JUST IN CASE

What a beautiful day in the Northwest. The sun was shining, the temperature a balmy 68. I was stuck inside. I have been packing up prints for my show this weekend. I rarely sell anything, but spend more than I make just to be ready in case I sell something. I can’t believe how many things I do just incase. And sometimes it is very expensive.

Take for instance travel. I used to pack suitcases in a just in case style. Do you have any idea how much stuff I would drag along on a trip just incase? Of course you do. You travel. Even for a weekend I would take way too much. The weather may be warm, cold, rainy, nice or bad. Better take a raincoat. I might need a suit. Do I take a brief case? How much do I need in my shaving kit? I know women have it worse, so many outfits from which to choose. So many choices to make just in case. Most of what we take on any trip is over kill.

I used to coordinate tours groups for a college where I once taught. Most people over pack and do it just so they can have 2-3 outfits a day. Why? We allowed them one small suitcase and told them not to take anything you cannot carry with one hand up a long flight of stairs. You never know where you will be for the night. Some suitcases were so large a trained team would go through the suitcase a day before departure and take unnecessary items out. Gasps where heard throughout the land.

We watched some carry the suitcase to the checkroom dragging it behind. And who do you expect will carry that suitcase? I don’t know. There’s a staircase right here. I want to see you carry that up the stairs with one hand. After 4-5 five steps they were panting and looking for someone to help them. No one is going to help you. You can’t depend on the guys they will most likely be billeted somewhere else. Manufactures have made it easier to haul your closet. It’s called wheels. Times have changed. But the airlines are now pushing us back to basics. Up to $100 per suitcase each way. You might be able to travel with nothing and buy what you need when yoo get there.

There was never a need for a dozen different outfits. Tout groups were told “you are in a different place every night. The only people who know what you wore the day before are with you and they are wearing the same thing they wore the day before.” Get over it. Just wash things out more often. Take clothing you can wash in a sink or wear a long time. Jeans don’t show the dirt. Some people got so good they have practiced carrying a small suitcase their whole life. One girl went to Irian Jaya for thee months with a very small backpack.

I taught the lessons. I should have known better. Man did I over pack at my first traveling job. It took several trips before I finally figured out I needed a change of shirts, socks and underwear. Even for three days. And I needed very little in a shaving kit. I could fit everything I would really need in a briefcase and if I forgot something I could buy it on the road. I have a friend who keeps very little. She says why store it; I can buy it again when I need it.

I buy it again anyway because I can’t find what I stored when I need it. I tried to learn when I moved to my small apartment. I thought I did great. No, I failed. When I got here I had to get rid of more. The longer I am here, the more I discard. No more just in case storage. I won’t be able to find it anyway. I put things in safe places that are safe especially from me. When the art show is over, I expect I will have 50 or so matted and packed prints I will have to store. I made many because I wasn’t sure which ones to choose so made some of all of them. In case one print sold, I made several of what I think are my best ones. Based on history, I will bring them all home. But I made them up just in case. I guess I will never get over that bad habit. Now, where did I put my passport? I know, in a safe place.