One good thing about the end of summer & December on STJ

[Gromit]

is that when the temps cool down here in DC, I don't put away the summer clothes completely -- I just PACK for my STJ trip a bit early!!! YEA!!

Gromit's NEW & Improved Packing List
(streamlined for the new airline bag charging A$$H0#@$ so they don't get any more of my money than they absolutely HAVE to!!)

Clothing & Shoes
Flip Flops
Keen Venice H20's
shorts
tie-dye t-shirts
loose cotton tops
capris
tank tops
2 tankini's
light sweatshirt (December is a bit cooler at night)
PJ's

Accessories
sunglasses
Life is Good Ball cap
Life is Good nalgene water bottle
Small Kipling backpack & wallet
Buff
snorkel gear +fins
Akona snorkel gear convertible backpack
dry bag
small flashlight
eye shades
Walkie Talkies
Camera
small otter box for glasses and valuables
waterproof hair scrunchie

Toiletries
Frederic Fekkai summer hair products (Hair Bandana Spray & Summer Hair)
minimal makeup
Shampoo & Conditioner
brush
hair dryer
deoderant & baby powder

Must Haves
Ben's bug spray
Bananaboat waterproof SPF 15
Key West Aloe cooling spray
Neat Sheet
Cold Brew Ice Tea bags (put inside nalgene bottle)
crystal light individuals for water bottles (put inside nalgene bottle)
topical benadryl or Afterbite

Creature comforts
DVD's
deck of cards
decent beach book

And I cram it all into my E-Bags Mother Lode bag!!

Anything else I should add? (I left undies off the list on purpose -- one doesn't discuss such things
)

[cocosmom]

Nice list...no comb or brush?

[Gromit]

Oh yeah-- I guess I think of the brush and hair dryer as a given.

Consider it officially added!!

[Nancy_B]

I always have a little first aid kit - band aids, alka seltzer, pepcid (OK, so most of these are for self-inflicted ailments but I still need them)

[Gromit]

Good suggestion! We bring one too... The first aid kit is hubby's responsibility

[flip-flop]

The most useful thing I brought this trip was ziplocks...but that might have been because we had lots of snack options for the kids!

[waterguy]

Bunji cords to strap luggage, beach chairs and stuff

[Lulu76]

OK, Gromit, I love you! Everyone was giving me a hard time about putting my summer clothes right into the new roller bag, but I think I might as well just go ahead and load it up. Especially because I am trying to maneuver around the luggage fees!

[Gromit]

Hey, rationalize it as a "Test Pack"

[flip-flop]

I did the same thing for our November 07 trip. What was I going to do with summer clothes and swimsuits between labor day and November? Nothing. They had to sit somewhere, why not in your suitcase!

[augie]

You folks don't wear bathing suits year round???

[Gromit]

Don't make me come down there and tell you where to stick that sunshine

HUGS!!

[flip-flop]

You folks don't wear bathing suits year round???

LOL. No we have these things call seasons. 4 of them!

[Lulu76]

I don't know if I have four seasons here in Tennessee (at least not like I did in Detroit), but I am too cold to wear my swimming suit anymore.

[augie]

No we have these things call seasons. 4 of them!

FOUR?!?!?! We get a week or two of Indian Summer, and often a few days of spring (that's what it's called when the humidity is less than 95%, right?).

Gromit - you guys are probably getting more sunshine than we are this week, thanks to Ike.