I've gotten better about packing light. A few days in DC recently were fine with my computer bag (it holds a couple of changes of clothes as well as my netbook) and my pocketbook, with room for a couple of books and sponsor hall swag.

I'm still gonna check a bag for my trip to France this fall. Even if I wanted to try 10 days out of a carry-on, I'll still want room for souvenirs.

I don't really worry about packing, since I am a list maker, including a grid of the # of days I'll be gone and outfits that will do double-duty plugged into the grid.

The secret is laying the list on the bag, and checking everything off AS it goes into the bag. Not before, not after. That way you don't have to think, I checked it OFF, but did it actually make it IN?

I totally do that -- and pack the list in my bag for the return home. My packing list is legendary. My problem is helping Tim. Even when I help with packing/organizing, it's still massively stressful for him. I hate that I can't do more to alleviate that, but I do understand that that's just how it is for him.

Okay, the dress-as-a-goth party is tonight. Black nail polish, or blood spatter manicure?

Go blood spatter! Choose blood splatter!

Seconding the spatter.

I don't really worry about packing, since I am a list maker, including a grid of the # of days I'll be gone and outfits that will do double-duty plugged into the grid.

You know what would happen if I tried to do that? I'd stress out over making the list. It would have to be perfect, and I wouldn't know how to do it right.

What helps me a lot with packing for trips is to continually remind myself that if I forget anything it will not be the end of the world. I can buy stuff wherever I'm going if I need to (camping and backpacking is different of course, but I am semi-professionally trained for that and it doesn't stress me out).

Packing to move, otoh, I have to go into a zombie trance and and just get everything into boxes somehow without trying to make any sort of decisions about anything - no culling, no trying to make the boxes make logical sense, just boxing up stuff. The last couple of times I moved I paid movers to pack up for me and that was such a relief.

My packing list is legend. There are categories for camping, going north for summer, boys and DH, business trips. I can't survive without lists. Mind like sieve.

I load everything I might think about taking into the washer and then make the decisions as things go from the dryer into the bag. Shoes are where I have trouble. I'm super picky about what shoes I wear with what so I end up taking all kinds of options.

(As I was saying at dinner last night - to go to LA for three days I packed five pairs of shoes and bought two more while I was there. In my defense, I did actually wear most of them.)

Mostly though, after a lifetime of being unprepared and forgetful, I've learned to stop stressing it. If I have my ID, credit card and phone, I can buy or do without anything else I forget.

someone was talking about business cards recently, and there's a groupon from vista print has a "$15 for $60 worth of merch"