Packing...

Updated Friday AM! This always-fraught, never-easy task never fails to confound me. I've taken a dozen trips already this year, and never feel I have brought enough - nor do I usually wear everything I've packed! I never check a bag except when airlines make me, which I've just figured out that Aer Lingus WILL!, which often leads to hilarious attempts to close the dang thing while my Uber driver waits. I've tried packing cubes and those giant ziploc bags - they do help a little, but with all my packing & unpacking on this trip I am not planning to use them. I may live to regret this.

I'll be gone for just over 2 weeks, and expect temps in the 50s and 60s plus some rain. I've decided to try to lighten my usual load to make the packing & unpacking a little simpler... we'll see how I do. The list below feels like the bare minimum. What do you think I'm forgetting? What should I jettison before packing?

Edited on Friday to reflect what went in the bag:

Must Haves:

• A brand-new Patagonia waterproof raincoat - last year I learned the hard way that water-resistant just doesn't cut it. Duh. Also a warm scarf which will be in my backpack in case the flight is cold! And a knitted bandeau for my head & ears on blustery days. Which are pretty much a guarantee! Hence, a small umbrella.

• A pair of nearly-new slip-on black patent leather shoes I discovered in my closet. I have no memory of buying these shoes, but they seem suitable for a 'nicer' outing, or running down to breakfast in my PJs. I may have worn them once & discarded them for discomfort, as they seem tight across that bone that sticks out at the base of my big toe. Moleskin maybe? They are currently on a stretching rack. We'll see...

• My comfy old mid-calf motorcycle boots - these may be jettisoned as the soles aren't particularly great for slippery wet stones, and yet they're fashionable enough plus rugged enough to be worn nearly everywhere. And they're comfortable too. And warm. Hmmmmm....I have a feeling I'm wearing these on the plane. I like to wear a shoe you can slip off, and it's supposed to be wet when I arrive so I'd just as soon have something waterproof. I have a feeling these will survive the purge. Yep. They survived. I even gave them a polish yesterday afternoon, and they're my airplane shoes!

• A pair of new, waterproof (really?) Hoka sneakers with a deep lug sole. These are meant to be my go-to for walking all over creation. Lanes, mountains, streets, ruins.... these should be comfortable and (hopefully) keep my feet dry. I don't particularly like the lavender camo design. But if I have comfortable feet at the end of a long day of walking, I'm sure I'll be happy...

• 3 pairs of pants: 1 green khakis, 1 dark blue denim, 1 dark blue leather. The leather pants are meant to be my 'dress up' pants, and they're also warm & weather resistant. This trio plus a pair of PJ pants should see me through nicely. I'll wear the jeans to fly. Scratch that. The jeans are too tight on the calf to accommodate my compression socks! I'm going to wear my hiking pants instead. They're comfy and are looser at the ankles. Speaking of compression socks - who's in / who's out? And what brands do you favor? I have a cute pair of Bombas, raglan grey with light blue heels & toes. I've never worn them before. I have an extra pair of regular socks in my carry-on which I can always switch too if the compression socks become too aggravating. I'm such a Girl Scout!

• 1 'nice' blouse, which isn't at all warm, so I'll have to layer up. We plan to have tea at the Shelbourne, but I'm not dragging a dress and heels all over Ireland just for one 2-hour excursion! So this blouse and my leather pants will have to be good enough. Offended patrons may avert their eyes.

• 10 long sleeved t-shirts and turtlenecks in various colors - by which I mean black, white and navy. The good news is they go with all my sweaters! I've reduced to 6 long sleeved shirts of which 2 are lightweight turtlenecks.

• 3 cashmere sweaters: Naw, going with 2!

  • 1 seafoam green with side zippers, deep V neck; hip-length - I may wear this on the plane, unless the fleece sweatshirt makes the cut.

  • 1 beige cashmere with a scoop neck; waist-length - my warmest sweater, and a pretty color for me.

  • 1 black "t-shirt" style that goes with everything. Insert flashing red light here. This has been purged!

• 1 black leather-trimmed hoodie

• 3 short-sleeved t-shirts for warmer days (feeling optimistic) or to layer or even sleep in. Wearing my dark green wool t-shirt (this one from Wool& which is the world's best t-shirt!), leaving just 2 in the suitcase!

• Pajamas: flannel pants, 2 shirts. Pull on my fleece and this is my breakfast attire!

• 10 pairs of socks & underwear. Note - this means we will have to do laundry at least once. Which should mean I can bring fewer shirts. We'll see.... Oh, and yes, I always bring a laundry bag!

