It's 17 days until we leave for 5 weeks

17 days is an eternity. We generally pack in about 12 hours --- BUT -- we have a well polished packing list that is followed exactly. No changes. So work on getting a good packing list on paper and work the list.. Not while trying to pack.

One advantage of basic economy tickets with the roughly 20 pound weight limit is it streamlines your packing options.

Is this your honeymoon? Where are you going for 5 weeks?

I assume that you will remain in "civilization" and can buy many to most things that you might forget or need to leave behind.

Do not forget tp pack the passports and other important paper you might need. Don't forget your technology and your meds. Maybe you should pack them today.

Make out your list of must do things before leaving like calling the banks, etc. and then you can check them off as you do them.

I leave in about 6 weeks and one way that I always get ready is to do a major apartment cleaning. I started last week and it is coming along. It has become a ritual that I use to get ready. I have also moved my passport from its hiding place in the closet to it its hiding place in the spinner. It will be moved into my purse the night before travel since I sleep at the airport.

Be thankful that you are not the one having to do the painting, paving, countertops, etc.

EDITED: I have master packing lists for different situations-nature vacation, city, winter. These lists have specific items-not just shoes but Keen Sandals or Eddie Bauer Pants. My lists even include where I put various items in my luggage, but unfortunately I'm not disciplined about putting things back in their proper location while on the trip and my luggage becomes somewhat chaotic, except for the wonderful organization of the packing cubes. For a trip of varied destinations, I could start a packing list and cut and paste from the masters.

You still have 2 1/2 weeks, so it's not panic time yet, but I would get started in case you need to order something.

Bostonphil I love that you clean! We purge, relentlessly, before every trip even unsubscribing to crap feeds we’ve managed to accumulate so the inbox is not so cluttered and annoying.

Mark McG, I know how you feel! Even when organized I gnash my teeth and recheck everything relentlessly. I pack 5 to 7 days before leaving so I can revisit how I organized and remove the stupid choices. (There are always stupid choices.) We re in week 1 of 8 so we’ll soon see how I did. You will be great and have a memorable trip, which is all that really matters, isn’t it? Stories to tell for years to come.

17 days to go, plenty of time. From your post it seems you may be a last minute person. You are not screwed however. Your other projects seemed to be a late start even though you had them on your agenda since March. They did get done. Even a last minute person can get things done.
Aside from maybe taking confidence in that, nothing can alleviate the anxiety surrounding last minute stuff.
I don’t know your travel history, but if it is minimal, then you will have a hard time getting it all together. Myself, I pack exactly the exact same things for every trip.
Before laying out your clothes creat a written list. Put anything on there that you want. Then pack it. As you wrote it. See if it fits, what it weighs and if you can carry it. If so, you are set. Otherwise start taking things away.
Travel packing it the art of subtraction.

Thanks to my kindred friends here that always pack the correct things. To address the mouse in the house I use Rick's packing list. This is our 2nd overseas trip this year. March was Rome w/Sarah Murdoch. Last year was NYC for a week & Paris for a month. My personality is that I like things lined up & have no surprises. haha. That was blown all to heck in 2022 when my partner (soon to be wife) & I were in London at Christmas time & ready to head to France. Then France closed the border & we had 2-3 weeks free. That is when my partner & I became spontaneous. We finished the trip in Bath, Cotswalds & Edinburgh and had a great time.

So the trip had been planned (roughly) to use voucher airline tickets so we booked about 300 days out. In between we decided to get married in Scotland. I am to propose in Ireland (my partners grandfathers country) get married in Edinburgh (my grandfathers home) & honeymoon in Paris. Ohhh...wirh 5 days in Minnesota on the front end...long story. Our rings are supposed to be done next week. I am going to ship my kilt outfit ahead so i don't have to check a bag. The only connecting flight is Heathrow-Dublin...and that is 3.5 hours. But i just don't want to drag another bag around. Painters are done in a few minutes & I will be able to start laying out clothes, unmentionables, toiletries & electronics. I'll feel much better once that starts...I'll feel like the trip is starting

How truly romantic. A proposal, a wedding and. a honeymoon to last forever.

Hopefully, you might be able to report back during the trip.

and i haven't started laying out clothes to pack. Am i screwed? How will i choose or discard the essentials so quickly?

