Share your packing routine and tips

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Sooo, I am packing up my entire house since closing is around the corner. It's hard to believe that in about a month, I will be a few states away on a travel assignment. I tend to get extensions, so wherever I am heading to soon, I am counting on being there for at least 6 mos-1 year.

Clothes packing is easy for me and I do not go overboard at all. Same for toiletries. But I love to cook my own meals and basically want to pack my entire kitchen lol. I allowed agency to supply my kitchen one time with plates, pots, utensils, etc and it turned out to be a joke. I mean, plastic plates? Pots from the Dollar Tree? Not this time around. Here is my list, do u think its's overkill?

-set of white dishes

-1 large pot for boiling, 1 skillet, 1 stock pot, 1 muffin tray, 1 lasagne dish, 1 cookie tray for baking, crock pot

-4 medium mixing bowls

-several Pyrex containers for leftovers

-tea maker

-hand held mixer

-all kitchen utensils.

Misc: towels, throw rugs, garbage bin for kitchen and bathroom.

I will likely add a few more items, but this is the gist of it. I have a medium sized SUV and I am not worried about running out of space with my list. I think my list is too long for a 13 week assignment, but not 6 mos +. Is this about how you pack?

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

Mini keurig and nutriblast, favorite pillow, sheets and blanket towels and my bicycle and skis if driving.

Also my Roku, tablet, neat scanner and laptop yoga mat.

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What about kitchen stuff?

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

I don't cook much.

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Ok, adding Laptop, bed pillow, throw blanket, yogamat.

Subtrating: muffin tray, lasagna dish, crock pot and I can do without the platter plates and coffee cups that come with a dish set. Instead of 4 mixing bowls, I will have 1-2. I can live off of salad, fruit and protein shakes :)

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I don't bake anymore, too fattening! Wok, couple of small dishes (portion control), large dish for preparing food, a few small bowls, a bit of flatware and couple glasses, lots of Tupperware - I cook large amounts for several meals at a time so large ones and also prepare five lunches at one time in small ones (a precooked meat, mixed fresh vegetables, walnuts, and cheese to microwave at work), small frypan (mostly for breakfast), small saucepan, small George Foreman grill (saves time, mess, and energy). A couple of Pyrex for microwaving my saved food prep. Miscellaneous other stuff packed in a large plastic bin (I usually take 4 such bins to aid packing of everything I bring). Generally one large plastic bin is 90% kitchen stuff including some food such as large olives and walnuts that may be hard to find that I use regularly.

I may buy a crockpot locally. Too big to haul around the country. Never bought one before on the road, but they are good for my habits. I have bought microwaves locally several times when housing didn't have it already.

I may have left some stuff out but obviously this stuff is very personal. My diet is a bit dull (on purpose), if I was into learning new recipes, I'd need a lot more stuff (and exercise). I don't bring a lot of stuff, so I do have to wash dishes more often just to have clean ones.

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I am limiting myself to 4 bins as well. It's kinda crazy. My house is 2000 sq ft, I do not have a house full of stuff by any means, but I never imagined living my life out of 4 plastic tubs. I was supposed to be married by now with 3-4 kids w a picket fence around my house - a house full of everything:). All of my friends live that life, but here I am, packing away my life into 4 tubs :)

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Very poetic, but your life is not defined by four plastic bins! You are off for a life of travel and adventure, and I'd bet that many of your friends will be envious of your freedom and lifestyle.

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Yea, I can honestly say that NONE of my friends are happy with their marriage. Most of them want a divorce. The ones that nag me the most abt settling down are the most miserable.

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Misery loves company! Hope you find new happy friends on the road.

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I pack two tubs and went out and purchased a 5 drawer plastic bin from Walmart that I use for my clothes. I have a closet full of clothes in that plastic bin and I can pick it up and it fits into my truck perfectly. The tubs I use for my shoes (so far it fits about 15 pairs of shoes, including my work shoes) and the other bin I use for my dishes and other misc items. I cook as well, but I always bring my own coffee pot and cup, I don't bring much silverware because I tend to find places that are completely furnished right down to the silverware.

I can usually fit one tub and the plastic drawer in my trunk, and one tub and my suitcase in the back seat. And I drive a mid-size car.

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Yea, I can honestly say that NONE of my friends are happy with their marriage. Most of them want a divorce. The ones that nag me the most abt settling down are the most miserable.

You will find when you are on this journey, people will question your life. It's not their journey to understand. It's YOURS! Enjoy it to the fullest! I have found nothing makes miserable people more miserable is when they see someone living their life to the fullest and ENJOYING it!

While you are traveling, you will have plenty of opportunities to meet new friends whom you have more in common with.

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