On the Bubble:

• My beloved hiking pants. These dry quickly, and are very comfy. They barely take up any room in the suitcase. I have a feeling these will be shoved in at the end. An extra pair of pants is probably smart... but will I wear them?!? I am wearing these on the plane. Gotta have 'em! I should probably just leave my jeans at home, but old habits die hard.

• My beloved fleece sweatshirt. This takes up so much room and it doesn't squish down the way cashmere does. But it's cozy and comfy, can be washed, and I love it. Plus, I bought it in Ireland, and maybe it needs a visit home... I might wear this on the plane.... Wearing this on the plane. Basically traded it for the black sweater, as I will wear this a lot when we are out & about. And let's face it - if I leave Ireland without a new sweater, that'll be a first!

• Black leather jacket - you'd think this would be a no brainer, but it's bulky and I wonder if my raincoat plus a sweater will be sufficient... the weather looks to be pretty drizzly, which means I wouldn't likely wear the leather jacket much.... but it's a nicer outer garment for those occasions when I'll want to look a little spiffier.... Still deciding on this one. I have a feeling it will be left at home.

• Extra shirts - a flannel button down, in particular, may make the grade. Also a vegan leather black button down which could double as a jacket. Flannel shirt = yes; black faux leather = no. Compromise! Plus vanity. I love how the flannel shirt looks with my green khaki pants. And it's warmer than the vegan leather, which is a little too breathable for cold weather. Great for LA, but not so much for blustery Ireland.

• Infinity pillow - I bought this because it's supposed to add comfort to flying, but it's SO BIG and I wonder if it'll be worth the hassle. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, see & read about it here. Oh boy. This is a tough one. I am so tempted to leave it at home. It's really too big. But will I regret it bigly tonight when I can't sleep??? If I bring it and it's a drag, I will abandon it at the first hotel! I keep putting it on like a giant necklace, looking in the mirror and saying "Oh. dear God, no!" It's not true that no decision is a decision. In this case, no decision is a real drag!

And what about the "personal item" smaller bag you're allowed to carry on? I'm flying on Aer Lingus where they've been known to weigh your personal item to make sure it doesn't exceed the allowable weight. Here's what's going in mine - a backpack - what do you need for a comfy trip?

• Laptop, pad of grid paper, pens, journal

• Power adaptors and charging cables for laptop, phone & headphones

• A real book! The one I want to bring is a big hardback, and I have a feeling it's going to come down to book versus pillow.... both soporifics but which one will I choose?!?

• Wireless headphones + ear buds for the laptop + earplugs for quiet

• Small backpack for daily use - what was I thinking? This went into the suitcase!

• Small purse for nighttime outings - I am just going to bring my regular Chanel wallet on a chain bag. I thought about a clutch but honestly, that's way too fancy for me.

• Toiletry kit to use on arrival (hairbrush, toothbrush, etc.) - and in case Aer Lingus loses my bag... turns out I have to check it! Mother Mary be with me! Or should I be praying to St. Anthony in advance, to prevent loss? Does that work?

• Makeup bag + liquid toiletry bag

• Snacks: sugar snap peas, chocolate covered almonds, walnuts, an apple, and some crackers. Nothing stinky but I realize these make noise. I hope my seat mate has earplugs... Here's a funny one. I received an email from Aer Lingus last night, offering upgraded meals for ~$25. Curious, I clicked on the link to see what was on offer, and saw a chicken dinner that looked fairly appealing. I thought - why not? Clicked on it, and received the message that it was too late to buy this "extra." OK, then, why didn't you send me the offer a few days ahead of time, instead of half an hour before the check-in window opened??? Aer Lingus does not seem poised to become my new favorite airline, in spite of the low fares. But if it gets me there on time, we'll be perfectly fine new friends.

• Speaking of earplugs, my brand-spanking-new Loop earplugs - I bought the Sublime Quiet 2 in a ravishing shade of purple (which for some reason they call Denim). At $35 these are arguably the most expensive earplugs in the history of man - but if they work, it'll be money well spent! I'm not used to sleeping with a roommate, and the noises of strange places always startle me. I will report back on the efficacy of these little gems in a future post.

• Glasses, and sunglasses (optimistic again!)

• American & European money, credit cards, passport & driver's license in a wallet

• Lacrosse ball for working out creaks in my neck, hips, etc. I live in fear of forgetting this. If I do, it'll be my first Irish purchase!