When it is time to start packing for a trip I start to adjust the inputs to the Packing Formula.

The Packing Formula? I usually find that what I pack for a trip is mostly formulaic when I am traveling for business.

Mathematical Tables

Packing is not as easy as looking up results in a mathematical table. There are a few inputs that I have to be adjusted in the Packing Formula.  Of course the first input is to determine how many days the trip will cover. That is easy enough.

Next, I have to determine the number of non-work days and the dress code of the office I will be going to. This will help determine the mix of business casual and casual clothes to pack. What days can I wear tennis shoes and what days do I have to wear dress shoes. This of course will help determine the output for the number of each type of socks to wear and also the mix of pants and shirts to pack.

Is there a designated casual day at the office? Do I have to wear a tie or jacket in the office? Will I be visiting customers or will it all be classroom time? These are all important inputs to the Packing Formula.

One of the outputs of the Packing Formula is the size of the suitcase, but that rarely varies as most of my trips are two weeks long. The only time this really comes into play is if I have a trip that lasts less than five days. One suitcase fits most trip lengths.

Calculus

The Packing Formula is complex and I doubt if I could ever accurately write it out. It is a complex algorithm that resides in the recesses of my brain. It only comes into play in the days leading up to a trip. The adjustment from a 10 day trip to a 15 day trip alone is interesting as it involves a reduction in some items as other items need to be increased. All to make sure that the suitcase is not too full or too empty. Maybe it is more akin to Calculus with Analytical Geometry. A class from college that still brings back bad memories :-).

Another part of the Packing Formula is the leave behind quotient. I always pack a few older items that will be left behind after they are worn. At home, it is always “I think I can wear this a few more times.” On the road it is easier to make the decision to throw an old item out. Of course this leaves space in the suitcase for any books that I may have purchased on the trip.

Of course, the carry on bags come into play in the formula as well. What needs to stay with me and what can be checked through. Do I need to carry a coat with me on the plane, or will I be able to pull it out of the bag when I arrive? Will I even need a coat? Luckily for rain, I have a light windbreaker that zips up into a small package. It works for most rain showers.

Once the contents of the suitcase have been determined it is time to drag out “Clifford” and get started with the packing.

Clifford

Yes, my suitcase has a name. The name is in honor of a favorite childhood book. Clifford the Big Red Dog. This is actually Clifford II. The original Clifford was a larger hardshell suitcase that was a victim of a long drop that shattered the wheel supports.

For my trip that starts tomorrow the Packing Formula is all Topsy-turvy. Vacation throws in a lot of new variables and it is almost an entirely different exercise. The nice part is that I can immediately leave out a lot of the standard business things that I have to carry. A lot less electronics to carry and more room in the carry on for personal items.

So, it is back to packing. The contents are mostly determined it is now just up to the Analytical Geometry part of the formula to determine what goes where.

Steven