Packing

The moment I've been waiting for and simultaneously dreading has finally arrived!  I'm going to pack for a year around the world.  How in the bloody hell am I supposed to do that (sorry, I went British there for a sec)?  So, I started by piling all the crap I've set aside for the trip onto the bed (keep in mind this doesn't include clothes):

This actually didn't help at all, if you couldn't have guessed.  I proceeded to breathe into a paper bag for a few minutes and then just left for awhile, so as not to deal with it.  Then I came back and decided that it was now or never (or tomorrow) and just started doing shit.  I made my first aid kit, which you saw:

I also packed toiletries into other toiletry bags I've accumulated (I have to say the more kits/bags/containers you have to stuff things into, the better).  I hate having loose stuff in my suitcase.

These are all my toiletry kits:

All packed full of random knick knacks and toiletries (no liquids, though).  Here they are packed into my suitcase:

The black thing on the left is our first aid kit.  Now my right side is completely full and I'm half full on the left.  Then I decided to remove the first aid kit and stuff clothes at the bottom (to fit in those weird, dumb grooves at the bottom of the suitcase (from the retractable handle):

I was told rolling your clothes makes them fit better.  Not sure if I believe it, but I'm going with it.  I packed a pair of leggings, a pair of yoga pants, 2 tee-shirts, 5 tank tops, 2 maxi dresses, 2 bathing suits and a pair of sandals.  I had NO IDEA what I should be packing, so I kinda just threw stuff in.  They recommend long sleeves for hiking, so I need to get some Under Armour shirts (that shit is pricey!).  I also threw in a box of dryer sheets because I heard adding a dryer sheet between your clothes keeps them smelling fresh.  I'm gonna try it once we're on the road.  Here's the underwear situation:

I stuffed a bunch of underwear, 5 pairs of socks and a bra into this top section.  I'll wear another bra, my jeans, tennis shoes, jacket, scarf and (obviously) some sort of top.  Wear your heaviest clothes on the plane (planes are cold anyway).  Then I stuffed the first aid kit on top of my clothes:

This works out much better because I don't have to worry about bleeding out trying to find the first aid kit.  Then I put my stack of important documents on top:

Aaron didn't like that all our documents were in a file folder, so we went to Walmart and he got me one of those plastic, pliable accordion folders with different sections for all our stuff.  I love it!  I forgot to take a picture.  Here's Aaron's luggage:

 It's ALL clothes!  He's got tons of underwear, undershirts, 2 tee-shirts, 1 pair of pants, 1 pair of shorts and 2 pairs of basketball shorts.  His backpack will have to hold all the electronics/toiletries, including:

Our GoPro gear!  Yup, this is all stuff for the GoPro.  Crazy, right?
This is my stuffed suitcase:

It was when we were both at this point that we realized we forgot to spray our clothes down with permethrin:

When going to an area highly infested with bugs/mosquitoes, you want a permethrin spray.  You are supposed to spray your clothes really, really well (like wet them) and lay them out to dry for a few hours before you pack them.  One good spray can last up to 6 weeks or 6 washes.  Since, we forgot to do this, we had to unpack and spray, then repack.  Excuse me for a minute, while I breathe into a paper bag.  Okay, I'm back.  Here's Aaron spraying the damn squirrel pants (before I strangled him with them):

Then we had to let them dry outside for a few hours and then we repacked everything AGAIN!  OMG!

Let's move on to my backpack:

I've got my tiny, super absorbent towel clipped to the bottom.  In the front pouch, I've got:

My sunglasses, gum, band-aids, chapstick, inhaler, hair-ties (just basically stuff I might need on the plane) and my Ziplock bag of liquids:

I packed this sucker so full!  I've got hand sanitizer , Neosporin, toothpaste and a few tubes of hydrocortisone cream (I get a touch of Excema sometimes), burn cream, Aloe Vera gel and a small contact lens solution.  This liquid rule is so dumb and makes packing so much more difficult!  I remember when you could pretty much take anything on a plane and people could even walk you to the gate!  Yea, I'm that old.  Find a better way, airlines!
In my middle pouch, I've got my scarf:

In my top pouch, I've got:

my green planner, my Costa Rica guide book and my gold notebook, filled with all the research I've been doing for the past 8 months.  After I took this picture, I added my crossword puzzle book and journal (thanks Mike!).  In my weird front-side pocket, I've got:

My Sony headphones and a Ziplock bag of my inhaler prescription boxes, just in case they're super anal at security.  There are also these tiny zip pockets when I buckle myself in:

In these I will put my passport, ID and some money, just for the airport.  Then they will go into my money belt.  Here's my backpack all locked up:

My pink locks scream to predators, "Move on loser!  This sucker is locked up like a bank safe!"  I feel like it also says, "You better watch your back!"  Whatever it says, good luck getting into it, I already tried because I needed my planner and I couldn't find the key.  I'd be the worst thief ever.
I wish I took more detailed pictures of packing, but I was so stressed out that I couldn't even think straight.  Subtle segway into a shout-out to my boo:  The reason I know deep down that this is gonna work is because Aaron and I make such a good team.  We're both basket-cases and we get easily frustrated, but when I'm down he makes sure he's up and vice versa.  I was losing it yesterday and he was there to pick me up and calm me down.  He's the only one who has that ability and while I don't necessarily appreciate it at the time, I always think back and know I'm the luckiest girl in the world.  He doesn't get a lot of credit for all the tiny things he does, but he does them anyway and they make my life easier.  He takes good care of us.

Okay, shout-out complete!

So to sum up, when packing for a trip around the world, make sure you bring important documents, the electronics (and chargers) you'll need, A CAMERA!, some toiletries (you can buy when you get there), all your medications, lots of underwear, a bathing suit and some clothes.  Leave behind unnecessary electronics and all expensive jewelry, meaning the necklace Aaron bought me for Christmas 4 years ago:

I rarely take it off, so I keep reaching for it and for a split-second I panic and then realize what's happening and I'm a little heartbroken.
Anyway, try to pack as light as possible because it's not worth lugging a huge suitcase around, just to have a perfect stylish outfit for each day (in my opinion, anyway).  I'm planning on wearing really basic stuff, nothing fancy or trendy, so don't expect to see pictures that look like they came out of a magazine because it'll look more like we just rolled out of bed.

Our flight is 6am tomorrow morning, which means we'll be at SFO around 4am.  Our plane stops in El Salvador for a couple hours and then we finally get to Costa Rica around 4pm.  It'll be a long day, but when going for flights on the cheap, sometimes you have to fly at weird hours with lots of layovers.  Honestly, we don't mind one bit.  We're just excited to get going.
I was cleaning out my car, Miles, yesterday and I found this old fortune I'd kept for years:

Isn't that crazy??  Fate...
I've had Miles for about 12 years now and we've been through so much together.

I'll miss you, Miles!

We took the dogs to Ryan and Sophia's last night with all their stuff just to hang out one last time before we leave them for good tomorrow night (the thought terrifies me).  They had such a blast!  We unwrapped the new bed we ordered them and they were so psyched:

We're spending today BBQing with my family and the dogs.  Couldn't think of a more fitting goodbye.
If I'm able to blog from the airport I will, but if not we'll catch you on the flippity flop!