What's in my suitcase?

In my ongoing obsession with "stuff" I thought I'd talk about what I packed in my suitcase, kind of along the same vein of the I'm Just Walkin' guy (who, incidentally, recently finished walking across America! Not too many days after I flew across America on a plane!). He brought three pairs of pants. I did better. I brought four. The plane ride helps.

In my 27" suitcase, which had a maximum weight limit of 50.0 lbs according to United's checked baggage requirements (I got it to exactly 50.0 but the bag weighs 12 lbs empty!), and my 19" carry-on, which had no weight limit but was definitely over 30 lbs, I packed:

• 4 pairs of pants (2 jeans, 1 casual, 1 dressy)
• 2 pairs of shorts (both casual, 1 short, 1 longish)
• 5 skirts (3 dressy, 1 casual, 1 that can go either way)
• 4 dresses
• 15 blouses (only 2 long-sleeved)
• 9 casual baby T's
  
• 4 sweaters
• 1 short jacket
• 1 thin trench coat
• 1 rain coat
• 1 wool coat
• assorted t-shirts, gym clothes, pajamas, etc that can otherwise be used as loungewear (because I do like to lounge)
• a month's worth of underwear (TMI? so I don't have to do laundry very often!)
• unmentionables (definitely TMI)
  
• 1 swimsuit
• 3 pairs of gloves
• 2 hats
• 8 scarves (ranging from lightweight silk to heavyweight cashmere)
• 7 pairs of shoes (my Keens, ballet flats, flip flops, running shoes, walking shoes, tall black leather boots, and black kitten heel pumps)
• 2 handbags
  

Does it seem like a lot? Somehow, I keep feeling like I have nothing to wear. I probably went to college with less clothes (and definitely less shoes) yet I was fine. Since when did I become so high maintenance? Also I should mention I stored the rest of my clothes at my parents' house....which fills one whole closet, plus 1 large plastic storage container, 1 tall plastic drawer unit, 1 cardboard drawer unit, and 1 regular dresser! (Not counting the 40+ pairs of shoes left behind!) (And don't get me started on bags!)

When it gets cold, I will probably be wearing the same outfit week after week. How boring, I think. Why did I not pack more pants? Because they didn't fit in the suitcase! Of course, looking back at the list, I could have foregone one sweater and one scarf in lieu of another pair of pants, but oh well, too late now. I think I got it 95% right.

OK, and then as I mentioned before, I shipped 6 boxes of stuff to myself:

• 2 Media Mail boxes of books, mostly academic
• 2 Flat-Rate Priority Mail boxes
• 2 large Parcel Post boxes

What was in those boxes you say? Junk. Yes mostly junk.

• various toiletries, including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, makeup, nail care (stuff I already had and figured would be a waste to toss)
  
• 2 handbags (yes, if you're keeping count, now I have 4!)
• 1 pair of rain boots
• my tush cush (for my chronic tailbone problem)
  
• officey supplies, like notebooks, folders, pens, stapler, etc.
• my alarm clock that I've had since undergrad (somehow very comforting to look over and see)
• 2 surge protectors (turns out I only need one) and other various power supplies (e.g., battery chargers and cables for my cameras)
• plastic organizational trays (thank gods I shipped those, so handy!)
• small kitchen supplies (e.g., utensils, chopsticks, can opener, peeler)
• vitamins
• small tools
  
• and probably some other small junk I don't remember

What I had to buy immediately:

• bed sheets, blanket, and comforter, all ordered from Costco.com and waiting for me when I arrived
• a quick, 2-hour journey to Target on the first day of arrival got me a pillow, a mattress pad, a Brita, a mug, bath towels and bath mats, kitchen towels, and some basic cleaning supplies
• darted around town to Marshall's (non-stick pan, shower caddy), Office Depot (desk pad because my desk is scratched up and nasty), and Goodwill (plates and a bowl, the prices weren't very cheap but I was already there)
  
• in the last week, I've purchased online: a bath robe (hey, I had an LL Bean gift card from my credit card anyway!), a hot water kettle (those of you who know me well know my tea and hot water habit), a Swiffer kit, an all-in-one printer, textbooks, and a ream of paper. Thank you Amazon for offering free Prime membership to anyone with a dot edu email address! Hooray!

I am thinking that the mail room people will get to know me as well as the guys in my old office who were always bringing me packages did. :) It's just too bad I get charged tax here for ordering from Amazon and for B&H, which they couldn't charge me tax for back in CA. Oh well, at least tax is, surprisingly, only 8.87% for merchandise. And 0% for clothes! (It's 9.75% in Los Angeles!) Really though, I need to kick the acquiring stuff habit. This is why I will not be purchasing any clothes, shoes, or handbags in the next 6 months, at least (unless due to dire need, such as weather issues). Check back on my progress around March.