Too much of a good thing

If you had to pack in preparation for being away for 2.25 years, what would you bring? How much do you think it would weigh? How much physical space do you think it would use?

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The Peace Corps says: 2 checked bags, totaling no more than 80 pounds and 107 linear inches (L+W+H), with the heavier bag being no more than 50 pounds. Also, you can have one carry-on bag. Super. My preliminary list of stuff to pack takes up the whole white board!

So, back in June I found this seemingly GREAT find at REI. It was a HUGE bag for a really good deal. (like, 70 bucks!). I could have easily fit inside this bag, probably even with stuff for a weekend getaway. I figured I was in business because between this wheeled monster of a duffel bag and the more traditional internal-frame pack I have, it seemed remotely manageable to fit most of what I wanted.

Problem A: VERY hard to keep this bag under 50 pounds, which I learned when Leah and I traveled to San Fran for KASJB's wedding when I had to take a bunch of stuff out at the baggage check place and carry it onto the plane.

Problem B: This bag, combined with my very reasonably sized pack was WAAAYYYY over the linear limits! Like, by half again as many inches (review: limit = 107 inches; these two bags = 145-150 or something). Tengo un problemo.

Image A: The (Actually Not So) Fantastic Bag
6,400 cubic inches
33 x 16 x 11 inches

So, I realize that I'm going to have to reassess my luggage situation, and REI is having a sale where this bag (Image B) was up for grabs. It's a happy little bag (not THAT little, actually) but only half the size of the other one (good for staying in the limit; bad for space)

Well, props to REI because they let me return the huge bag - even though I didn't have the receipt and it was used. Guess that's why you want to be an REI member. I hadn't planned on returning it until, when I mentioned to a sales person there the dilemma I had encountered with it, I was encouraged to bring it back. HOORAY! I felt like a moron, but I traded it for some other stuff that was on my list so that was great.


Anyway, here's the new bag.
Image B: The (Half-the-size-but-only-1-inch-more-than-the-limit) Fantastic Bag

3,550 cubic inches
25 x 13 x 12 inches


The plus side?

I actually stand a chance of being able to carry (albeit probably not gracefully) my own gear, which is also the requirement for what you are allowed to bring.


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In other leaving-related news:
• No word on my staging (pre-departure orientation). However, since I leave in 5 weeks, I imagine it will be here in a week or so.
• The Power of Attorney project is going well, half of the accounts are confirmed, and the rest are still going smoothly from what I can tell.
• My freaking out level is a fairly orange-ish yellow, so I'm doing pretty good so far. I expect to be on Orange Alert later this month, but am determined to keep myself below Red at all times. :-D

Stay tuned!