England and saw rain 5 days out of 7.

We had to check luggage to Spain (bringing a lot of things our former foreign exchange student had left in America). A severe rainstorm in Atlanta caused a plane delay. Our Bags must have been left in the downpour because some of them were absolutely soaked through. We had brought gifts for our hosts and the dye on some of the gift wrap permanently stained some things. I realize that this was a freak accident, but now I'm much more careful about using zip lock bags with anything that could bleed if wet or leak onto other things in my bag.