USVI-On-Line

It is funny to me, maybe only to me, that my style of STJ prep is SO different than my husband's. He is getting a hair cut. Just because he doesn't want to look like a chia pet by the time he gets home. He'll check his dive gear. And he's in charge of chargers and electronics. PERIOD.

I, on the other hand, have been making lists and piles for months, making special trips to target for supplies, trying to organize my outfits, pulling out things I may need, getting a pedicure and waxing, buying stuff I totally don't need. At least I am stimulating the economy right?

I was whining about getting the bag of nonperishables and diapers into my bag and he says, No problem I'll get it all in mine. He also has to fit our snorkel stuff in his bag. I asked where will you put your clothes. He says, "I am a minimalist. I think I'll take 3 pairs of shorts, a few tshirts and a couple swim trunks and my tevas, maybe a nice shirt. I know you ... you'll be doing laundry while we are there." (I do have a bit of a laundry fetish).

Its official I suck at packing. I am a complete failure. TOO MUCH STUFF!!!

Yep. Sounds exactly like my house..And Crash will ask me at least three times while we're gone, "Did you pack my (whatever)?" And he wonders why I get stressed-out right before we leave.

Ned packs in 2 minutes. Nothing is folded. I learned to give up even trying to get him to do that. If he forgets something, too bad, but he usually doesn't.

Me, I spend two weeks doing things like what I have done today. Here is a condensed version of my day. I leave Friday and I am no closer to being ready than I was this am.

-1 sleepover
-1 girl to swim practice
-work out during practice
-1 girl to the doctor for physical for summer camp
-filling out all camp forms
-buying water balloons because it is an "emergency"
-buying Ned fathers day gift for on island
-Buying carryon bag for daughter since last year she lost her Nintendo in Rachels taxi when it fell out of a Trader Joes Bag.
-picking up prescriptions, one has run out. my crazy pills. just GREAT.
-cutting the dog's hair so we don't get reported to Animal Cops Charlotte when we drop him off.(serious matting)
-butchering him so badly I have to make groomer appt.
-finding out from groomer his rabies is expired and they wont take him.
-go to vet for rabies shot
-cleaning up crap from floor twice because dog pooped on the floor at the vet.
-cleaning up crap when he slides across vet floor on his rear
-paying $18 for getting his anal glands expressed.
-taking him home and giving him a bath becuase I am so disgusted with him, even though he gets groomed Thurs.
-sit down, husband arrives from business trip and tells me "what have you done the whole time I am gone" and rolling his eyes because he thinks I have done nothing to get ready, which I haven't because I have been busy with all of this BULL****

djmom,

I'm a guy, but I totally "get" your post! My wife does not work outside the home, and we have the exact same conversations all too often. I sometimes just cannot fathom how someone who does not have a "required" place to be (work) can be SO very "busy" and still get absolutely nothing done!

I swear that your post is a typical day in her life - run, run, run then look back (exhausted from all the running and emotions of the day) and wonder how it all got out of control. Please know that I'm not being critical - I'm being empathetic!

We're going on an Orlando vacation next week. She's already got 2 pages of "don't forget" stuff on her list. The fact is the list was made 2 weeks ahead, and the "stuff" won't get done until right before we leave (and then she'll be up till midnight finishing the last few things the night before we leave). Honestly - I don't even attempt to take anything from the list. With all the love in my heart for her I tell you honestly that I could not EVER do anyting on her list the way she wants it done. So - I quit trying!


It always work out. She does a great job at the final minutes and I keep her calm when a little something goes wrong (like misplaced contact solution!). We're a perfect pair!

VI

Aw VI, you are a great guy. What a nice husband.

Ned is usually pretty good too, he has just learned when he gets "the look", to just go find something to do! So he just got back from running errands!

And I am trying to get better about procrastinating, which I am guilty of too. But you are right, the things just keep coming....

Right now I have made myself a nice tropical drink and plan do some laundry while hubby cooks dinner!

And I just hope I am not up all night Thurs!

Flip Flop--you experience and mine are the same. Only no diapers. My husband will check the snorkel gear and get a haircut. Last year he had all his gear in his military rucksack. This year, he actually said we were putting all our gear in the same bag. oy

Dang...haircut...knew I needed to do SOMETHING before we leave in a week! LMAO

Actually, my sister-in-law cuts my hair and she told me Sunday that I'd need a cut before heading out. No offense to her, and she wouldn't take any, but in many ways she thinks like a guy.

Most of my OCD packing was done getting our package ready to ship to Connections since I had convinced my lovely wife that she didn't need to check a bag for this casual trip. I had to make sure that her carry-on would have room for nothing but clothes and swimsuits. For this task I had a list.

The only other thing I'm obsessed with packing correctly is my photography gear. Two cameras, extra battery for each, chargers for each, way more memory than I could use in a month, filters, lens cleaning stuff, gorillapod, etc. all fitting into a moderately sized Lowepro fanny pack.

Oh...I'll throw my shorts, trunks, tshirts, flip flops, and deodorant into my bag the night before.

Gotta tell ya...we've been married for 31 years and packing for any trip is do as you will. Now mind it, we don't have kids at home anymore.

Here's how our packing goes....

I need more room in your suitcase, so don't pack too much. Consequently, his suitcase is larger and cannot be reduced to a carry-on size. Bummer.

My husband does absolutely nothing to plan a trip. This last trip, to St. John, he pulled out all the stops and made a pile of clothes he wanted to take. I cut his pile in 1/2 and packed it.
Oooops. I left all his favorite shorts and home and only took the ones he wears when he runs out of clean clothes. I felt bad about that....he finally pitched in and I made a mistake.
I'll still cut his pile in 1/2 but I'll let him choose which half, next time!

Sometimes I think myself overthink what I have to do before any trip.

Not only do I worry about the packing which basically consists of taking out some clothes about a month before I'm leaving but I have to think about other things.

-Who's going to take care of my Mom
-Who's going to take care of the cats
-Who's going to do my work, at work, when I'm away
-Having the house immaculate
-Are all the bills paid
-Get somebody to water the plants and gardens


This overplanning makes me crazy actually and I'll still worry when I'm in the Islands.

That's just me. I wish I could just plan to go away and not have to worry about all these things.

The end result is worth it though!

Yes Connie,
We must have the house absolutely perfect before the vactaion.

My house is not flithy or anything, but it is far from perfect while I am home.

But for some reason it has to be clean before I go.

The way we torture ourselves!

After 3 trips, I finally made a packing list. I'm responsible for all the food for the 4 people going (2 from NJ, 2 from here).

I gather all my clothes and the gear. My wife, usually on about Thursday, gathers her clothes, tells me I'm a fool and lets me know...again...that she could do this without me if she wanted but knows that I like to believe I'm in control.

Clothes packing is a lot less structured than it used to be. I more or less pile a few things (underwear included) into the bag late in the week.

We are bringing so much less this year. I will just die if the washing machine is broken!

In our family, Husband is the over-packer. He makes a great show out of saying "I am packing in the little bag."

Husband - prancing down the hall, wheeling a carry-on behind him, says over his shoulder "I left a few things on the bed, just fit it into your bag."

Me - walk into the bedroom to find a giant mound of clothing that he expects me to put in my suitcase. "You and your wheelie need to get back here NOW and pack your stuff in your suitcase!"

I always over pack...we decided to do carry ons this year. I have my daughter and I pretty much packed...figure if its not being worn it can be packed...we have PLENTY of room in our luggage...I learned a LONG time ago...if I forget something I can purchase it when we get there...I can't sweat the small stuff...its St John and 85% of the time we're in our swim suits...and THEY'RE packed...