I wanted to tell you of my differing experiences. My first assignment, my apartment was completely bare except for furniature. No TV, no dishes, no linens. you get the picture. So I didn't think of things like the shower curtain and rings, the toilet paper holder, the dishdrainer for hand washables. I went to the dollar tree and dollar general (cheap stores here in florida) and bought some. The shower curtain and rings, I bought at dollar tree and I got 5 sets. It is easier to leave a shower curtain than try to pack it back up small and neat. So my current place, I could have literally walked in with just my clothes and I would have been fine. In fact, my dishes and pots/pans are still in my trunk. I figure when I need them for the next assignment they will be ready.
You dont think about little things, like dishsoap and mustard and ketchup but if you have to keep buying them they can get expensive. I have a box of bathroom things (shower curtain/rings, soap dishes and towels etc.) a box of kitchen things (silverware, dishsoap and sponges, some odd utensiles like can opener and pizza cutter, wooden spoons etc) and then the box for my cats (they have lots of toys and a tower that comes apart to pack easier). I use space bags for my pillows and comfortor but sheets and clothes they don't do much good for. The trick with them is to use them for the "fluffy" things that can be shrunk down. You can't suck much air out of a set of sheets. I have a small tv that I am hoping to upgrade to a flat screen soon so that will help. I also have a tv/vcr combo machine. All my movies are in a carry case, not the original cases. I have also found that although I want to bring ALL of my clothes, I can get away with 2 suitcases worth. One for work and sleep and one for play. I have 1 dressy pants set, a dressy dress, church skirts and tops that I can mix and match with my shorts/pants and church skirts. I am more worried about the things I pick up along the way. I hope that this time I am not going to be as bad at it but the last time, I had to send a very large package back home before I left... :)
Also, if you think that you won't have enough room, consider getting a soft sided luggage carrier for the top of your vehichle. They have them at camping stores and they hold lots of good things if you need the space. Just remember to put boxes in the middle and make sure that clothes or flexable things are around the edges so it doesn't tear on the trip.
Good luck and I wish you happy packing!
PS I found that I need my computer printer/scanner too. I pack it in it's original box and put the paper and cords etc in the box with it. It is very helpful to be able to scan my timesheets and then email them because it is a pain in the neck to have to find a fax every time I need to fax something. It does several things that is why it gets to come too.
