A very odd list - especially, I think, the museum membership and the exhortation to subscribe to some thinky-type magazines. I guess so you can fake having interests other than shopping?

I have a cheap matching luggage set, but where do I ever travel that I take more than one suitcase at a time?

I also have a rolling duffel bag, but it's huge. I think it's a good size for transporting a dead body. So at least I'm prepared for that.

sara, you should toss out the hardsided, when are you going to use that?

Should I go abroad for any period of time (not camping!) again, I'd use it. It's solid, not that heavy, and makes a good seat (oh & it has wheels and is well balanced.) The rolling monster has been used as a spare every xmas.

Timberlake+Duran Duran=?

Equals AWESOME, is what!!!

I just had a classic "blind leading the blind" conversation, where another relatively new employee and I tried to remember what happened five years ago. Good times.

Hey, you know. Anyway you want it? That's the way you need it.

As long as there's holdin', touchin' and squeezin'

I also have a rolling duffel bag, but it's huge. I think it's a good size for transporting a dead body. So at least I'm prepared for that.

Somewhere I have a picture of one of my suitmates completely curled up asleep in her suitcase. She was average sized, not wee or anything. Honking huge bag.

I love my suitcase, and if I find matching pieces, I'll buy them. Perils of shopping at TJ Maxx or whatever discount store I found this at. Until then, I guess I'll just pack light.

Beverly, I think maybe we need to take over, because I'm thinking if anyone who could do (buy) all those things went to see the Dali Lama for enlightenment, it might endanger his own.

I also have matching luggage. I believe it is from the not softer, but not hardside side of Sears (or possibly Service Merchandise). I got it when I graduated high school. In 1985.

That Marie Claire article did make a couple of good points (mammogram, charities), but their idea of a "serious car" doesn't quite match mine. I did get my first "serious car" when I was just shy of 40, but mine is a Honda Civic, not a Mercedes. Also, I did get my first new piece of luggage a few years ago (the first I've bought since I went to college), but I got it at Target, and it's only one piece, not a set. I'll probably have to drag out my large college-era piece for my Xmas trip east.

I had to bitch-slap my BFF about luggage when she was 41. She went to France every summer, and every summer she borrowed my suitcase. I finallly said, hey doofus, you're an adult, you should have your own luggage. Our non-matchy luggage is a fancy rolling duffel that was my dad's that my mom gave the DH when he died, so it has sentimental meaning. We just bought a big dark orange rolling suitcase, so we can both pack for our trip to Holland.

Luggage (matching or not) seems to me something every grown up should have. A set of dishes and flatware as well.