Here’s something you might not know about me. I hate packing for trips. As I told a good friend, I can never seem to get the correct ratio of items I need for my vacation or business trip. I seem to have too much of one thing, not enough of another, and to have totally forgotten the third. Does anyone else have this problem?

Part of the reason is that, while I tend to gravitate toward off-the -beaten-path trips during the less-popular tourist times, in my mind the word vacation is synonymous with sun, sand, bright blue ocean, and tropical drinks. Obviously, that is not what I should be packing for when traveling to Iceland in April/May!

This is complicated even more by the fact that visiting this country in a “shoulder season” is almost like preparing for two separate trips. Though the temperatures and precipitation sound like winter (40’s, cloudy, and rain), the other day was the Icelandic first day of summer, their daylight is now lasting until almost 10 p.m. and both the snowmobiles and geothermal pools are callings. Not only that, but I have to pack for both a professional conference and tromping around the wilds of the north country.

Here’s a sample of what’s in my suitcase that should illustrate what I mean:

• A sleep mask for the bright nights
• My L.L. Bean snow boots
• Frogg Toggs rain gear
• A bathing suit and flip flops
• Merrell hiking shoes and moisture wicking socks
• My favorite blue dress and new suede dress shoes. Also, something sparkly!
• Writing materials, two novels, pens, highlighters, a travel magazine, and my camera
• Sunglasses and a flashlight
• Thermal underwear and heavy sweater
• My Covid kit-just in case-like that umbrella you always bring if you don’t want it to rain.

See what I mean? But it all fit in two suitcases, one small backpack, and an even smaller purse so hopefully I’m good to go! 

(photo credit-Jim Graney)