What’s in 4 Suitcases?

Ever since Marc came up with the name for the site, I was pretty skeptical about getting all our stuff in just four suitcases. I mean, really – everything for 3 months in 4 bags? Hmmmm, have to see about that.

Packing for a week causes me to stress a little, more so when I am packing for the kids too. I worry a bit about having everything we need or forgetting something. I can usually make do without or purchase on the road if really necessary but I like to get it “right” from the get go. Of course I haven’t gotten so organized as to make a detailed checklist. Yet.

The luggage – We decided to buy some new bags, as our old stuff was just too heavy. Seventeen pounds empty wasn’t going to cut it. Rolling duffels seemed our best option. We bought 2, borrowed one from Marc’s parents, and used one we had bought for Hannah last year.

Here they are, in our Miami hotel room the first day:

So what’s in 4 suitcases?

A lot more than I thought possible. Overall I packed up just a little more than I would for a regular one-week trip, with extra underwear and t-shirts for all. I left out as much of the dry-clean only items as I could. It helps that in general, cruises are less formal than they used to be and you don’t have to wear the sequined/beaded pseudo-prom dress unless you want to.

Another thing I did to lighten the load was to wait until Miami to purchase shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, sunscreen and the other stuff that now has to go in checked bags and really adds on the pounds. In theory, a good plan. In actuality, the skanky small grocery store that was walking distance from our hotel in downtown Miami did not have quite the selection. Oh well, just part of the adventure.

The night before we left, as we folded and stacked what was to go into these four suitcases, it was hard not to fret about it all fitting and I was prepared to start pulling things out. Surprisingly, I didn’t have to eliminate anything. We stuffed those bags as full as they could get. We were even able to cram in bring along our snorkel gear. Each bag weighed between 46 and 49 pounds and I only brought eight pairs of shoes (for myself).