Packing for Travel

NOTE ABOUT MY BLOG: I write my blog in a down to earth manner as if I was sitting down talking with you in person. I like to ‘ramble’ as I call it about things that are going on at the moment or things going on in my life. This week I wrote about what it is like to travel these days with all our electronics.
　
Last Wednesday I packed for a four day trip that would be from Thursday to Sunday. I knew what items of clothing I needed to take but unsure of what else to included. The weather app on my IPhone gave me the five day forecast to pack accordingly. Wednesday evening I put my travel bag of clothes and shoes in the car. Thursday all I would need to place in the trunk my bag of toiletries and the tote bag with the must have electronic devices my husband and I need with us. For some they aren’t a must need, but to us these are essential. These must items for him includes his cell phone and his tablet which has his favorite games and the Kindle app with his library. My must have item is my Kindle Fire as my cell is always carried in my purse. I need my Kindle as I must read before falling asleep. At one time I have two or three books going (but that is another blog for another time). The tote bag I have is small but the Kindle fits inside perfectly as does hubby’s cell and tablet. What I realized is I may need another larger tote bag in the future. Why you ask? Answer is that one must also take the chargers for these items. Each device has its’ own charger and not one charger is compatible to use on more than one device. Four devices and four chargers needed to be packed.
I can not understand why there is not a universal charger that can work on all my devices. If most people are like me, they have a cell phone, perhaps a tablet or notebook or computer. Fortunate for me I did not travel this trip with the lap top. Now you not only have to make sure you have them but the charger as well. Of course you must also hope that the hotel has sufficient outlets to recharge all the items overnight. I found the hotel where I stayed did not have enough outlets so now I know on future trips I need to pack a power strip which can hold up to four tiems easily.
Since I am a list person, I generally make a list of what I need to pack Seems my list has gotten longer in the past few years. We live in a world of technology that can easily be carried where ever we go. It use to be said “American Express Card, don’t leave home without it.” Now it is our electronic devices we don’t leave home without.
Not to long ago a friend told me her grandchildren were visiting for the day. They arrived with their Ipads and spent quite a bit ot time using them. The batteries got quite low and needed to be recharged. Both of the children forgot to bring their charger. My friend did not have any type of charger for them to use as she does not own an Ipad, Ipod or notebook. The children got upset and said they were bored. She suggested they go ‘old school’ and play a board game which she pulled out of a storage area. An education indeed for these children who never played a board game prior. The children learned a lesson in making sure to always be prepared when traveling if only for a day; and secondly how to interact with another one on one in a game of Clue, Scrabble and Monopoly.
Since I have been there playing the old board games in my younger years, I feel I can now treat myself to Candy Crush, Cookie Jam, Pet Rescue and whatever game I can do before I go to sleep for the night.
Until next time….don’t leave home without your chargers.