Packing Thoughts & Lists

I'm a bit of a Girl Scout (motto: Be Prepared!), but I've found that when it comes to travel, it's been helpful over the years to start thinking ahead about what to bring, and the Festival is only a month away.
On the other hand, when a bunch of us were headed off for Summer Festival, my first Dharma Teacher laughingly said that we think a lot more about what we bring on a trip in this world than we do about what we're taking with us to our next life. I've always loved the teaching about being travelers in this life, just passing through - no need to get so wound up about everything.

I also find the baggage metaphor helpful. When you have a big ego, it's like carrying around a bunch of bulky shopping bags, struggling to carry and keep track of them, and always bumping into things and people. In fact, I used to have a recurring dream about traveling where somewhere along the way, overwhelmed and exhausted, I had to stop and deal with all the luggage I'd accumulated. At first I'd spend some time working on how to bungee it all together. Then I'd find myself thinking, "How did I end up with so much stuff?" and realize I needed to pare it down, letting go of the things that were bogging me down and even unnecessary. Hmm ... I wonder what those dreams mean? : )

There's certainly a middle way, and people have different approaches that work for them.

I use a list. I have a standard packing list as a Word document that I use as a starting point and modify for each big trip. Knowing I have a good list, I feel confident about packing at the last minute if I need to. One part of the list is what to pack, with a section of what to wear and carry on, and another on what to put in my main bag, knowing that it might be checked or deciding ahead of time that I will check it. (By the way, even though almost all airlines charge for checking a bag for domestic travel - unless you're a frequent flier or have the airline's credit card, which may allow you to check the first bag free, as United does - on international flights usually you can usually check one bag without paying. Do check with your airline.)

Within that list of carryon's is a subset of essentials, such as passport, money (cash, credit card, ATM card) and tickets - and *medication.* As long as I have those, I know I can buy whatever else I need when I get there. (My husband and I have a ritual when we're leaving the house on a trip where we ask each other: Money? Tickets? Passport?)
I also have a folder that I carry on that has all my travel info: Flight, hotel, car rental, etc. Now a lot of that can be stored on a device like a smartphone or a iPad if you're savvy that way. If you're traveling abroad, however, make sure you'll have access to them.

There's also a subsection for Dharma items. Don't forget your mandala kit! Of course, I bring my mala so that I can recite mantras, especially on takeoff and landing. You'll be able to buy Dharma items at the Festival shop, but if you already own the books, sadhanas and office supplies (notebook, pens, pencils, etc.) you need, you can pack them. In the past the Festival registration email would include suggested sadhanas. At Portugal the empowerment is Prajnaparamita, so I'm bringing The Yoga of Great Mother Prajnaparamita (not The Great Mother, which is for those who don't have the empowerment). I always bring Wishfulfilling Jewel and Geshe-la's Long Life Prayers, so that I can loan them to someone sitting nearby who doesn't know them and didn't get a loaner copy when they entered the Temple. I heard we're also getting commentary on the new Vajrayogini sadhanas, The Blissful Path and The Uncommon Yoga of Inconceivability.

The other page of my packing list is preparations beforehand, such as stopping the mail, arranging care for pets and plants and buying anything I think I'll need. I've also heard that it's good to call your bank beforehand to tell them you're going abroad so that they allow credit-card transactions to go through. The State Dept has some good advice about what to do before you leave, although I don't agree with all of it (I bring cash but not travelers' checks, for example).

Travel "guru" Rick Steves (who has popular travel shows on PBS and happens to live in the Seattle area and even has a travel store just north of the city) has excellent travel advice on his website, including packing tips here. It's a good starting point, but his suggestions are for travelers who are making multi-city visits, so a lot of the emphasis is on packing light. For the Portugal Festival, if you're not traveling before or after, I'd recommend bringing more stuff so that you're comfortable, but not overdoing it. I've never regretted having a lighter bag. There are going to be Festival shuttles to take us from the airport to Festival accommodations and back, so you shouldn't have to carry your baggage too far.

Note that it's still possible to sign up for the shuttles by adding them to your booking cart; see the "Fall Festival confirmation​ letter" you should have gotten after you registered and click on the link called "your booking cart" toward the bottom; in the booking cart at the left, click Add an option. This is also the process for adding lunch or for pre-paying for recordings of Festival teachings, two new options that haven't been offered for Festivals before.
You may have seen the NKT e-newsletter about the lunch option, which said: "Each day during the Festival, teams of Festival volunteers will provide a wide selection of healthy, affordable vegetarian lunch options. These will be served at the Festival site in a food court style dining area. As there will be a limited number of meals available each day, you will need to pre-book through the Festival booking system if you wish to benefit from this new option.")

By the way, I've found that Rick Steves' travelgear is well designed and affordable. (I'm considering getting his Civita daypack, which is only $25 and looks like it's a good size but packs small. It isn't waterproof, however.)