Confessions Of A Conscious Consumer: So You're Moving Away For Two Years......

Packing can be an accomplishment for any trip. Even if you're just going away for a week on the beach, it can still be hard to know what to bring and what to leave behind. If you add international travel to the equation, it gets a little more complicated. Especially if it's to the middle of nowhere in a developing nation, rather than a fancy beach resort in Mexico with all the amenities. Now, picture going somewhere for longer than a week. How about two and a half years? It's a headache to say the least.

Easily the one of the most daunting parts of my preparations for Peace Corps, packing and preparing to pack has consumed my life recently. Here is a complete list of what made the list of necessities, and some not so necessities.....

2 Pair jeans

3 Pair dress pants

3 Skirts (yes, I know... me in a skirt... it's horrifying.)

2 Pairs of shorts

1 Pair of sweat pants

5 T-shirts

2 Dress shirts

4 Long sleeve shirts

3 Polo's

1 Columbia rainshell

1 Fleece jacket

1 Zip-up sweater

1 Hoodie (Bellingham represent!)

1 Set full-size bed sheets and pillowcase

9 Pair underwear

2 Bras

9 Pair socks

1 Box Ziplock freezer bags

1 Map of Europe

1 Map of Morocco

3 month supply feminine products

2 Boxes of Cliff Bars

2 Bandana's

1 Sowing kit

1 Box Hot-Hands hand warmers (Yes, Morocco is in Africa. No, it's not hot there.)

1 Razor + spare blades

1 Bar soap

1 Bottle shampoo/conditioner combination

1 Tube toothpaste

1 Toothbrush

1 Hairbrush

Various hairties and headbands

1 Tube deodorant

1 Tube sunblock

1 Pack sleeping pills (Jetlag is a bitch. Always remember that.)

1 Nikon Coolpix L120 camera + extra memory card

2 Scarves

1 Beanie

2 Pairs mittens

1 Pair wool gloves

1 Kobalt multi-tool (Lowe's haunts me still...)

1 Mini-speaker (Best travel investment ever)

6 Books - various

2 Packs note cards

2 Packs colored pencils

1 Pack markers

1 Ace Bandage

1 Hard ankle brace

1 Pack sticky tack (for wall hangings)

1 Pair Keen Sandles (These things are indestructible)

1 Pair Keen walking shoes

1 Pair hiking boots

1 Pair flip-flops

5 Journals

1 Money belt

Current Converter

2 Microfiber towels

1 iPod

1 iPod computer cord + wall charger

1 Pair earbuds

1 Pair headphones

Bananagrams

Uno

Plastic Frisbee

Cloth Frisbee

Hackiesack

Reusable batteries + wall charger

1 Nalgene water bottle

1 Roll duct tape

1 External hard drive

1 Laptop + charger

1 Sleeping bag

1 Headlamp

1 Flashlight

1 Solar panel accessory charger

1 Waterproof money bag

1 Pocket dictionary

1 Pocket thesaurus

1 Pack baby wipes

1 Bottle baby powder (helps greasy hair between showers)

8 Seattle postcards (gifts for host family and friends)

2 Calendars with pictures of the Northwest (again... gifts)

1 Backpacking backpack

1 Bookbag

1 Duffle bag

Now, I'm not allowed to have any bag weigh more than 50 pounds, I'm not allowed to have more than 2 checked bags, and I have to be able to carry all of this by myself, at one time. Challenge accepted...