Settle a debate—how early do you bring out suitcases for vacation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We leave for vacation next Friday but are officially on vacation right now/next week. I keep thinking of random things I don’t want to forget and the tote bag I have staged in our closet has runneth over. I brought out a suitcase and have it staged in our guest bedroom. My husband saw what I was doing and told me it’s “ridiculous” to be packing already and I need to “calm down with the excitement”. Party pooper!

Anyway, how early do you start prepping like this?

Yikes. Is he always that dismissive?

[Anonymous]

About 2 wks before, suitcase comes out. I’ll pack the toiletries, chargers, etc & any clothes or shoes I know I won’t be wearing - especially when packing for winter or spring break vacations where you’re packing stuff you aren’t currently wearing, I can usually get almost everything packed early.

My husband is a 2 day before person, so he has 1 day to see if he needs to do a load of laundry.

No right or wrong, do what makes you feel prepped & ready! Especially since you said you were doing it in the guest room, it isn’t in the way or anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We leave for vacation next Friday but are officially on vacation right now/next week. I keep thinking of random things I don’t want to forget and the tote bag I have staged in our closet has runneth over. I brought out a suitcase and have it staged in our guest bedroom. My husband saw what I was doing and told me it’s “ridiculous” to be packing already and I need to “calm down with the excitement”. Party pooper!

Anyway, how early do you start prepping like this?

You lost me at your repeated use of “staged.”

LOL sorry, habit. It’s a word used often in my industry.

What industry is that?

I work in event planning.

Well, you're probably just a good planner! You probably remember everything you wanted to bring and enjoy the process. Ignore!

[Anonymous]

Is your husband habitually critical of your decisions?

Mine is, and after years of marriage I feel really disrespected. He doesn't do it all the time, but it's consistent behavior. Like how water droplets end up making holes in stone.

[Anonymous]

I use the guest bedroom bed to start laying out things about a week before. Actual suitcases don't come out til packing, the day before.

[Anonymous]

Mine packs days before. Doesn't use half the stuff he brings. Opens the bags 10x in the plane looking mostly for charger, electronics. Annoying as hell, but I say nothing.

[Anonymous]

I literally never put them away. I plan. I make lists. I pack. My suitcases live in my bedroom just waiting for the next trip. It makes me so happy to think about the next adventure. (And I do lots of adventures).

When we went to Havasupai and had to take all of our camping equipment, I started packing three months in advance. It took over part of my bedroom and my dining room table.

So I’m on your side.

[Anonymous]

I start pulling stuff aside in the week or so before and put it in a tote bag or laundry basket (...or a pile), but I don't usually bring the suitcases out until the day before. But that's due in part to the fact that our cat starts panicking and acting like a psycho when the suitcases come out.

[Anonymous]

Pull them out about an hour before we leave for the airport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With a suitcase! Just a couple of days. But I start putting things aside a week before. Especially if I know we are going to be busy and I don't want to wear clothes or have DS wear clothes I had planned to pack in case I don't get to the laundry. DH packs the night before but never comments on my early planning. I also make lots of lists.

Me too!

[Anonymous]

I set things aside at least a week in advance. But on a spare shelf in my closet instead of in the suitcase.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:About 2 wks before, suitcase comes out. I’ll pack the toiletries, chargers, etc & any clothes or shoes I know I won’t be wearing - especially when packing for winter or spring break vacations where you’re packing stuff you aren’t currently wearing, I can usually get almost everything packed early.

My husband is a 2 day before person, so he has 1 day to see if he needs to do a load of laundry.

No right or wrong, do what makes you feel prepped & ready! Especially since you said you were doing it in the guest room, it isn’t in the way or anything.

Same here. Maybe less if it's a very short trip but usually the bag comes out and I start tossing things in or near it as they come through the wash or as I think of it. I do have a dedicated travel toiletry kit, so nothing needs to be gathered although sometimes things need to be refilled/replaced. But I try to do the refill/replacements as soon as I return from the previous trip, when I remember what needed refill/replacement. Then last day I only have things like phone and wallet.