As long as you have your passports and credit cards, everything else is superfluous.

If you don't feel like making a spreadsheet or even a list of what you are packing, just lay everything out and photograph it --- somehow that seems like less of a chore (to me, anyway). I do already have Google docs of detailed packing lists for Italy and for our cabin, but I photograph both what I'm taking to Italy and what I am leaving at the cabin (so I know not to bring the same thing next time).

Good luck and be as decisive as possible --- I figure that if I'm dithering between two things, probably either would be fine!

treemoss2--I love this:
Travel packing it the art of subtraction.

How truly romantic. A proposal, a wedding and. a honeymoon to last forever.

Hopefully, you might be able to report back during the trip.

well...first of all I hope she says yes! I'll try to check back in during the trip

I've started the count down for my trip in two weeks. I've had a packing list drawn up for months and next Sunday I'm doing my trial packing after I pull a lot of the clothing out of storage. It's my first time doing carry-on luggage so it will be interesting - though I don't tend to be an over packer.

I've realized I need to scale down my toiletry bag and make it minimalist. I never take full size bottles of anything in my toiletry bag but it all adds up and my usual bag is large.

I don't expect the current forecast of very mild temperatures - over 20C ! and low chance of rain to last :<

Oh and print out all of my tickets as a back up, and update phone apps I need for the trip and return to get through Customs.

well I'm down to 9 days and not much has happened.....yet! I do have a bunch of stuff piled on the table along with 2 bags. That's right...I've given up trying to carry on only. I'm checking my bags BABY!!!!

Suck it all of you struggling to fit everything in & lugging it onto the plane. You're hoping the gate agent doesn't pick you at random for size or weight of your bag. Me I'm walking on without a care in the world...happy & free being my bad self.

The kilt went out to be pressed today. The kilt & the jacket & brogues (shoes) will take up half my checked bag. Oh, my Sgian dubh will get to travel as well. I still have a few reservations to make & decisions on hotels. Today is for putting a few packing cubes together & see how I am doing. It's going to come down to the wire

*I was leaning toward shipping my kilt outfit ahead but customs regulation & cost held me back. I think I will have to pay 1 or 2 checked bag fees but not so bad.

I usually check a bag even though I pack light. It's just one less thing to deal with at the airport.

Where in Minnesota are you going to?

Where in Minnesota are you going to?

It's Birch lake. Did you know there are 177 Birch Lake's in Minnesota? (count is approximate) We thought is was by Ely....nope....Hackensack. It must have been invaded by New Joisey folk. NTTIAWWT 3 hours North of MSP. How are the skeeters this year? Will I need a 5 gallon size of Off?

and btw...does anybody besides me know what a "Brockabella" even is?

yes I am wasting time on this drivel instead of packing...sheesh

Oh, no worries, you're not screwed at all! You've still got plenty of time to get your packing done. The key is to start now and make a list of essentials. Here's a quick plan to help you tackle it:
1. Make a List: Create a list of must-have items for each destination and activity. Include essentials like underwear, socks, and versatile pieces that can mix and match.
2. Weather Check: Check the weather forecast for each place you'll be visiting during your trip. This will help you decide whether you need shorts for Ireland or "Brockabella" for Paris.
3. Mix and Match: Focus on versatile clothing that can be dressed up or down. This will save space and give you more outfit options.
4. Layering: Think about layering pieces, like a light jacket or a cardigan, that can adapt to changing weather
5. Eliminate Extras: Try to avoid packing too many "just in case" items. Stick to the essentials and what you know you'll wear.
6. Laundry Options: If you have access to laundry facilities during your trip, you can plan to do some laundry and pack fewer items.
7. Test Pack: Lay out everything you think you want to take and then cut it down. It's easier to see what's essential and what's not when it's all laid out.
Regarding the house projects, it does seem like everything happened at once! Sometimes, home projects have dependencies, and it can feel like a domino effect. But it sounds like things are getting done before your trip, which is great news.
So, don't stress, take it one step at a time, and you'll be all set for your 5-week adventure with perfectly packed bags and a freshly updated home. Enjoy your travels and your beautifully renovated space! 🏠🌍🛄✈️